Your traffic court date in St. Clair County may change because of coronavirus fears
In an effort to reduce the number of people going to the courthouse because of coronavirus concerns, St. Clair County courts will not handle status conferences, small claims, and petty and traffic court cases for the next 30 days, Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson said.
However, “essential services” will continue to be offered on significant matters.
“We have a constitutional mandate to keep it open,” Gleeson said of the court system.
Gleeson discussed the status of St. Clair County courts Friday in an interview with the BND.
So far, there have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the metro-east, but like other institutions, the St. Clair County court system is taking precautions.
“Obviously there are cases that people have constitutional rights on that would be impacted if we closed. The essential services have to go on,” Gleeson said.
“Now, with that in mind I want to minimize the social contact that exists,” Gleeson said, so minor court cases will not be handled for the next month.
“We’re not going to have those courts open,” Gleeson said. “Folks who have non-essential matters before the court for the next 30 days are not to appear. We will reschedule.”
Gleeson said if someone has moved, he or she should contact the court to report the new address so the court can send schedule changes.
People who are sick or have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19, or coronavirus disease 2019, should not go to the courthouse.
“We’re going to minimize the number of jurors that we have to bring in,” Gleeson said.
If there is a request for a marriage, only the couple getting married will be allowed to attend for the next month.
“We’re doing our best to minimize the general public from having to be here, particularly in any significant numbers while we maintain our obligations to the constitution and the court system,” Gleeson said.
As far as whether the entire court system would close, Gleeson said that would be up to the state Supreme Court.
“We’re an essential government service,” he said. “Just like the police and fire, we’re in that category, so to speak.
“We do have our obligations, notwithstanding the threat, to the general public and to us. I’m not taking that lightly, it weighs heavily on me and I’m doing my best to navigate through uncharted waters with the health of all involved in mind.”
This story was originally published March 14, 2020 at 1:04 PM.
