COVID-Driven Changes amongst Courtroom Workgroup Members

• In Event: Data in Indigent Defense: Criminal Legal System Responses to Disruption: COVID-19 and Funding Injections

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has left indelible marks on the landscape of court proceedings, case outcomes, and the dynamics of work environments and expectations. This study used a survey to assess experiences of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, civil attorneys, appellate attorneys, court administrators, and social workers and other non-attorney representatives working across urban, suburban, and rural courts. The study dissects the evolving dynamics of case outcomes across various court settings, shedding light on the distinct trajectories of criminal, family, juvenile, civil, and appellate cases amidst pandemic-induced disruptions. Further analyses of the lasting impacts of the pandemic now that court operations have returned to “normal” were also examined.

Authors

• Reveka V. Shteynberg, California State University, San Bernardino

• Kirstin A. Morgan, Appalachian State University