New York Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, hailing the "Herculean effort" of court personnel, on Monday said more than 2,600 cases were settled or disposed of in the first week of expanded virtual court operations.

DiFiore, in a recorded video speech, also reported that more than 1,400 written decisions on motions and other undecided matters were issued. 

"We continue to do everything in our power not only to keep our courts up and running but to gradually and safely expand access to justice for lawyers and litigants across the state," said she in the speech.

The court system earlier this month rolled out plans to thaw the restrictions implemented in efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus. It announced that virtual court would be used in a variety of pending cases, including tort, asbestos and matrimonial cases. But, despite the relaxation of the rules, the court system said a ban on filing new nonessential matters would continue. 

In her speech, DiFiore said the state court system wants to go back to normal operations whenever it becomes "possible and appropriate."

DiFiore did not provide any timeline for when that might happen.

Instead, she said reopening decisions would be "calibrated to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic," along with the scientific data and guidance they receive from public health experts and other authorities.

"Our objective, in the short term, is to carefully expand virtual access, keeping in mind the special challenges faced by the self-represented and those lacking the technology to participate in a virtual forum," she said in the recorded speech.