The Iowa Supreme Court has once again re-instituted COVID-19 requirements during court proceedings.

The Supreme Court issued earlier in December that anyone who enters a courtroom must wear a mask, regardless of their vaccination status. The change is due to the state being at high transmission risk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn says that is a change from the previous mandate by the Supreme Court that allowed individuals who were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 didn’t have to wear a mask. 

Laehn says another change is allowing some criminal hearings, such as dispositions, bond reviews, and arrangements to take place via phone or video conference. He shares his thoughts on moving forward with that temporary change.

“Personally, I’m not in favor of that becoming a permanent change because court proceedings are meant to be done in public. So the public can see how the county attorney is performing in the courtroom, what arguments the county attorney is making, what the county attorney is recommending, and also, even more importantly, can keep an eye on our judges, who are oftentimes shielded from any sort of electoral accountability. They really need to be making their decisions in public.”      

Laehn notes one other change he is in favor of is allowing defendants to plead guilty to Class D Felonies in writing, rather than appear in person.