All New Criminal Trials at DC Superior Court Postponed Due to Coronavirus

The DC Superior Court is postponing all new criminal trials due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to an announcement from the court, they will be limiting the matters it will hear before May 1, 2020 and all new jury trials will be delayed until at least March 30 and “may be extended beyond then.” 
“All persons summoned for jury duty from March 16‐27 should not come to the courthouse,” the release states.
The court plans to only hear emergency matters in Civil, Family Court, Probate and Tax Divisions and Auditor Master. All Stay Away Orders and all Protection Orders in Domestic Violence cases are extended until May 1. People seeking new protection orders will have access to the court processes.
The Marriage Bureau will remain open to provide licenses so that wedding ceremonies that were previously scheduled will go on as planned, but the court is asking people to “please limit the numbers of attendees.”
The Hill reports that criminal hearings will continue for Drug Court and Mental Health Community Court, extradition matters, presentment of indictments, pretrial and probation show cause hearings, motions to review conditions of release and presentments, arraignments, preliminary hearings and status hearings for detained prisoners.
In the Family Court, certain juvenile cases, Mental Health Commission hearings for inpatient respondents, Mental Health Probable Cause hearings and abuse and neglect cases will continue.
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