In a recent development, the Tenth Circuit has made a split decision that rejects the request for a new trial from a convicted domestic abuser of the Jicarilla Apache Nation. The defendant had argued that his right to a public trial was violated amid the COVID-19 pandemic due to court closure, and the consequent implementation of an audio-only feed. However, the appeal was dismissed on the basis that the defendant did not initially object to the audio-only arrangement. (Law360)
This court decision carries significant implications for the ongoing COVID-19 social distancing regulations within the judicial system. It provides an important precedent for legal professionals to reference, particularly in relation to public trial rights and alternative trial arrangements during wide-scale societal disruptions such as the pandemic.