Cases Continue While Courts Are Closed Due To The Coronavirus
Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady issued an Administrative Order on March 13 limiting most face-to-face legal proceedings and suspending all grand jury proceedings, jury selection proceedings, and criminal and civil jury trials for a minimum of two weeks beginning Monday, March 16. The order authorizes local judges to use remote electronic means whenever possible to mitigate the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the courts and court participants while ensuring the continuity of Florida court operations.
All rules of procedure, court orders, and opinions applicable to court proceedings that limit or prohibit the use of communication equipment for the conducting of proceedings by remote electronic means are suspended from the close of business on Friday, March 13, 2020, until the close of business on Friday, March 27, 2020 and Judges have been encouraged to allow court participants to appear telephonically.
On March 16, Miami-Dade County Courts shut down public access to any of the circuit courthouses in Miami-Dade County through March 27 for all but urgent proceedings after Chief Judge Bertila Soto signed an Order closing all court facilities to the public except for access required for emergency or mission critical court matters.
While the COVID-19 outbreak is impacting how Florida courts are operating, normal time limits and filing deadlines in civil proceedings have not been extended or suspended, although, the Florida Supreme Court may issue additional orders extending or modifying emergency measures as warranted during the duration of this public health emergency. At Xander Law Group, our attorneys are actively working to assist our clients and with their ongoing legal needs during the COVID-19 outbreak. If you have any questions regarding how the modified court procedures may affect your legal matters, contact Xander Law Group today.
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