Kentucky judges required to use video and telephone for hearings during coronavirus outbreak
While most of Kentucky’s court system is shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, judges will be required to use video and telephone conferencing for the high-priority hearings that they do hold.
The Kentucky Supreme Court on Tuesday announced some clarifications and changes to an order issued last week that mostly shut down the state’s court system for the next month.
The emergency order, which took effect Monday and will continue through April 10, is intended to minimize traffic within Kentucky’s courthouses to help slow the spread COVID-19.
The order was amended Tuesday to make it mandatory for judges to use video and telephone conferencing for all hearings, including arraignments and mental health hearings, rather than having people physically present in the courtroom.
Other amendments include:
- Clarification that domestic violence advocates can attend court proceedings. However, “No more than 20 people may be in the courtroom at any time unless the judge in his or her discretion deems it necessary and makes every effort to enforce appropriate distances between individuals,” the amended order states.
- A provision to give prosecutors more time to indict defendants, which should allow grand juries to meet less frequently. Normally, charges must be dismissed if a defendant is not indicted within 60 days. The order gives circuit courts the authority to add 45 days to that time. But commonwealth’s attorneys will have to request more time by filing a separate motion for each defendant, and judges will have to give both defense and prosecution a chance to be heard before granting an extension request.
- Suspension of new juror orientations unless the chief justice grants an exception.
- Clarification that the chief justice must give authorization before a courthouse can be closed.
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 8:54 PM.
