Legal Aid lawyers who work at the civil and housing court at 141 Livingston in Downtown Brooklyn are sounding the alarm over the city’s rush to reopen the court, citing its cramped, narrow hallways and small courtrooms as potential hazards that could easily spread COVID-19, as reported by the New York Daily News.

While courts have made operational changes to reduce crowds at the court – such as conducting virtual hearings – the courts are pressing forward to resume in-person hearings in accordance with the government’s phased-reopening plans. Legal Aid lawyers are speaking out about the reckless, rushed reopening plan.

“The courts need to take a breath and include us in the conversation. It seems like they’re just barreling forward with no real plan,” said Joanna Laine, a housing attorney at The Legal Aid Society and co-chair of the Brooklyn Tenant Lawyers Network.