Old court practices revived in Florida because of hurricane

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Michael has forced a Florida Panhandle county to revive old court practices, as inmates are making initial court appearances in person for the first time in years.
The Panama City News Herald reports that damage following the catastrophic hurricane that hit Oct. 10 left Bay County’s jail and courthouses unable to hold first appearances and bond hearings by video, which has become standard practice.
Judge Thomas Welch held some hearings in flip-flops