Today, Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks issued a memorandum to all trial court justices and judges in the State of New York indicating that starting next Monday, April 13, 2020, the New York State court system will take preliminary steps to open up remote access to the courts via Skype or telephone for non-essential pending cases, including tort, commercial, matrimonial, trusts and estates, felony and other categories of cases.  In the memorandum, Judge Marks indicates that “judges should review their case inventories to identify cases in which court conferences can be helpful in advancing the progress of the case, including achieving a resolution of the case.”  Judge Marks further writes that judges can “schedule conferences at the request of the attorneys, and can be available during normal court hours to address discovery disputes and other ad hoc concerns.”   Judges are also being asked to resume deciding fully submitted motions.  However, the existing prohibition on the filing of new non-essential matters will continue.  To read Judge Marks’ Memorandum, please click here.