I was extremely apprehensive about doing it, but the circumstances required it. To properly represent a client who was granted an Emergency Order of Protection, I appeared personally in the Family Court, in Nassau County last week. While the appearance could have been made virtually, my client and I decided that a personal appearance was necessary.

From the moment I stepped out of my car, I felt protected. Out of habit, I walked over to the staff and attorney entrance, with my mask on. The court officer there, who I know, greeted me warmly from a distance but explained that everyone now must go through the main entrance. At the main entrance, another court officer, who I also know, cautiously took my temperature, and asked me the series of questions we have all become accustomed to answering.  My client and I were then asked to wait outside the building until the judge called us in.

Approximately a half hour later, a court officer came out of the building and retrieved me and my client and walked us directly to the courtroom waiting room. I was not permitted to wait in the courtroom as I normally would.   After a period of time, a different court officer came out of the courtroom and escorted us into the courtroom, telling us exactly where to stand. I was  literally asked to stand in the back corner of the courtroom. And when I made the obvious "Dirty Dancing" joke, it eased everyone's tensions a bit.

When we were finished with our court appearance, the court officer ushered us directly out of the building. On the way out, the court officer noticed a man walking to the restroom  wearing a mask below his nose. He stopped myself and my client, walked over to the man and admonished him for not wearing his mask correctly and watched while he fixed it, then came back to us and proceeded to walk us the rest of the way out of the building.

As I routinely appear in certain courthouses, I have come to know, like, and respect the court officers in those courthouses. And, I am lucky that I never needed their protection prior to last Monday.   But, on Monday, I saw them from a different perspective, as people I trusted and needed to keep me safe. And they absolutely did.

Who has kept you safe?