Page 28 - Delaware Lawyer - Fall 2020

FEATURE
distance between jurors as they wait. In addition, video technology is being uti- lized to allow judges to appear remotely in the jury assembly room and interact with potential jurors, reducing or elimi- nating the need to have them come to a courtroom. In Kent County, jurors will be sent to the largest room in the courthouse — Courtroom 1 — where they can be seated in a socially distant way. And potential jurors will then stay in that one place throughout check-in, juror orientation, most (if not all) of voir dire and then through the trial itself. The courts also created instructional videos for prospective jurors at https:// courts.delaware.gov/superior/jury/ juryfaq.aspx, to both walk them through the new process and advise them of the new health and safety procedures that have been put in place.
Facilities
But perhaps the most obvious trans- formation due to the pandemic are the physical changes to our court facilities. Visiting the courthouse is now a very different experience than just a few months ago. The first thing you will notice upon arrival at one of Delaware’s three main courthouses — in Wilming- ton, Dover or Georgetown — are social distancing stickers affixed to the pave- ment outside the front doors to ensure people stay six feet apart as they wait to enter.
Once inside, masks that cover your nose and mouth are required for all, and are immediately visible on Capitol Police and courthouse security at the entrances, and on court staff that greet members of the public. New tempera- ture screening stations have been cre-
ated, using thermal imaging to quickly and unobtrusively take the temperature of every person who enters. Some may not even realize that their temperature is being taken as they pause to answer a series of COVID-19 screening ques- tions from Capitol Police.
After the security checkpoint, you will see clear plastic barriers have been installed in a number of locations to slow or eliminate the airborne spread of the virus, particularly in places where the public interact with court staff at information desks and clerks’ offices. Signs have also been installed in high profile areas throughout our buildings, to remind visitors about social distanc- ing and the mandatory mask require- ment. Additional signs remind visitors of new limits on the number of people allowed in elevators, restrooms and
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• Banking Law: Stephen W. Spence
• Business Commercial: John W. Paradee, Stephen A. Spence
• Construction Law: Donald L. Logan, Victoria K. Petrone
• Corporate Law: Roger L. Truemper
• Government Affairs: Glenn C. Mandalas
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Kevin M. Baird
John W. Paradee
Glenn C. Mandalas
Barbara Snapp Danberg
Chase T. Brockstedt
Stephen A. Spence
Heidi J.A. Gilmore
Victoria K. Petrone
Michele D. Wenz
Rebecca N. Doyle
Roger L. Truemper
Donald L. Logan
Stephen W. Spence
Brian V. DeMott
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26 DELAWARE LAWYER FALL 2020