Resuming court proceedings now in local hands Newly elected Chief Justice Paul Newby wants judicial districts, not state officials, deciding when and how to resume full court functions, including jury trials. This week, Newby said he believes key coronavirus-connected safety decisions are better made at the local level, by judges, and not in Raleigh. He suggested court officials consult with local health directors and examine other data. “We will be following the lead of our two senior resident superior court judges and the chief district judge,” District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said. “They fully understand the dangers of COVID-19 and the continued need for appropriate safety precautions.”