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28 ¦ FEBRUARY 1, 2021 NEWS

Attorney Jay Ruane Is Scared and Angry
Now Each Time He Steps Inside a Courthouse

By Robert Storace

Connecticut attorney Jay Ruane is angry and
scared that—with the coronavirus still in the
forefront of everyone’s lives—he and other
counsel from Ruane Attorneys at Law in Shelton
have to go to court and be at risk.
Ruane, 48, said he’s overweight, has a heart con-
dition and hypertension. He contracted COVID-19
last year, and fears more fallout. He says he has no
choice but to send his employees to the courthouse,
instead of going himself, something he said that
makes him feel bad.
That was the case Jan. 5 and the attorney whose
firm is known for specializing in criminal matters,
especially related to driving while drunk, was fright-
ened. Attorney Jay Ruane. Courtesy photo

Ruane said his going to court was unnecessary and “Between being in the hallway and in the court-
unfair when court matters could be done remote. He room, I was definitely more frightened in the hall-
noted judges and prosecutors will often do their jobs way. In the courtroom, as least, I was kept farther
that way, while criminal defense attorneys and their away from people than in the hallway. While I was
clients are left exposed to COVID-19 in the court- in the hallway, dozens of people walked passed me,”
houses, where temperatures aren’t taken of visitors said Ruane on Thursday, who knows well that there
and there’s only contact tracing of employees. have been cases of inmates with COVID-19 in state
“I was on edge on Jan. 5. I knew that every minute courthouses. ”There were also prisoners nearby
I was there, I could be exposed to the virus,” said there while I was waiting.”
Ruane, who contracted COVID-19 in April but said
he isn’t convinced that means he will not get it again. ‘I Tell Them the Truth’
Ruane hasn’t kept silent.
He has contacted various state representatives and
Prolonged Risk
Ruane was in court in Bridgeport for three senators about his concerns dating back months,
hours that day and was nervous the whole and said he’s also forthright with clients who ask
time. why they are going to court when others can do so
“It was very nerve-wracking walking into a place remotely.
that could give me the virus again. But, I had no “I tell them the truth: It’s because they are persons
choice because I had a duty to my client,” he said. of color or they have been accused of a crime,” Ru-
Ruane spent 45 minutes sitting in a hallway out- ane said.
side the prosecutor’s office, with court employees Ruane said he has attorney friends throughout the
walking past him in the halls. Another two hours country and noted “that in many other states, every-
and 15 minutes passed in the courtroom, as he wait- thing other than trials are being done remotely. Why
ed for his case to be called. in other states and not here?”

CONNECTICUT
Law Tribune