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Courts' Response to COVID-19 Coronavirus
SPECIAL NOTICE:
All persons aged five (5) and older must wear a face covering that covers the nose and mouth when entering the Chesterfield Courthouses. It is expected that visitors will supply their own face covering; however, the Courts will provide disposable masks for those visitors who do not have their own. Individuals without a face mask will not be permitted to enter the courthouse except for those who cannot safely wear a face mask because of a health-related condition.
The Court can conduct remote hearings as appropriate. Please see the information published below with dates for April 15-16, 2020, as well as Remote Appearances for complete information.
Beginning Wednesday, April 8, 2020, the Sheriff’s Office will initiate temperature screening of visitors at the main entrances of both courthouses as a condition of entry.
Screeners will be masked and gloved. If anyone is turned away for having a temperature at or above 100 degrees WHO IS ALSO A PARTICIPANT IN A HEARING, the Sheriff’s Office will immediately advise the presiding judge. Such persons MAY still participate in a scheduled hearing by telephone from outside the courthouse AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PRESIDING JUDGE.
Courts’ Response to COVID-19 Coronavirus
Current Information Regarding Court Operations & Public Services
- Updated J&DR Public Notice (PDF), published Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021
- Updated Circuit Court Clerk’s Public Notice (PDF), published Monday, Sept. 28, 2020
- General District Court Order (PDF), entered Wednesday, June 3, 2020
- Motion for Remote Hearing Form (PDF), published Thursday, April 16, 2020. (Form for use in Chesterfield Circuit Court, General District Court, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court)
Chesterfield Courts
For the duration of the Governor of Virginia’s declared state of emergency --
All levels of Chesterfield Courts (Chesterfield Circuit Court, Chesterfield General District Court, and Chesterfield Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court) have met to plan for COVID-19. Please be assured that detailed planning is taking place and there will be more to share when and if more significant steps are necessary.
The most important information we can share is that all of us should practice good personal hygiene, including proper hand washing and cough etiquette. Please use good judgment when visiting the courthouses and stay home if you are sick. The Courts are involved in the County’s response to COVID-19 and are following the CDC and Virginia Department of Health for updates.
The Judicial Branch has a Pandemic COOP Plan and the Chesterfield Courts have their own individual plans that will be activated, if necessary. Here is an update that all three Courts would like to share with our stakeholders at this time:
All Courts:
- Online prepayments of traffic cases (where appropriate) and online payments of all fines and costs are strongly encouraged
- Inmates: Where possible, hearings will be held via videoconferencing; out of state witnesses will not be transported. Riverside Regional Jail has temporarily suspended in-person visitation; video visits may be accommodated.
- Please do not visit the courthouses unless you absolutely have to; if you are not necessary to a proceeding or may be able to conduct your business at a later date, please stay home
- Travelers from a Level 2 or 3 Travel Health Notice Country: Notify the Court immediately if you are summoned, via phone or email; your case will be continued. DO NOT COME IN PERSON.
- Illness: If you are sick, notify the Court immediately if you are summoned, via phone or email; your case may be continued. DO NOT COME IN PERSON.
- Attorneys: Attorneys may drop off filings in the Clerk’s Office without being required to wait
Circuit Court
- Please read information regarding service delivery during the Judicial Emergency from the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
- For more information, Email Circuit Court Clerk
General District Court
- Please read information regarding service delivery during the Judicial Emergency from the General District Court Clerk’s Office.
- Attorneys are encouraged to file speedy trial waivers on district court felonies for people who are in custody if continuances are required due to the public health emergency
- For more information Email Linda Moore
Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
- Bon Air JCC has temporarily suspended in-person visitation; visit with residents can occur via phone or video chat
- The Chesterfield Juvenile Detention Home has temporarily suspended in-person visitation; telephone visits with residents may occur and in-person visits with counsel of record may be pre-arranged through Willie May.
- For more information Email Laura Griffin
Past COVID-19 Press Releases Regarding Court Operations & Public Services
- Courts’ Joint Press Release (PDF), issued Sunday, March 15, 2020, at 6 p.m.
- Courts’ Joint Press Release (PDF), issued Monday, March 16, 2020, at 5:15 p.m.
- Circuit Court Clerk’s Press Release (PDF), issued Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 5:15 p.m.
- General District Court for the County of Chesterfield Public Notice (PDF), issued March 22, 2020
- Circuit Court Clerk’s Press Release (PDF), issued Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.
- General District Court’s Public Notice (PDF), updated Monday, March 30, 2020.
- Circuit Court Clerk’s Service Delivery Plan (PDF), updated Monday, March 30, 2020.
- Circuit Court’s Supplement, published Thursday, April 16, 2020.
- General District Court’s AV Notice (PDF), published Wednesday, April 15, 2020.
- Courts’ Joint Press Release (PDF), issued Wednesday, April 15, 2020, at 5:57 p.m.
- Updated Circuit Court Clerk’s Service Delivery Plan, published Wednesday, April 22, 2020
- Updated Circuit Court Notice, published Wednesday, May 13, 2020
- Updated Circuit Court Clerk’s Public Notice, published Friday, June 5, 2020
- Updated J&DR Public Notice, published Wednesday, June 24, 2020