D.C. Area Courts Slowly Reopen While Restrictions Continue

  Washington area courts are gradually reopening but with many restrictions as the coronavirus epidemic continues.

   In D.C. Superior Court, the number of courtrooms operating remotely is increasing from from eight to 19. They are handling civil, criminal, domestic violence, family court and probate cases to varying degrees, but not with juries.

   Criminal cases, for example, consist mostly of adult arraignments and detained status hearings. 

   Jailed defendants participate in preliminary hearings from a secure room at the D.C. jail. Lawyers and judges communicate through their computers.

   Civil cases are being used primarily for temporary restraining orders as well as pretrial, motion and status hearings.

   The court is scheduled to resume presiding over additional kinds of cases next month.

   â€œAt this point, we are ready to add additional courtrooms and case types to the list of those that will be heard while the pandemic distancing requirements are still in place.” D.C. Superior Court Chief Judge Robert Morin said in a statement.

   Loudoun County is following one of the region’s most aggressive schedules for court reopenings.

   Two of the courts are resuming in-person hearings but with restrictions. Both of them are located in the Leesburg courthouse.

   Anyone entering the courthouse will have their temperatures checked for fever. They also must answer questions to assess their risk of exposure to coronavirus. The visitors must wear cloth masks and follow social distancing guidelines.

   All of the local courts continue to struggle with giving witnesses, parties and victims access to court proceedings. If they don’t have Internet connections or smartphones, the courts are enlisting help from nonprofit organizations willing to allow them to use their computers.

   For more information, contact The Legal Forum (www.legal-forum.net) at email: tramstack@gmail.com or phone: 202-479-7240.