South Hennepin News

Hennepin County District Court officials say they are planning to recommence proceedings that have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Star Tribune. 

However, the public defender's office stresses concern that the court system is not equipped to safely protect residents from the coronavirus.

The Star Tribune reports that there is a set of memos that were distributed during the last week of April that was addressed to the criminal justice officials in Hennepin County District Court. The memos revealed plans to slowly reopen the court system.

However, Mary Moriarty, chief Hennepin County public defender, said the courts haven't addressed the necessary safety measures to protect the public, her staff or others that may be involved in court cases. Moriarty sent Hennepin County Chief Judge Ivy Bernhardson a letter last week that highlighted her concerns.

"There are certainly going to be people who are positive [for COVID-19] who come [to court] downtown," Moriarty wrote. "Why are you going to risk that for our staff and for our clients on misdemeanor charges, which can wait?"

According to the memos circulated by the court officials, all hearings for residents who are not in jail will be seen in the main courthouse that is located in downtown Minneapolis. That includes cases of domestic assaults, DWIs, assaults, high misdemeanors and felonies.

The memos discuss a safety and cleaning plan that is in the works. They also mention plexiglass shields being installed in key areas of the courthouse.

"A safety and cleaning plan is being developed with Hennepin County," one of the court memos states. "We expect information about Plexi-shields in appropriate areas, hand sanitizer and cleaning schedules."

Alyssa Siems Roberson, spokeswoman with the Minnesota Court Information Office, told the Star Tribune in a written statement that courthouse officials are working with the Minnesota Department of Health to address many of the safety concerns stressed by Moriarty.

"We are working with the MN Department of Health, others in the Executive Branch, and local public health officials to ensure that we have measures in place to protect our staff and members of the public when more in-person activity returns to our courthouses," Roberson wrote.