On November 17, 2020, the Tennessee Supreme Court issued an updated order concerning the postponement of jury trials in courts throughout the state. Under the new guidelines, such proceedings will be suspended beginning November 23, 2020, and continuing until January 31, 2021. The decision was made because the state has seen an increase in COVID cases and there have been non-compliance issues with previous plans.
Retain Legal Representation Right Away
When they hear that their case won't be happening until late next year, many people will wait until their court date is nearly upon them to hire a criminal defense lawyer. Such a decision is a disservice. It might be true that their matter won't be heard in court for a while, but now is not the time to put off getting started on a legal strategy.
In fact, hiring an attorney immediately would be in their best interest. Effectively developing a compelling defense takes time and effort. With months to investigate and research relevant case law, a criminal defense attorney can expend the resources necessary to prepare and develop counterarguments to challenge the prosecution's allegations.
Thus, if you have been charged with a crime, don't delay in retaining legal representation. Having sound counsel on your side even when courts aren't holding jury trials can be beneficial in the long run. Your lawyer will have ample time to get ready to seek the results you need and want.
Your Case Can Be Handled Without Your Ever Having to Go to Court
One of the many changes the pandemic has brought upon the legal system is handling criminal matters through video conferencing. In April of this year, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended in-person proceedings. It reiterated in November that, where possible, video or telephone conferences should be held as an alternative to face-to-face meetings.
What the use of video conferencing means for your case is that many aspects of your criminal matter can be handled without your stepping foot in court. If you turn to our firm, May McKinney, we can take care of your case's details.
A Backlog of Court Dockets
It's important to note that even when trials do resume next year, it's unlikely that your case will be heard right away. Jury trials have been postponed off and on since March of 2020. Because of this, many matters scheduled for earlier in 2020 had to be pushed back. Newer cases have been piling up, creating a substantial docket backlog. The backup means that it may be months before your case is heard in court.
At May McKinney, we're here to help you understand and navigate all the new complexities cropping up in the criminal justice system due to the pandemic.
To learn more about how the changes will affect your case and how we can get started fighting your charge, call us at (615) 265-6383 or contact us online today.