Courts scaling back

SANDPOINT — The Idaho Supreme Court issued an order Friday scaling back court proceedings for the next three weeks in light of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The high court is ordering Idaho judges to excuse all in-person appearances in civil and criminal matters from Monday through Friday, April 10. The order does not apply to emergency matters, child protection hearings, domestic violence hearings and evidentiary hearings in criminal cases.

Judges are also being counseled to use teleconferencing and videoconferencing for all necessary hearings, including arraignments and mental health hearings.

The supreme court further ordered that all civil trials, hearings and motions should be postponed and rescheduled for a later date unless the presiding judge finds that the proceedings can be held and adequately recorded. Any civil trial or hearing currently in progress is to be continued or completed at the discretion of the presiding judge.

Justices are also ordering that reasonable attempts should be made to reschedule all criminal trials, subject to a defendant’s right to a speedy trial.

With the exception of emergency matters and hearings statutorily or by court rule required to be held, small claims, eviction, juvenile, probate, traffic and guardianship cases shall also be continued, according to the Idaho Supreme Court order.

In civil cases, courtroom attendance should be limited to attorneys, parties, necessary witnesses and jurors. In criminal hearings, not including trials, courtroom attendance should be limited to attorneys, parties, victims and necessary witnesses. Access by the media to proceedings shall be at the discretion of the presiding judge, the order states.

Unless safety compels otherwise, judges are being ordered to issue summonses in lieu of bench warrants or notices of failure to appear.

Jurors who are ill, caring for someone ill or in a high-risk category shall have their service postponed to a later date, the high court ordered.

Justices are also ordering the installation of signage at all public points of entry advising individuals not to enter courtrooms if they have visited China, Iran, South Korea, any European countries or countries identified as high-risk in the previous 14 days.

The same restriction applies to people who resided with or have been in close contact with someone who has been in any of those countries within the previous 14 days or traveled domestically within the U.S. where COVID-19 has sustained, widespread community transmission.

The restriction further applies to those who have been advised to self-quarantine, diagnosed with COVID-19 or had close contact with someone with the virus and those with a fever, cough or shortness of breath.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.