Gastonia Times

The Gaston County Courthouse is slowly making its way through a backlog of cases as bench trials are looming after being closed for two months because of COVID-19 safety measures. 

When the court reopened for in-person hearings, the Gaston Gazette reported on June 9 that there were few people appearing before the judge. 

“There’s just not been as many people in here as we were concerned about,” Gaston County Court Clerk Larry Brown told the Gaston Gazette. “All of our plans to reduce the crowds actually worked. It’s been better than we hoped."

Courthouses have been reopening in June as after long shutdowns because of coronavirus. Courts cannot hold jury trials yet, but other cases that do not create social distancing problems, the Gaston Gazette reported. First appearances and bench trials, however, are allowed. 

“I’m not a fan of bench trials, but we’re dealing in a different time now. We need to move some cases,” Gaston County Superior Court Judge Jesse Caldwell told the Gaston Gazette.

According to the article, the Gaston County grand jury has handed down more than 400 indictments. Caldwell also told the Gaston County Gazette he would consider bench trials for lessor criminal cases such as drug possession.