Due to the continued spread of COVID-19 across the nation and as more cases are discovered in Illinois, the Fourth Judicial Circuit has released updated guidelines four counties and courts in the circuit that will be in effect through March 30. In a press release on Monday afternoon, Chief Judge Kimberly Koester released the amendments to their procedures “in an attempt to reduce the possibility of spreading the disease.”
Per the release, the following cases will be continued to a different date to be determined by the court:
- All Civil and non-custodial jury trials;
- All Traffic cases, including Driving Under the Influence;
- All Criminal Misdemeanor cases;
- All Ordinance cases;
- All Small Claims cases;
- All Family court cases
- All Child Support cases;
- All Pay or Appears and compliance hearings;
- All Marriages.
The following cases will be held as usual:
- All In-Custody cases, including bond settings;
- All Criminal Felony cases with time constraints;
- All Juvenile Detention and Shelter Care hearings;
- All hearings involving Emergency and Plenary Orders of Protection;
- Any other emergency-type hearings at the discretion of the Resident Circuit Judge of each county.
The release also states that Probation Departments, State’s Attorney offices and Public Defender offices will continue to meet the needs of their clients, but will reduce in-person contacts. Koester also writes that “the Resident Circuit Judges of each county in the Fourth Circuit are afforded discretion to handle issues not covered by this Order as he or she deems appropriate.”
