Late last night , due to the high # of Covid-19 cases, the court decided to cease any further in-person proceedings the week of July 13th.  Here is the announcement:

UPDATING THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE

RECOVERY AND RE-ENTRY PROCESS

NOTICE: NO IN-PERSON PROCEEDINGS AT THE

COURTHOUSE DURING THE WEEK OF JULY 13, 2020

Over the past several weeks we have been constantly reviewing our plans and timetable for the phased re-entry into the courthouse and a return to full in-person operations. We have had some delays as we were reviewing the trending numbers with Health Department Officials and our Pandemic Response Team. That process is ongoing.

This evening, the PRT met to review the more recent numbers, some local occurrences and concerns.

Given the rise in numbers of people testing positive for the coronavirus, including people in the Court family itself and those who use the courthouse regularly in the practice of law, and other cases of people we know personally who have tested positive in the past few days, Chief Judge Ryan, in consultation with the PRT, has concluded the most prudent step tonight is to call off all of the in-person hearings or other proceedings scheduled for the courthouse this coming week.

THERE WILL BE NO IN-PERSON COURT PROCEEDINGS AT THE JOHNSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE DURING THE WEEK OF JULY 13, 2020.

We must be cautious and responsible to minimize exposure to ourselves, our staff, and the public who use the courthouse facilities expecting to be safe. We must remember we are still dealing with a highly contagious and unpredictable disease that is extremely dangerous to certain high-risk individuals around us.

For these same reasons, we will restrict all members of the public from coming to the Clerk’s Office or any Court-related offices for any purpose and return to the phone/e-mail/on-line means of assisting the public and the attorneys for this coming week.

Please help us convey this change in courthouse access to your respective colleagues and those with whom you are involved in litigation, including especially those who are self-represented in the process.

We will continue to review the ever-changing situation and update you as soon as possible. Once again, if you have questions about a particular case, contact the assigned Division. We do apologize for the lateness of this message but we are getting information to you as soon as we can after making certain we are taking the best course of action upon full consideration of the circumstances, consequences and alternatives.

Thank you for your continuing professionalism and example for our community.

Be safe. Stay healthy.

FOR THE COURT