Court Orders/Updates and Information

Court Orders/Updates

Maryland

The Maryland Judiciary issued five new orders 12/22/20, extending Phase II operations through March 13, 2021, and extending the suspension of jury trials through April 23, 2021. Clerks’ offices in the District Court of Maryland and Circuit Courts throughout the state will remain open to the public for emergency purposes and by appointment for other matters. The administrative orders include:

Seventh Administrative Order Restricting Statewide Judiciary Operations Due to the COVID-19 Emergency
Sixth Amended Administrative Order on the Suspension During the COVID-19 Emergency of Foreclosures, Evictions, and Other Ejectments Involving Residences
Sixth Revised Administrative Order on the Emergency Tolling or Suspension of Statutes of Limitations and Statutory and Rules Deadlines Related to the Initiation of Matters and Certain Statutory and Rules Deadlines in Pending Matters
Fifth Amended Administrative Order Extending the Statewide Suspension of Jury Trials and Maintaining Grand Juries
Fifth Administrative Order Clarifying COVID-19 Health Measures in Courthouses and Judicial Branch Facilities

District Court of Maryland.

Beginning Monday, December 7 – December 31, all criminal and traffic trial dates will convert to status dates. All witnesses shall be placed on call or appear remotely. Any cases that cannot be resolved short of trial will be postponed. The exception is that if the parties agree that the trial can be entirely remote, and agree ahead of time, trials will be heard. (Dec. 5)
Administrative Order Update (Dec. 5)
Administrative Order — Phase II — District 6 (Nov. 25)
Standing Order 2020-20 re: Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19. (Nov. 11th)

Montgomery County District Court

Fifth Administrative Order Restricting Statewide Judiciary Operations Due to the COVID-19 Emergency. Effective through December 31, 2020.

Montgomery County Circuit Court

Message from the Circuit Court extending plea-eligible judge policy.
Effective on Monday, November 30, 2020, the Circuit Court will return to Phase II of emergency operations. (Nov. 25)
Message to the Bar from the Circuit Court Regarding Suspension of Jury Trials (Nov. 13th)
Fifth Administrative Order Restricting Statewide Judiciary Operations Due To The COVID-19 Emergency (Nov. 12th)
Fourth Revised Administrative Order on the Emergency Tolling or Suspension of Statutes of Limitations and Statutory and Rules Deadlines Related to the Initiation of Matters and Certain Statutory and Rules Deadlines in Pending Matters (Nov. 12th)
Third Amended Administrative Order Re-Imposing the Statewide Suspension of Jury Trials and Maintaining Grand Juries (Nov. 12th)
Fourth Amended Administrative Order Lifting the Suspension During the COVID-19 Emergency of Foreclosures, Evictions, and Other Ejectments Involving Residences (Nov. 12th)
Third Administrative Order Clarifying COVID-19 Health Measures in Courthouses and Judicial Branch Facilities (Nov. 12th)

All Maryland Court Orders can be found at: https://mdcourts.gov/coronavirusorders.

Virginia

December 18, 2020 Fifteenth Order Extending Declaration of Judicial Emergency

October 30, 2020 memo from Karl R. Hade, Executive Secretary, to Active
and Retired Circuit and General District Court Judges regarding CDC
Moratorium on Evictions.

Alexandria Circuit Court

6th revised memo regarding COVID-19 temporary procedures. (Nov. 5th, effective till Dec 31st)

Prince William County

Thirteenth order extending declaration of judicial emergency in reponse to COVID-19 emergency. (Nov. 9th)

Additional information on the VA Court Orders can be found at: http://www.vacourts.gov/news/items/covid_19.pdf

DC Courts

DCCA order addressing court operations through January 31, 2021

The DC Superior Court has opened five satellite locations for unrepresented litigants who may need access to WiFi and computer technology in order to participate in their remote hearings. (Click here to see the locations and instructions for scheduling a remote access computer station.) Litigants will need to contact the court at the number or email address provided at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing to use the spaces so that appropriate social distancing can be ensured. (9/14/20)

The DC Superior Court is conducting hearings remotely, except for a limited By order of the Chief Judge, on June 29, 2020, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals adjusted its operations to address concerns regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) through August 30, 2020. The court plans to issue another order regarding operations subsequent to August 30, 2020, which will further address court operations. (7/31/20)

Please click here for up-to-date information on all changes to DC court operations due to Coronavirus.

Court Information

The below links will take you to that specific Courts websites information on COVID-19. Overall DC Court information can be found here: https://www.dccourts.gov/coronavirus/