During these trying times, we are providing a second update to Goodwin Weber PLLC clients and prospective clients. Major updates have been announced by the Maryland federal and local courts, as set forth below. We await instruction from the Virginia courts; as communicated yesterday, the Virginia federal court has postponed all misdemeanor criminal matters until April 30, 2010.
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Maryland Federal Courts
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The United States District Court for the District of Maryland is now restricting courthouse entry to certain members of the public. On March 12, 2020, U.S. District Chief Judge James K. Bredar issued a standing order regarding entry. People who have travelled to high-risk countries, the state of Washington, and New Rochelle, New York, are banned from the courthouse.
More importantly, on March 12, 2020, Chief Judge Bredar also issued an order suspending all civil and criminal jury trials in federal courts in Maryland until April 24, 2020. The full order can be found here.
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Maryland State Courts
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As of March 13, 2020, the Maryland Judiciary has made changes to current operating procedures, including the closure of Prince George’s District and Circuit Court to the public and statewide suspension of jury trials.
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Maryland Statewide Suspension of Jury Trials (as of March 13, 2020)
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Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Barbera ordered on March 12, 2020 that all civil and criminal jury trials in the Circuit Courts throughout the state of Maryland shall be suspended on an emergency basis pending further Order.
Virginia Federal Courts
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Northern Virginia and all of the Virginia Eastern Shore) has postponed all criminal misdemeanor matters until April 30, 2020.
Virginia Commonwealth Courts
We await instructions from the Virginia Supreme Court on the operations of the Virginia state and local courts.
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