The coronavirus epidemic has disrupted courts across America. To slow the spread of the virus, courts have had to adapt their processes to new social distancing measures by transitioning to e-filing and teleconferencing, deferring non-emergency civil matters, or suspending jury trials. While many courts have reduced their services to protect the health of the public, attorneys, judges and other court personnel, the courts remain committed to stay open so that they can provide essential court services, such as hearing civil protection and restraining orders and certain criminal matters.
To learn more about how the coronavirus has affected the courts, read Coronavirus and the Courts: Technology, Public Health, and Access to Justice by Sarah Andropoulos on our Legal Marketing & Technology Blog
Most state courts have a special COVID-19 webpage where they have aggregated all their news and court orders. Since the situation is rapidly changing, be sure to check their websites for the latest updates.
State Court COVID-19 Information Webpages
- Alabama Administrative Office of Courts COVID-19 Updates. Includes administrative orders and COVID-19 pandemic emergency response orders.
- Alaska Court System COVID-19 Response. Includes orders related to COVID-19 and listings of telephonic hearings and conference lines.
- Arizona Judicial Branch COVID-19 Information & Updates. Features administrative orders, court announcements and information on court closures and suspensions.
- Arkansas Supreme Court Statement on Novel Coronavirus Outbreak and the Courts. Features updates from the Arkansas Supreme Court, information on videoconferencing, and notices of judiciary closures, cancellations and changes.
- California Courts Newsroom: COVID-19 Updates. Reports on actions taken by the California Supreme Court, including court emergency orders, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Colorado Judicial Branch COVID-19 Important Announcements. Includes the court operations order by Chief Justice Coats and links to the appellate courts and judicial districts.
- Connecticut Judicial Branch COVID-19 Updates. Covers the mitigation plan to halt the spread of COVID-19.
- Delaware Judiciary Response to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Includes statements and press releases, court orders, and general advisories.
- District of Columbia Courts’ Coronavirus Advisories. Features court orders, updates and operating status.
- Florida Courts COVID-19 Information & Updates. Features the Florida State Courts Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Outbreaks, administrative orders, planning templates, reports and presentations.
- Georgia Supreme Court Information Regarding the Coronavirus. Includes court orders, announcements and press releases.
- Hawai’i State Judiciary COVID-19 Information. Provides judiciary updates, courthouse and facility updates, and court orders.
- Idaho Judicial Branch. Provides state judicial emergency orders from the Idaho Supreme Court and state district courts.
- Illinois Courts COVID-19 Information and Updates. Provides updates and orders from the Illinois Supreme Court, appellate courts and circuit courts.
- Indiana Judicial Branch COVID-19 Responses and Resources. Features emergency petitions for administrative orders, sample documents and statements by the Chief Justice.
- Iowa Judicial Branch COVID-19 Information and Updates. Features updates, orders and bench guides, news releases, and FAQs for Judicial Branch employees..
- Kansas Courts Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Features Supreme Court administrative orders, news releases and information for attorneys.
- Kentucky Court of Justice: COVID-19 and the Courts. Covers news releases and Supreme Court orders.
- Louisiana Supreme Court Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources. Features Louisiana Supreme Court orders, information, and orders from state circuit courts of appeal and judicial district courts.
- Maine Judicial Branch Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information. Features emergency orders, notices, and press releases.
- Maryland Judiciary Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates. Features information for the public, news releases and administrative orders.
- Massachusetts Court System Response to COVID-19. Covers temporary closures, court orders, and news and announcements.
- Michigan Judicial Branch’s Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Includes Michigan Supreme Court administrative orders, court communications and news.
- Minnesota Judicial Branch COVID-19 Information. Provides COVID-19 orders, information and other notifications.
- Mississippi Judiciary News. Includes emergency orders related to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
- Missouri Judiciary Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Provides notices and orders from the Supreme Court of Missouri, Missouri Court of Appeals and circuit courts.
- Montana Judicial Branch. Includes COVID-19 memos from Chief Justice McGrath, letter to Courts of Limited Jurisdiction judges, and local rules on protective measures on coronavirus concerns for Montana District Courts.
- Nebraska Judicial Branch &COVID-19. Provides information for court users, probationers, the public and attorneys.
- Nevada Judiciary News. General court news feed which includes items specific to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- New Hampshire Judicial Branch: Important Information About the Judicial Branch Response to COVID-19. Covers electronic filings, cancellations and postponements, and media protocol for court coverage due to COVID-19.
- New Jersey Courts COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates. Features press releases and orders and notices to the bar.
- New Mexico Courts – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information. Provides court orders, press releases and information for jurors, witnesses, and lawyers.
- New York State Courts and Coronavirus. Includes news, administrative orders, press releases and court protocols.
- North Carolina COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Updates. Provides announcements, county updates, as well as closings and advisories.
- North Dakota Emergency Order and Pandemic Response. Covers emergency orders and information on continuances and rescheduling.
- Ohio Supreme Court & Judicial System Coronavirus Resources. Features Supreme Court of Ohio Guidance to Local Courts, Ohio Judicial Conference COVID-19 Emergency Planning, Adult Offender Supervision Guidelines and Restrictions,.
- Oklahoma State Courts Network Notices. Includes appellate and county court notices regarding COVID-19 State of Disaster.
- Oregon State Courts. Includes alerts and emergency closures in response to coronavirus (COVID-19).
- Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Coronavirus Information. Features court orders, notices and news.
- Rhode Island Judiciary Opinions and Orders. Includes executive and miscellaneous orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- South Carolina Judicial Branch Coronavirus Information. Includes court orders and memos.
- South Dakota Unified Judicial System: COVID-19 Response. Includes court orders, COVID procedures, and courthouse safety measures.
- Tennessee State Courts Coronavirus & Court Leadership. Features Tennessee court orders, rules and policies related to coronavirus.
- Texas Judicial Branch. Includes emergency orders, electronic hearings, court guidance and court closures related to COVID-19.
- Utah State Courts Alerts and Information. Includes administrative orders and information on court closings.
- Vermont Judiciary: Information regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Court Operations. Includes administrative orders, postponements, and changes to court procedures.
- Virginia COVID-19 Appellate and Local Court Information. Includes orders and notices.
- Washington Courts COVID-19 Response. Features Washington Supreme Court orders.
- West Virginia Judiciary Pandemic Response Documents. Include administrative orders and COVID-19 planning documents.
- Wisconsin Court System. COVID-19 court orders appear on the COVID-19 tab.
- Wyoming Judicial Branch Coronavirus COVID-19 Updates. Features court orders, new releases and building access information.
Publications
- Epidemic and California Courts. Covers California court considerations and strategies to pandemic influenza. By the Administrative Office of the Courts.
- Georgia Pandemic Bench Guide. Covers involuntary treatment for communicable disease, quarantine, temporary closures or evacuations, habeas corpus, and searches of property. By the Administrative Office of the Courts of Georgia and the Judicial Council of Georgia.
- Guidelines for Pandemic Emergency Preparedness Planning: A Road Map for Courts. Covers the relationships of the courts and public health agencies in a pandemic emergency, constitutional and legal questions, court operations during a pandemic Produced by the Criminal Courts Technical Assistance Project at American University.
- Nebraska Pandemic Bench Book. Covers public health actions, State Emergency Operations Plan (SEOP) and Nebraska Emergency Act (EMA), and constitutional issues, and operation of the courts. By Chief Justice Michael G. Heavican Pandemic Bench Book Task Force.
- Pandemic Influenza Bench Book for Virginia’s Court System. Covers continuity of operations planning; jurisdictional issues in matters of public health; operations and case management; staffing, human resources and employment law; and facilities, security, and placement of juveniles and detainees. By the Supreme Court of Virginia’s Pandemic Flu Preparedness Commission.
- Pandemic Influenza Benchguide: Legal Issues Concerning Quarantine and Isolation. Covers the role of Florida Courts in a public health emergency, maintaining designated essential court functions during the emergency, and strategies for practical problems arising from a pandemic. From the Florida Court Education Committee.
- Preparing for a Pandemic: An Emergency Response Benchbook and Operational Guidebook for State Court Judges and Administrators. Covers legal issues arising during a pandemic and operating the courts during a pandemic. From the National Center for State Courts.
- Public Health Preparedness Bench Book: A Guide for the Ohio Judiciary & Bar on Legal Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies & Routine Health Cases. Covers federal and state jurisdiction over public health issues, citizen relief from government action, and operating a judicial system during a public health emergency. By Judge Robert P. Ringland.
