Reprinted From This Week’s
Hometown Oneonta, Freeman’s Journal
Otsego County’s
Wheels Of Justice
Grind – Virtually
Judges, Lawyers Operating On Skype
By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
COOPERSTOWN – Even the courtroom has gone virtual in the age of COVID-19.
“If the arraignment is essential, like a felony arraignment, we’ve got Skype set up in the courtroom,” said District Attorney John Muehl. “An email gets sent around with the information, then the judge, myself and the lawyers can all be present, but nobody has to appear.”
With all cases adjourned until May 15, no one’s appeared virtually yet, but the courts want to be ready. “Arraignments are necessary proceedings,” Muehl said. “For example, if we had a domestic violence case where an order of protection had to be issued, we could arraign them.”