Courts plan to reopen with changes
Businesses are expected to start reopening in McHenry in June, and the McHenry Courthouse plans to open at a limited capacity.
Some of the changes people can expect to see include video calls, specific seating protocols, and jurors seated at least six feet apart. A pilot initiative to allow virtual court attendance is in its early stages. Any notices with regards to such changes are likely to be sent out with official letterheads on them.
The Michael J. Sullivan Judicial Center has only been providing essential services since the stay-at-home order went into effect. The lawyers have been able to deal with most matters using video calls, however the more complex cases can now be heard in person. One program is being designed to allow divorce cases, traffic cases, and other small cases to be handled entirely via remote calls.
Court cases that would usually be open to the public will be streaming live on YouTube. Chief Judge James Cowling spoke about the reopening to say:
The parties related to cases that can be heard virtually have received notices along with corresponding Zoom links. People who do not have access to the technology required for remote appearances, or who opt against the virtual hearings, will get rescheduling notices for in-person hearings.
Some of the changes people can expect to see include video calls, specific seating protocols, and jurors seated at least six feet apart. A pilot initiative to allow virtual court attendance is in its early stages. Any notices with regards to such changes are likely to be sent out with official letterheads on them.
The Michael J. Sullivan Judicial Center has only been providing essential services since the stay-at-home order went into effect. The lawyers have been able to deal with most matters using video calls, however the more complex cases can now be heard in person. One program is being designed to allow divorce cases, traffic cases, and other small cases to be handled entirely via remote calls.
Court cases that would usually be open to the public will be streaming live on YouTube. Chief Judge James Cowling spoke about the reopening to say:
“We are opening all the courtrooms [and] opening the building to nonessential matters. You might call that ‘regular court,’ but of course nothing’s regular anymore. We walked around and figured you can’t have four chairs at a particular table anymore.”
The parties related to cases that can be heard virtually have received notices along with corresponding Zoom links. People who do not have access to the technology required for remote appearances, or who opt against the virtual hearings, will get rescheduling notices for in-person hearings.