jury trial
Continuing case backlog slows wheels of justice for Whatcom public defenders — and their clients
October 22, 2021
Matt Benoit
Public defenders report having hard conversations about what they see as “completely unfair” options with in-custody clients, as the pandemic-driven halt to jury trials keeps people who are denied or unable to afford bail incarcerated and unsure of when their days in court will arrive.
Local courts work to catch up on COVID-backlog delays in delivering justice
July 23, 2021
Matt Benoit
Courts in Whatcom County are trying to regain the flow of delivering justice that was in play prior to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown — and the recovery is proceeding differently at each level of the court system.