Brockton District Court Closes Following Coronavirus Exposure

BROCKTON, MA—Brockton District Court has announced that it will close temporarily for several days due to COVID-19 exposure.

The courthouse announced on Tuesday that it will be closed until Thursday, December 17 for cleaning purposes due to a staff member testing positive for the virus.

"The Brockton District Court will close for disinfecting and reopen on 12/17," says the district's website. "A member of the Clerk's Office who was last at the court on 12/9 has tested positive for COVID. Other courts at the Covett Courthouse remain open."

The temporary closure of Brockton District Court comes after the state announced on December 4 that in-person appearances and operations in the court system would be reduced until January 8 due to the statewide increase in COVID-19 cases.

"This week's daily COVID reports for Massachusetts and the Trial Court's experience with staff testing and court closures have made it clear that we must continue the reduction of in-person court operations," said a press release from the state's court system.

"Today, the Trial Court's COVID Court Operations Committee unanimously agreed that extending this practice through January 8, 2021, is the most appropriate action to safeguard staff and the public, in light of the exponential spread of the virus and the upcoming holidays, when people will likely gather," it continued.

Although Massachusetts courthouses have remained open, most Trial Court operations have been conducted remotely through video conferencing to prevent the spread of the virus.