Shuttering of Connecticut courts brings relief and fear
State employees expressed concern Wednesday after three more state courthouses were shut down — one because of possible contamination of COVID-19.
Employees took to social network to complain after the state Judicial Branch Wednesday morning announced that Superior Court in Stamford was being closed because of concerns that a courthouse employee had come down with symptoms similar to the virus. A short time later the courts in Milford and Middletown were also being shuttered.
Danbury Superior Court remains closed as well, with cases going to Waterbury.
Courts are now supposed to close at 1 p.m. but court employees said with paperwork and defendants having to travel now from Stamford to Bridgeport, and Milford to Bridgeport, it may be nearly 1 p.m when they begin the arraignments.
Ron Nelson, president of AFSME Local 749 which represents the state’s court clerk staff, said the closing of some courthouse does put many employees out of the path of danger, but he is concerned about those employees who work in the remaining courts.
“I thought they were going to rotate staff members who have to be there but at this point the (state judicial) branch has not discussed that at all,” he said.
“Our overarching goal remains the same: to protect our employees and members of the public from the further spread of the virus by keeping as few courthouses open as possible,” said Chief Court Administrator Patrick Carroll III.
The cases in Stamford and Milford were transferred to the Fairfield County Courthouse in Bridgeport while the Middletown cases were sent to the New Britain court.
“Our work continues
daily to provide the highest possible protection to the public and staff,” Carroll said.
“It is somewhat of a challenge,” acknowledged Interim Bridgeport State’s Attorney Cornelius Kelly of taking on the cases from Stamford and Milford. “But I’m sure everyone will be able to properly address all the cases. The court, the clerk’s office, the public defenders and family relations are more than able to see that all the cases are handled in an appropriate manner.”
Since the Norwalk courthouse was closed two weeks ago, the Stamford courthouse has been handling the needs of the entire judicial district that includes Stamford, Norwalk, Greenwich, Darien, Westport, Wilton, Weston and New Canaan.
While there were no signs in the courthouse driveway Wednesday morning, two signs taped to the plate glass doors said the courthouse was closed until further notice.
Acting Stamford police Chief Thomas Wuennemann said the courthouse’s
closing should not be too big of an inconvenience, for his staff. Wuennemann said his officers have already greatly reduced the number of custodial arrests they make in favor of releasing defendants on promises to appear in court when it reopens.
For example, according to the police blotter released Wednesday morning, showing the names of six people arrested on Tuesday, none had to be sent over for arraignment, indicating that they were either released after posting a court appearance bond or signed promises to appear.
Those involved in domestic violence incidents after posting, however, will still have to be arraigned on the charges the morning after their arrests and will have to get themselves up to the Bridgeport courthouse on Main Street or face rearrest. During those arraignments judges frequently issue protective orders prohibiting contact altogether or requiring contact be peaceful between the parties involved.
Wuennemann said that
because of the greatly reduced amount of traffic on Interstate-95 driving prisoners to the Bridgeport courthouse will involve a lot less effort.
Last week courthouses in Danbury and Torrington were closed. A judicial marshal at the Torrington courthouse tested positive for COVID-19. And at the Danbury court a clerk who served the public through a glass window also tested positive.
“The COVID-19 crisis is unlike any other crisis the branch has weathered in my 24 years as a judge,” Carroll said. “Drastic steps must be taken to prevent drastic consequences, and we believe that such actions will help mitigate, rather than accelerate the pandemic."
There were 155 arraignments for those who were held overnight by police at 13 courthouses throughout the state from March 19 to 24, according to Judicial Branch officials. During the same time period, there were 283 arraignments of those arrested on domestic violence charges but were not held.