13K Court Hearings Need Rescheduling Due To Coronavirus: Official

ROCKVILLE, MD — The spread of COVID-19 has crippled Montgomery County's court system, creating unprecedented challenges for judges and legal teams who must tackle a backlog of cases.

Maryland courts have been closedto the public since March 16, except for emergency matters such as domestic violence petitions, bail review hearings, and search warrants. As a result, tens of thousands of court cases have to be rescheduled in Montgomery County, according to an official.

"We have to reschedule about 13,000 hearings and about 1,600 trials that would have gone on in this three-month period," Circuit Court Administrator Judy Rupp said at Tuesday's virtual county council session. "With social distancing, we will be needing to perform as many remote proceedings as possible. We just cannot bring the public in here and have them sit for these tremendously populated dockets."

Rupp said the earliest courts can reopen is June 8.

"We will have a very large hole to dig out of," she added. "But we are already starting many work groups on a reopening strategy. But the volumes are significant."

Rupp did not go into specifics about any reopening strategies or plans to tackle the backlog in cases.

In an email to Bethesda Beat, Montgomery County State's Attorney Spokesman Ramon Korionoff said the office is "keeping victims informed" throughout the process.

"Cases are being screened with arresting officers, caseloads are being managed by prosecutors and staff. Defense attorneys are receiving notices, discovery and other matters pertaining to their cases as required by law," he wrote. "This unprecedented event of our lifetimes is being handled with every measure of concern for the public safety, health and well-being."