Most face-to-face legal proceedings in state courts will be suspended for a minimum of two weeks due to public health concerns over the coronavirus, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Canady announced Friday.
In an attempt to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, Canady issued an order suspending all grand jury proceedings, jury selection proceedings, and criminal and civil jury trials from March 16 to March 27.
Judges can ask the chief judge in their circuit for approval to complete a proceeding that has already started if it’s “required by the interests of justice,” according to the order.
The Ninth Judicial Circuit, which covers Orange and Osceola Counties, will suspend jury trials for the next two weeks, but juries that are ongoing will continue, circuit spokesman Julio Semino said.
“The Circuit will remain open, and all other court proceedings and core functions will proceed as scheduled,” court administration announced on Facebook. “Prospective jurors, if you were scheduled to report for jury between Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27 — your service is complete. Returning jurors who have already been chosen to sit on a panel — please report for duty as scheduled.”
Group tours and court-related events in March have also been canceled. Cleaning crews will be “regularly sanitizing” high-contact surfaces at courthouses in the Ninth Circuit, according to court administration.
“We are taking every precaution to minimize risk and protect your health while still providing essential services to our community,” the circuit’s administration said in the statement.
Orange-Osceola Public Defender Robert Wesley said inmates at the jail will be automatically appointed a public defender this weekend in an effort to reduce unnecessary face-to-face contact with attorneys. By Tuesday, those meetings will be over video.
“It can’t be business a usual,” Wesley said. “We’re going to just soldier on and try to do our job.”
Janitorial crews in courthouses of the 18th Judicial Circuit, which includes Seminole and Brevard Counties, will be cleaning and disinfecting “high touch surfaces” like stair rails, door handles, elevators, chairs and courtroom furnishings, said Seminole-Brevard Chief Judge Lisa Davidson on Facebook.
“To date, there are no plans to close courthouses,” Davidson said. “While many government offices and private sector businesses are able to suspend their services, the mission-critical work of the courts must go on.”
State courts will also be allowed to conduct legal proceedings through remote electronic means.
All time periods involving the speedy trial procedure in criminal and juvenile court proceedings are suspended from the close of business on Friday until the close of business on March 30.
mcordeiro@orlandosentinel.com
