Tina Luongo, Attorney-in-Charge of the Criminal Defense Practice of The Legal Aid Society, discussed the challenges facing defense attorneys in representing their clients in a legal landscape drastically altered by limited in-person meetings, remote courtrooms, and virtual hearings, in a recent story in Wired.

Technical challenges – including unreliable connections – have plagued virtual proceedings for much of the past year, and even when remote courtrooms work well, advocates say they make it difficult to litigate cases and present obstacles for people accused of crimes to mount a defense.

“My client has a right to confront and hold the government accountable,” said Luongo. “They have a right, under the Constitution, to confront the witnesses and be present to hear what those accusations are.”