The Law Offices of Jason Trumpler COVID-19 Public Health Crisis Update
These are scary times in the United States, and Central Texas specifically. Please be safe, be smart, be patient, and be kind. Take care of your family, and look out for your friends and neighbors.
As many of you are aware, courts throughout Central Texas are operating on a limited basis. For the most part, courts are only handling in custody and emergency matters until after the immediate threat passes. The courts are continuing jury trials and court dates to a later date. These continuances mean for many of you, justice is delayed. I know this is inconvenient and that many of you are looking for a resolution in your case.
While courts will be operating at minimum capacity to deal with this unprecedented public health crisis, our unwavering commitment to you and justice has not changed.
We will still answer your emergency calls 24/7 at 512-457-5200. While we have temporarily closed our physical office, in compliance with social distancing protocols, regular office hours will remain from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please only contact the office during office hours unless it is an emergency. I am also available by text during these hours at 714-403-9120. My staff will not be working until at least April 1, 2020. If you call the office during this time, and I do not answer immediately, please text 714-403-9120 or leave a message, and I will return your call as soon as I can. Keep in mind, with no staff, I am just a one-person shop. I will be available for telephonic, Facetime, and Skype consultations while we are operating in compliance with social distancing protocols. Tentatively, we plan on resuming normal office operations on April 1, 2020.
During this time, I will still be available for jail releases in Travis County if law enforcement arrests you or someone you know. I am also continuing to go to court to fight for our few incarcerated clients. I am doing everything I can to get these clients released on bond pending trial or to resolve their cases.
Additionally, while the courts are operating at a limited capacity, many prosecutors continue to work remotely. I remain in contact with these prosecutors via phone and e-mail in an attempt to negotiate resolutions on your cases. In some cases, if we reach an agreement, the court may allow us to come in for a plea. In others, we may have to wait.
Each county has a different protocol for how they are handling their docket in response to this public health crisis. As your court date approaches, I will e-mail each one of you individually to let you know when the court has re-set your date.
If you were asked or told to complete classes upfront, please continue to work on finishing. If those classes are temporarily canceled or rescheduled, please keep up and keep us informed of your progress. If you have a fever or are exhibiting any symptoms of the flu or COVID-19, please use common sense and contact the program in advance to reschedule. We must continue to work as a team to get you the best result possible.
If you posted a surety bond, you must continue to check-in and keep your bond company informed of the status of your case.
Remember, this whole situation is in flux, and things are changing and evolving daily.
As an aside, I know it is easy to get angry and frustrated with all of the inconveniences this virus has thrust upon us. Things will likely get worse before they get better. But like all things, this too shall pass.
We all have family and friends that are in the class of citizens that are particularly vulnerable. It is easy to joke about not caring since it will not directly affect you because you are young and healthy, but what about your parent or parents, or your friend who is undergoing treatment for cancer or is HIV positive. In times of crisis, we are all responsible for caring for one another.
I see people irresponsibly posting on social media misinformation from unvetted websites giving inaccurate data related to COVID-19. Like the virus itself, this crap gets spread rapidly, particularly to the most vulnerable. This class of people, unfortunately, believes this information and relies on it.
This virus is different than anything we have seen before. I am not a scientist. I am not a doctor. I am not an infectious disease specialist. Nor will I act like I am one here. While this virus has characteristics similar to viruses we have seen before, it is unique. Stop saying it is just like the flu, or the flu has killed more people. While technically correct at this point, this virus is only in its infancy. The ease and rapidity with which this virus spreads makes it different. I am not saying this to scare anyone. I am merely asking people to cease with the reckless dissemination of falsehoods.
I see a lot of people politicizing this health crisis for a variety of reasons, and I understand it. I have made jokes, and I am sure I will continue to do so with my tongue firmly implanted in cheek. While there have been failures of leadership at all levels, and this situation certainly could have been handled better, no person is infallible. While one can argue some people are more fallible than others, it is now a time for unity, not division. As has always been the case with our great nation, united we stand, divided we fall.
Focus on those you can help. Praise those that do help. Focus on what you can change. Be part of that change. And most importantly, let's focus on getting through this together.
