Contact Us for a Consultation 410-415-3617

Blog

Courts specific closure due to COVID-19 and the cases still being heard during closure

Posted by Jerry Williams | Apr 15, 2020 | 0 Comments

On April 14, 2020, the Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals issued a Second Amended  Administrative Order Expanding and Extending Statewide Judiciary Restricted Operations due to the COVID-19 Emergency. 

The Chief Judge extended the initial closure date from May 1, 2020 to June 5, 2020. The closure extends to all courts in the Maryland Judiciary, court offices, administrative offices, units of the Judiciary, and the Offices of the Clerks of the Circuit Courts and the District Court. The Circuit Courts will continue to hear certain matters including:

  • bail reviews/bench warrants;
  • arraignments for detained defendants;
  • juvenile detention hearings;
  • juvenile shelter care hearings;
  • peace order petitions;
  • emergency evaluation petitions;
  • quarantine and isolation petitions;
  • extradition cases; body attachments;
  • extreme risk protective order appeals 

The Order includes certain emergencies will also be heard during the closure including:

  1. CINA matters,
  2. emergency delinquency hearings,
  3. emergency Habeas Corpus petitions,
  4. emergency issues in guardianship matters,
  5. domestic violence protective orders,
  6. appeals from peace orders,
  7. family law emergencies, including time urgent matters related to special juvenile immigrant status,
  8. temporary restraining orders
  9. criminal competency matters
  10. motions regarding extreme risk protective orders; domestic violence protective orders; peace orders
  11. contempt hearings related to peace or protective orders
  12. matter involving loc ally incarcerated defendants

The entire Order can be reviewed here: Second Amended Administrative Order

Essential court personnel will be available to the public by telephone during normal court hours. Maryland's Electronic filing service remains active and will continue to accept filings. The three jurisdictions, Baltimore City, Montgomery County and Prince George's Counties,  that do not currently participate in Maryland's Electronic filing system may post different options on their respective websites for filing to continue in each jurisdiction. 

Some counties, including Anne Arundel County has instituted procedures to allow for some cases to be held remotely. The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County has a procedure for Civil, Non-Domestic Cases, Family Law Cases, Criminal Cases, Juvenile Cases which can be further reviewed here: Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County

About the Author

Jerry Williams

Attorney Jerry “Jay” Williams, III cares about his clients. For over ten years, Jay has represented individuals in and out of court across the state of Maryland and Washington, D.C., during difficult times for clients. Jay has aggressively fought for his clients and pursued financial awards for p...

Comments

There are no comments for this post. Be the first and Add your Comment below.

Leave a Comment

Menu