Tina Luongo, Attorney-in-Charge of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society, was a recent guest on Cheddar News where they discussed a backlog of court cases exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Luongo explained that in the shift to remote appearances due process has been eroded, especially for people who are incarcerated. Luongo also stressed that remote proceedings also create obstacles for people who lack adequate or ongoing technology needed to engage with a virtual court system. The Court system plays a vital role to balance the interests and use the lessons of COVID to ensure that matters involving incarcerated clients are prioritized in Court and stop the longstanding use of dragging people at liberty into Courts for no reason.

“The courts have got to partner with other stakeholders, and get the balance right,” Luongo said. “It’s about balance, it’s about fairness, and that’s not happening. That’s creating more of a backlog of people at Rikers Island and creating real harm to people out in the community who right now are trying to get their lives back.”

Watch the full segment below.