Recent temporary delays in trials and other mandates have come down from the Iowa Supreme Court.

An order was issued by the Supreme Court to delay all criminal trials until April 20th. Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn says there was one trial scheduled for April 7th that will have to be continued. While that is going on, Laehn notes another change the Supreme Court has given a waiver to, which is submitting guilty pleas for felony cases.

“Normally under the law a felony guilty plea has to be done in person (and) before a judge. The Supreme Court has waived that requirement so that defendants can now submit written guilty pleas in felony cases, and thankfully they’ve provided us now with a form, such a form has never existed before.”

Laehn adds, plea agreements can also be submitted in writing. He notes, all other law enforcement operations will remain as normal.

“Our law enforcement agencies are still operating, we’re still enforcing the law (and) my office is staying open because the county attorney has deadlines. When someone is arrested and indictment has to be filed in a certain number of days.”

The temporary changes ordered by the Iowa Supreme Court is due to the novel coronavirus that is spreading across the state.