An Update on Florida Court Closings and Delays Due to Coronavirus
A year after COVID-19 arrived in the United States, the presence of the novel coronavirus is still affecting our families, friends and neighbors. The outcomes range from simply frustrating to tragic, but virtually no one can say their life has remained unchanged. Our deepest condolences to anyone who has lost a loved one to this terrible virus.
Our legal system has been experiencing court closings and delays since the beginning of the pandemic, and the Florida court delays continue to this day. At Avera & Smith, we have dealt with many of these changes, so we wanted to share the latest information we have on Florida court closings and delays to keep you up to date.
Florida Courts Delay In-Person Jury Trials in 2021
The Eighth Judicial Circuit’s new Chief Judge Mark Moseley has suspended in-person jury trials in Alachua County and Baker County. At the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the Florida Supreme Court announced a statewide suspension of in-person hearings. Chief Justice Charles Canady put guidelines in place, with the help of a COVID Task Force, for each circuit to follow before in-person proceedings could be reinstated safely. Alachua County was able to lift the ban in June. Now that Alachua County has had a consistent coronavirus test positivity rate above 5% in 2021, with 100 new reported cases on a daily basis, the chief judge has made the call once again.
Non-jury court matters, such as first appearances, shelter hearings and more, may proceed as usual. Updated courtroom assignments, including Zoom appearances, can be found on Eighth Judicial Circuit’s master calendars. Whether you are scheduled to appear in the Alachua County Criminal Justice Center or the Family and Civil Justice Center, these calendars provide important up-to-date information that may be pertinent to your case.
What to Do if You Are Scheduled to Appear in Court in the Near Future
If you have a court date coming up, the best thing you can do is double or triple check where you are supposed to be and when. The Florida court closings and delays may affect everything from room assignments and appearance dates, and could even move your appearance to a video conferencing software like Zoom. Your attorney should be able to help you determine the final schedule and location of your hearing. If you do not have a lawyer and need help figuring out the next steps in your case, you can find a list of contacts and resources here.
When You Need an Attorney, Trust Avera & Smith to Fight For You
If you need a lawyer, contact our experienced attorneys at Avera & Smith to see how we can help you today. We have been representing Floridians for more than 65 years with proven expertise in the following practice areas: serious and personal injury, workers’ compensation and work-related claims, criminal defense, medical malpractice and business litigation.
From horrible automobile and truck accidents to lives destroyed by tobacco, we are here to help you get the justice you deserve. Our clients show courage every day, and we work tirelessly to give them hope for the future. Why settle for less?