A phased reopening of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York would feature the continued use of remote hearings and significant "physical changes" to implement social-distancing measures at its Lower Manhattan courthouse, Chief Judge Colleen McMahon told the Law Journal on Tuesday.

McMahon, who spoke from her chambers via Skype for Business, said there was still no date set for restoring in-person court operations, and any reopening would be "very gradual," relying partly on input from public health experts and the court's own outside scientific consultant.

She also said jury trials in the building were "not imminent."