There was something missing Wednesday at plea and sentence courts in Clarion County as District Attorney Drew Welsh and Assistant DA Erich Spessard argued their cases through a laptop.
The situation was caused by a reported COVID case within the DA’s office, Welsh wasn’t available for comment Wednesday.
Judge Sara Seidle-Patton said that when she learned of the situation it became “abundantly clear that we had to change our procedures.”
The order stated the county is “currently experiencing a substantial increase in COVID-19 cases and that the court operations were being impacted which made it difficult to effectuate court proceedings in the usual manner.
Certain provisions have been put in place including the cancellation of all jury trials and limiting the people who may attend the court proceeding to witnesses and attorneys unless expressly authorized by the judge.
In addition, criminal proceedings may be conducted via advanced technologies, requests for continuances will be “liberally” granted and criminal plea court will be scheduled in increments to reduce the number of people in the courtroom.
Anyone attending proceedings in the courtroom must wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Central Court procedures were also affected by the order. Only the district attorney and necessary staff, police officers, defense attorneys and defendants are permitted to enter the building.
The domestic relations division will conduct all support conferences and other appointments by telephone or Zoom rather than face-to-face.
The order also impacts the sheriff’s department.
“We are no longer transporting prisoners to take before the judge,” Sheriff Rex Munsee said. “That is all being done by Zoom from the jail.”
“We are basically back to where we were in April or May,” Munsee added.