New York’s chief judge says the state court system has a “constitutional obligation” to transition back to in-person operations gradually, arguing they have put in place measures to hamper the spread of the coronavirus in courthouses.

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore’s comments, included in a video speech released Monday, come days after a federal judge denied a temporary restraining order requested by public defender organizations in a suit against the state court system. The organizations sued over a decision to start certain in-person state court proceedings, saying the move discriminates against people with disabilities.