COVID-19 Court Closures & Guidance

COVID-19 has forced the closure of many businesses throughout the country, and the courthouses where DGS clients frequently litigate are subject to these same pressures. The limitations and closures of courts in Colorado and elsewhere vary widely from state to state and even within each state. DGS attorneys continue to monitor these closures and limitations. Please contact David Holman if you would like DGS to monitor additional states or courts.

Colorado

Federal Courts in Colorado

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • Operational Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
  • General Order, March 16, 2020
    The Byron White Courthouse is closed until further notice, and all filings should be made electronically or via mail. The requirement for parties to submit paper copies of briefs, appendices, and petitions for rehearing en banc is also suspended until further notice.
• District of Colorado
  • General Order 2020-3
    Until May 1, 2020 only persons with official court business may enter the courthouses and U.S. Probation Offices of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The Clerk’s Office and Probation Offices are closed to public entry. All civil and criminal trials scheduled to commence through May 1 are continued. All grand jury proceedings are suspended through May 1.
  • General Order 2020-2
    All civil, criminal petit, and grand jury selections and jury trials scheduled to commence March 13 through April 3 are continued pending further order of the assigned judge.
  • General Order 2020-1
    Certain visitors, including persons who recently traveled abroad or have been exposed to COVID-19, are prevented from entering courthouses or courtrooms.

State Courts in Colorado

• Colorado Supreme Court
  • Important Announcements Page
  • Order Regarding COVID-19, Order Extension
    All jury calls (with the exception of jury calls for criminal trials facing imminent speedy trial deadlines) are suspended through April 3, 2020. Individual judicial districts retain discretion to determine whether operations or matters are necessary to prevent a substantial risk of imminent financial hardship or imminent risk to the health, safety, or welfare of any individual or the community at large.
• Colorado Court of Appeals
  • Order
    All oral arguments scheduled for March 2020 and April 2020 have been vacated.

• Colorado Judicial Districts
  • 1^st Judicial District
    Courts have limited operations through May; all appearances except for matters concerning public safety have been vacated and continued.
  • 2^nd Judicial District
    Denver district court has reduced operations through May 15.
    • Administrative Order 2020-01
    • Administrative Order 2020-02
  • 3^rd Judicial District
    All court hearings set through May 15 will be continued for 60 days, with listed exceptions. The court is operating on an emergency basis, open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for essential functions.
    • Administrative Order 2020-03
  • 4^th Judicial District
    Visitors to courthouses are permitted to enter for limited reasons.
  • 5^th Judicial District
    Except for matters concerning public safety, all appearances and hearings set from March 27 through April 17 are vacated and continued.
    • Administrative Order 2020-102A-1
  • 6^th Judicial District
    Through April 3, the court shall only hear cases that directly affect public safety.
  • 7^th Judicial District
    Certain visitors are requested not to come to the courthouse.
  • 8^th Judicial District
    Except for certain essential proceedings, all appearances, trials, hearings, and other proceedings scheduled through May 15, 2020 are vacated and continued.
    • Administrative Order
  • 9^th Judicial District
    Courthouse access is limited to listed matters concerning public safety.
    • Administrative Order 20-01.A
  • 10^th Judicial District
    Certain departments are closed to in-person activity until further notice.
  • 11^th Judicial District
    Courthouses are closed for most regular business. Visitors are permitted to enter for limited reasons.
  • 12^th Judicial District
    All non-essential operations are limited through May 31.
  • 13^th Judicial District
    The court is attempting to maintain normal operations to the fullest extent possible. Certain visitors are requested not to come to the courthouse.
    • 13^th Judicial District COVID-19 Response and Continuity of Operations Guideline
  • 14^th Judicial District
    Except for matters concerning public safety, all other appearances, hearings, and trials will likely be continued at a later date. Parties or counsel shall contact the court to reschedule.
    • Administrative Order 2020-04
    • Chief Judge Directive 2020-05
  • 15^th Judicial District
    Except for listed matters concerning public safety, all appearances set from March 17 to May 1 are vacated and continued.
  • 16^th Judicial District
    Courts are operating on a limited basis. Before coming to the trial courts in Otero, Bent, or Crowley, please contact the clerk of court offices.
    • Administrative Order 2020-05
    • Amended Administrative Order 2020-05A
  • 17^th Judicial District
    Courts are operating with reduced staff and a focus on matters of immediate concern for public safety. All other appearances set from March 17 through May 1 are vacated and continued. Parties and counsel shall contact the appropriate court to reschedule.
  • 18^th Judicial District
    The court is temporarily closed and hearing only emergency matters from March 19 through April 3.
    • Second Amended Chief Judge Order 20-03
  • 19^th Judicial District
    Court will be operating on an emergency basis and offering only essential services, i.e., matters concerning public safety. All other appearances and hearings set from March 18 through May 1 are vacated and continued. All jury calls through May 15 have been canceled.
    • Revised Administrative Order 2020-06
  • 20^th Judicial District
    The Longmont Courthouse is closed to the public through April 17. The Boulder Justice Center will operate with limited operations through April 17. All non-emergency hearings will be rescheduled after May 31.
    • Court Operations During COVID-19
    • Administrative Order 20-102
    • Administrative Order 20-103
    • Administrative Order 20-104
  • 21^st Judicial District
    The Clerk’s office is closed to in-person service for all but emergency filings until further notice. Except for matters concerning public safety, all other appearances, hearings, and trials set from March 19 through May 1 are vacated and continued.
    • Administrative Order 2020-05
  • 22^nd Judicial District
    Except for matters concerning public safety, most other appearances, hearings, and trials set through May 15 will be vacated and continued. Individual judges and staff will initiate rescheduling of any such hearing.
    • Administrative Order 2020-02
    • Administrative Order 2020-03

Montana

Montana State Courts

• Montana Supreme Court
  • March 17 Order
    

• District Courts
  • Local Rules on COVID-19

Nevada

Nevada State Courts

• Nevada Supreme Court and Court of Appeals
  • Cancellation of Oral Argument and Public Hearing
    
• District Courts
  • Public Portal for Orders Imposing COVID-19 restrictions

New Mexico

New Mexico State Courts

• New Mexico Courts – COVID-19 Page
• New Mexico Supreme Court
  • March 17 Order
  • March 23 Order
    

North Dakota

North Dakota State Courts

• Coronavirus Response Guidance
  
• North Dakota Supreme Court Order 25. Coronavirus Pandemic

Ohio

Ohio State Courts

• Coronavirus Resources
  
• Supreme Court of Ohio Guidance to Local Courts
  

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State Courts

• Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals
  • March 16 Order
    
  • March 23 Order
  • March 25 Order

Texas

Texas State Courts

• Emergency Orders for COVID-19
  
• Current & Upcoming Closures

Wyoming

Wyoming State Courts

• Coronavirus COVID-19 Updates
• Wyoming Supreme Court COVID-19 Order, March 18
  
• Wyoming Supreme Court COVID-19 Order, March 20
  
• Wyoming Supreme Court COVID-19 Order, March 26