Criminal Law Section leaders are concerned that the COVID-19 pandemic is denying young prosecutors and public defenders the mentoring they need to succeed.

“They’re learning to become lawyers in their kitchens by themselves,” 11th Circuit Judge Angélica Zayas told an October 9 meeting of the CLS executive council. “There are attorneys in the 11th who have gone through their whole juvenile rotation without ever entering the courthouse — ever.”

The council discussed various proposals for nurturing the future of the criminal trial bar, from improving section representation on the 52-member Board of Governors, to assigning more liaisons to Bar rules committees and attracting younger members.