Judge Says Insurance Fraud Trial Cannot Start Due To COVID-19 Stay Orders

(March 18, 2021, 8:02 AM EDT) -- NEWARK, N.J.  — A federal judge in New Jersey on March 9 denied a woman’s request to schedule a jury trial for insurance fraud charges against her to begin April 26 or dismiss her September 2019 indictment, writing that while he was sympathetic to the defendant’s request for a speedy trial, extensions to a standing order issued by the chief judge that delayed the start of all jury trials in light of the COVID-19 pandemic properly considered public health factors and the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution’s right to a speedy trial....