Coronavirus CT: District Court Juries, Trials Postponed For Weeks

CONNECTICUT — The Chief U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut, issued two orders yesterday regarding the implementation of revised court operations due to COVID-19.

Gov. Ned Lamont declared a public health emergency this week as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

What this means is that all civil and criminal grand and regular jury selections and jury trials scheduled before any district or magistrate judge in any courthouse, including New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport, are continued until April 10, at the earliest.

In a press release announcing the court's orders, it's noted that the actions have been made "out of an abundance of caution, in view of the Governor of the State of Connecticut’s recent declaration of a public health emergency throughout the State, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent advice to minimize the spread of the COVID- 19 virus through social distancing."

Here's the court's full order:

CT US District Court Operat... by Ellyn Santiago on Scribd

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“The judges of the District Court are deeply concerned about the health and well-being of our employees and visitors to our courthouses, and we are taking precautions to ensure courthouses remain open, people feel safe, and services remain available, " Chief Judge Underhill said.

The U.S. General Services Administration, the Judiciary’s landlord, is daily cleaning and sanitizing all public areas inside the courthouses in order to limit exposure to and spread of the virus.

The District of Connecticut courthouses remain open for all other business; however, specific entry protocols have been implemented, limiting access to the District’s courthouses to screen out high-risk persons, such as those who have traveled to China; Italy; New Rochelle, New York; and other high-risk locations in the past 14 days. A related order extends the restrictions to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s offices at 157 Church St., New Haven.

Staff in the District Court Clerk's Office are available by telephone and email (as shown on the Court’s Website), mail will be received, and intake counters remain open for filings. The Court’s CM/ECF filing system remains available 24/7. The public is encouraged to continue utilizing Court services while following all applicable public health guidelines.