Attorneys involved in some of New York City’s first in-person jury trials since the COVID-19 pandemic swept across New York in March described the courthouse setting as “eerie” and “bizarro”—but most also said they were glad to get back to court.

After passing temperature checks upon entry, the lawyers made their way through nearly empty courthouses to find that courtrooms had been rearranged, with jurors spread out in the gallery and Plexiglas dividers protecting the judge’s bench, the witness box and the attorneys’ own seats.