The mere mention of the words “March 2020,” “COVID-19,” and “delayed due to COVID” incite nightmares in the minds of attorneys across the United States, especially those of us in New York. While courts stopped almost all in-person hearings and trials for nearly two years, the wheels of justice slowed but never stopped turning.
Many New York courts still face backlogs, including jury trials, that will likely take years to clear. In fact, three Manhattan commercial division judges retired or moved divisions in late 2020. 2 Manhattan Commercial Division Justice to Retire as Judicial Budget Cut Takes Hold, NYLJ (Oct. 2, 2020) https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2020/10/02/two-manhattan-commercial-division-justices-to-retire-as-judicial-budget-cut-takes-hold/.
