Chief Judge Janet DiFiore on Monday announced changes in court operations in New York City Supreme Court and Criminal Court aimed at reducing the backlog of felony gun possession cases.

The backlog, totaling about 4,000 cases citywide, was caused by an increase in gun-related arrests and constraints on the courts related to the pandemic, DiFiore said.

The oldest pending gun possession cases will be prioritized and fast-tracked, DiFiore said, and the number of sitting grand juries will increase.