Kentucky courts to stay closed through May 31 to prevent spread of COVID-19
Kentucky state courts have been mostly closed for nearly a month, and state Chief Justice John Minton Jr. ordered Tuesday that they remain that way through May.
In March, it was ordered that courts partially close until April 17, and that all non-emergency matters be rescheduled. Matters exempt from the order include domestic violence hearings, bond hearings and arraignments.
The order extending the closure through May 31 was entered Tuesday by Minton, and the rest of the state’s Supreme Court unanimously concurred.
People who need to pay court costs, restitution or fines can pay by money order or calling their local circuit court clerk’s office, according to the order. Pre-payable citations can be paid online at kycourts.gov.
When the first month-long closure of state courts was announced in March, Kentucky Public Advocate Damon Preston spoke to the Herald-Leader and expressed concern that the hold on trials and most hearings would harm inmates waiting for their day in court.
Kentucky inmates and advocates worry that the spread of COVID-19 could be disastrous for crowded jails and prisons.
Non-emergency matters in federal court were also previously ordered to be postponed from mid-March to May 1.
This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 6:50 PM.
