Category: Indiana Supreme Court -- COVID

Indiana Supreme Court -- Update: COVID and the Courts

The Supreme Court has issued an order extending emergency relief to trial courts though May 17, and extending jury trials until June 1. Details include:

·     The effective date of all orders granting emergency relief to trial courts under Administrative Rule 17 is extended through May 17.

·     Courts shall not resume jury trials until at least June 1 without prior approval from the Court. All deadlines for trial courts to resume jury trials or submit status reports under previous Administrative Rule 17 orders for trial courts are vacated. 

·     Trial courts are asked to develop and submit transition plans for expanded operations by May 15. The courts’ plans should generally include proposed timelines for resuming normal staffing and loosening restrictions on spectators in courtrooms, plans for continuing or expanding remote hearings, and processes to determine whether conditions permit courts to start resuming jury trials. Courts are encouraged to convene local partners and collaborate on the plans. The order said, "The critical question to begin addressing now is how to transition—not when."

·     To aid in this effort, the Court has convened a task force including judicial officers from across the state and staff from the Office of Judicial Administration. The task force will develop guiding principles on how to safely and responsibly expand operations in Indiana’s courts. That task force will also invite input from state-level justice system partners like the Indiana State Bar Association, prosecutors, public defenders, sheriffs, and others.

The Court is continuing to work with public health officials and members within the judicial system, and will provide more specific guidance by future order.

Posted on 24 Apr 2020, 15:13 - Category: Indiana Supreme Court -- COVID