In the effort to keep due process running smoothly, the 15th Judicial Circuit Court which includes Marion County is reopening its doors for business after the courtrooms have been shut down for over two months due to the coronavirus.
Technically the court has never stopped. The Mississippi Supreme Court on March 13, issued an emergency order which ordered the local courts to continue operating to keep the wheels of justice going. Proceedings have been ongoing during the entire time. The court system has used Zoom and other means to conduct hearings and matters via videoconferencing and electronically.
District 15th Senior Circuit Court Judge Prentiss Harrell said on Wednesday a lot has been accomplished in the last two months.
“We have done a lot, electronically and zoom. I am extraordinary proud of that,” he said.
In the emergency administrative order-5 dated March 20, Chief Justice Michael K. Randolph announced the courts need to limit as much in person courthouse contact as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Inside the courtroom, those present all had to wear masks. The only ones who were able to remove their masks were Harrell and those entering pleas. Those entering pleas were allowed to remove their masks while in front of Harrell, before appearing before him and afterwards, masks had to be worn. Harrell allowed the removal of masks during the actual plea hearing so everything could be clearly recorded. However social distancing was strictly adhere to.
“We have done a lot, electronically and zoom. I am extraordinary proud of that,” he said.
In the emergency administrative order-5 dated March 20, Chief Justice Michael K. Randolph announced the courts need to limit as much in person courthouse contact as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Harrell was listening to plea hearings Wednesday morning and said it was the first set of pleas taken since the virus began. He said they have not be able to hear pleas or hold jury trial for the last two months.
Senior Circuit Court Judge Prentiss Harrell said it felt wonderful to be back in the courtroom.
“I’m pleased to get back even if it is a structured manner. I’m glad to be back in the courtroom,” he said.
Between the backlog and now the virus, Harrell said that was one of the reasons he wanted to start hearing pleas again. He is concerned about a person’s right to a speedy trial, an issue he believes the Supreme Court may one day have to deal with.
“You can’t keep them lock up. You can’t abuse their statutory rights, even in the face of these emergency pandemics. Our Constitution must trump even in this catastrophic event,” Harrell said.
Harrell said the state supreme court ordered a jail docket review of all pre-trial detainees, something Harrell has already been doing for at least two years. He said they put Zoom in all five counties’ jail for hearings.
“I conducted personally a bond hearing in every jail of every pre-trial detainee,” he said.
Sometimes the review would be converted to an actual bond review he said. The jailer would bring forth the inmate and swear the inmate in. Harrell would ask the inmate a litany of questions that is required for cases for bond review.
The current session of the circuit court will continue through June.
