Court Orders/Updates and Information

Court Orders/Updates

Maryland

UPDATED: 7/20/20:

Maryland’s courts are now in Phase 3 of its reopening plan. Clerks’ offices in the circuit courts and District Court of Maryland are now OPEN.

UPDATED 6/4/2020:

Montgomery County District Court Skype Information: Download a file with Skype numbers for each of the District Court courtrooms. The numbers will be active on Monday June 8, 2020. The call-in number and the conference number will remain unchanged for each courtroom.

UPDATED 5/26/2020:

Administrative Order on the Progressive Resumption of Full Function of Judiciary Operations: The administrative order outlines operational directives to the courts across Maryland as the judicial branch continues to monitor the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The Administrative Order Lifting the Statewide Suspension of Jury Trials and Resuming Grand Juries states, in part, that grand juries may resume at the discretion of an administrative judge and new grand juries may be empaneled, as necessary. Additionally, grand juries that are currently convened may be extended by the administrative judge. All jury trials, both civil and criminal, will resume and trial dates will be scheduled beginning October 5, 2020. Priority will be given to criminal trials and other urgent court matters, such as family law emergencies. Any jury trial previously scheduled between October 5, 2020, and December 31, 2020, will remain, unless otherwise ordered by the court’s administrative judge.

The 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 Deadline in Pending Matters states, in part, that the number of days that the courts were closed to the public does not count against the time remaining for the initiation of a court matter. Filing deadlines to initiate matters will be extended by an additional 15 days, depending on the date in which a specific clerk’s office opens.

The Administrative Order on Suspension during the COVID-19 Emergency of Foreclosures, Evictions, and Other Ejectments involving Residences states, in part, that the stay on residential foreclosures and evictions will be lifted effective July 25, 2020.

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

Virginia

UPDATED 7/8/30:

Seven order extending declaration of judicial emergency in response to COVID-19 in Virginia. Under the constitutional, statutory, and inherent authority of the Supreme Court of Virginia, the Court unanimously EXTENDS the Declaration of Judicial Emergency through August 9, 2020, and ORDERS that the provisions of the Sixth Order Extending Declaration Of Judicial Emergency In Response To Covid-19 Emergency, entered June 22, 2020 (Sixth Order), shall continue to apply in all courts of the Commonwealth, except as provided herein.

UPDATED 6/5/20:

Memo from Karl R. Hade, Executive Secretary, to Active and Retired Circuit and General District Court Judges regarding unlawful detainers and writs of eviction.

UPDATED 5/19/2020: Fairfax County Circuit Court Procedure for Rescheduling Cases Currently set on the May and June Civil Term Day Dockets. Due to the number of cases on the upcoming Civil Term Day Dockets as a result of COVID-19, the Court has established a procedure that allows counsel and/or pro se parties to request to have a new trial date rescheduled prior to their scheduled Term Day date. To view this notice in full, please click here.

UPDATED 5/19/2020: Fairfax County Circuit Court First Transition Plan. The Fairfax County Circuit Court has issued a First Transition plan, which was formulated after consideration of the input from many stakeholders and in consideration of our current emergency situation and concern for the safety of those who work in and visit the courthouse. To view the transition plan, please click here.

UPDATED 5/15/2020: Fairfax County GDC – Phased Reopening Begins May 18, 2020 with Civil Trials and Small Claims. Following consultation with the Fairfax County Department of Health and upon extensive study and discussion, the Fairfax County General District Court will open to a limited number of “non-emergency” cases beginning May 18, 2020.

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

DC Courts

The DC Superior Court is conducting hearings remotely, except for a limited number of Criminal Division hearings, which will be partially remote. Check the Court of Appeals for information on appeals remote hearings.

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