United States | Night court

The search for justice in America is not a nine-to-five job

Courts should stay open later. New York City has been doing that since before it was cool

Two police officers escort a handcuffed woman into New York's Criminal Court Building at night.
Keeping the lights onPhotograph: AP
|ROOM 130, MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT

“I APPRECIATE everything that you’ve done,” Judge Jonathan Svetkey told a team of defence lawyers at a recent Night Court arraignment in Manhattan. The lawyers had asked for their client to be released under supervision. They had been working on getting mental-health services and a bed for the night. The judge was sceptical the defendant would accompany them to a shelter. “What if he says, ‘I’m going the other way?’ What are you going to do?” He set bail for $5,000. Judge Svetkey moved on; Night Court usually must handle 70-90 cases a shift.

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This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Justice never sleeps”

From the February 17th 2024 edition

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