Opinion
Crim. 19-928-10 (FLW)
01-20-2022
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ELIZABETH CONOVER
ORDER REGARDING USE OF VIDEO CONFERENCING/TELECONFERENCING FOR FELONY PLEAS AND/OR SENTENCINGS
HONORABLE FREDA L. WOLFSON, CHIEF JUDGE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE.
In accordance with the operative COVID-19 standing orders, this Court finds:
[√] That the Defendant (or the Juvenile) has consented to the use of video teleconferencing/teleconferencing to conduct the proceeding(s) held today, after consultation with counsel; and
[√] That the proceeding(s) to be held today cannot be further delayed without serious harm to the interests of justice, for the following specific reasons: SEE EXHIBIT ATTACHED HERETO
Accordingly, the proceeding(s) held on this date may be conducted by:
[√] Video Teleconferencing
[ ] Teleconferencing, because video teleconferencing is not reasonably available for the following reason:
[ ] The Defendant (or the Juvenile) is detained at a facility lacking video teleconferencing capability.
[ ] Other:
EXHIBIT TO ORDER REGARDING USE OF VIDEO CONFERENCING/TELECONFERENCING FOR FELONY PLEAS AND/OR SENTENCINGS
The Court finds that the change of plea hearing to be held on January 20, 2022 cannot be further delayed without serious harm to the interests of justice, for the following reasons:
1. To ensure that the Court is not overwhelmed by cases and proceedings at the conclusion of this period of emergency. Currently, District Judges in New Jersey handle a substantially larger docket of cases than Judges in other Districts in the United States. New criminal cases continue to be assigned by the Court during the emergency. If the Court cannot resolve matters by guilty plea and sentencing, the resulting backlog will overwhelm the Court's ability to effectively function. The concern of such congestion and the particular harm that likely will be caused by delays in the processing of cases and matters in the future is particularly acute in this emergency, at least given that: (1) it is unknown when this emergency will subside and when the Court will be able to function at normal capacity (including, among other things, the empanelment of trial juries) and (2) this District's pre-existing shortage of District Court Judges which already has challenged the Court's ability to process and resolve cases.
2. To permit the defendant to obtain a speedy resolution of her case through an admission of guilt, and timely sentencing to afford appropriate punishment and rehabilitation. The defendant has asked for this case to be resolved today by guilty plea and for a subsequent timely sentencing. The Court is expected to have a substantial backlog of cases on its docket at the conclusion of this period of emergency. At this time, the Court cannot accurately predict where the defendant's case will be prioritized within that backlogged docket. As a result, the defendant's interest in a speedy resolution of her case will be seriously harmed if the proceeding does not occur today.
3. To permit the Government to obtain a resolution of the case so that the Government, already operating in a restricted capacity due to the emergency, may appropriately focus its resources on other, emerging criminal matters. The Government has asked for this case to be resolved today by guilty plea and for a subsequent timely sentencing.
4. To obtain a resolution to the case prior to the end of the time afforded the Government to prosecute such case under the Speedy Trial Act.