In a virtual arraignment session held on August 27, Judge Tammy Long Hayward presided over several cases, addressing various legal matters involving defendants appearing via Zoom. The session began with the arraignment of Kyle Naja Darrell Hatton, who faced charges related to vehicle registration violations. Hatton expressed confusion about the court process, indicating it was his first time using Zoom. After confirming he had a new vehicle with valid registration, the judge arranged for him to meet with the state in a breakout room to potentially dismiss his case.

Next, Carlton Mitchell appeared before the court on charges of possession of marijuana and a traffic violation. His attorney noted that they had not received the state's offer due to an expired contact number. The judge instructed Mitchell to provide his phone number and email via the chat function to facilitate communication with his attorney.

Rodney Wayne Smith was also arraigned for criminal trespass. After a brief discussion, Smith entered a no contest plea, which the judge accepted, emphasizing the importance of communication in relationships. He was sentenced to twelve months, with four days to serve and the remainder suspended, provided he had no further contact with the victim.

The session concluded with discussions regarding Mitchell's plea options under the conditional discharge statute, with the state indicating no objections to the proposed plea agreement. The court's proceedings highlighted the challenges and adaptations required for virtual hearings, as well as the ongoing efforts to resolve cases efficiently while ensuring defendants' rights are upheld.