New York Chief Judge Janet DiFiore on Monday praised the court system’s continued progress toward a “new normal” including some in-person proceedings, despite some criticism about the pace of the courts’ response amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are absolutely committed to restoring in-person operations across our court system,” DiFiore said. “And we will continue to do so in a careful and deliberate manner and at a safe and appropriate pace, dictated by all of the internal considerations and other factors that inform our operational decisions. We will not be swayed by the different interests that are seeking to either rush, or delay, our return to in-person operations.”