Court Closure Emergency Notice

COURT CLOSURE EMERGENCY NOTICE

Issuing Authority: — Recipient Entity:

Court Location (Facility Name and Address):

Incident Reference Number (if any):

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Issuing Authority has statutory and administrative responsibility to ensure the safety of court personnel, the public, jurors, and litigants and to manage the operations of the court located at the facility identified above; and

WHEREAS, the Issuing Authority has determined that an emergency condition exists that threatens the safe and effective operation of court services at the specified facility, specifically: ; and

WHEREAS, immediate temporary closure and extraordinary measures are necessary to protect life, preserve court records, and maintain the integrity of judicial processes pending restoration of safe conditions;

NOW, THEREFORE

For good cause and pursuant to applicable authority vested in the Issuing Authority, the Issuing Authority hereby issues the following emergency notice and order concerning the temporary closure and emergency operations of the court facility identified above.

1. ORDER OF TEMPORARY CLOSURE

1.1 Closure. Effective for the scope and duration set forth herein, all in-person court operations, public counters, and non-essential court events at the identified facility are temporarily closed and suspended. Essential court functions authorized to continue are described in Section 3.

1.2 Scope. This closure applies to the following spaces within the facility:

2. EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION

2.1 Effective Date and Time. This closure is effective beginning on day of , at (local time).

2.2 Duration. The closure shall remain in effect until the Issuing Authority issues a subsequent written notice terminating or modifying this emergency closure. The Issuing Authority shall provide notice of reopening as soon as conditions permit.

3. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS

3.1 Essential Functions. The following functions are designated essential and may continue as directed by court leadership: emergency judicial orders, arraignments necessary to preserve liberty interests, emergency protective orders, critical detention docket matters, and actions necessary to preserve life, safety, and property.

3.2 Staffing. The court administrator and designated supervisory staff are authorized to assign personnel to support essential functions and to permit remote or alternate-location performance of duties where feasible and consistent with applicable law.

4. FILINGS, DEADLINES, AND TIME COMPUTATION

4.1 Tolling of Deadlines. All filing deadlines, statutory time limits, and court-ordered time computations that would expire during the period of closure are tolled from the effective date until the date this closure is terminated, except to the extent otherwise ordered by a judge or applicable statute.

4.2 Electronic Filings. Parties are encouraged to file electronically where the court’s e-filing systems remain operational. Electronic filing procedures remain subject to applicable local rules and orders governing service and filing.

5. HEARINGS, CONTINUANCES, AND NOTICES

5.1 Scheduling. All non-essential hearings scheduled to occur during the closure period are continued. Court staff shall provide notice of continuance to counsel and unrepresented parties in accordance with the notice provisions set forth below.

5.2 Emergency Hearings. Judges retain discretion to schedule emergency or in-custody matters in a manner that protects safety, including by remote means or at alternate secure locations.

6. ACCESS, SECURITY, AND RECORDS PRESERVATION

6.1 Access. Access to the closed facility is restricted to authorized personnel performing essential functions, emergency responders, or as otherwise authorized in writing by the Issuing Authority.

6.2 Records. Custodians of court records shall ensure preservation, secure storage, and continuity of custody for physical and electronic records. Any relocation of records must be documented in writing, including chain-of-custody information.

7. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

7.1 Delegation. The Issuing Authority may delegate specific duties and authorities under this Notice to the court administrator, chief clerk, or other designated officials as necessary to implement and administer the provisions of this Notice.

8. NOTICE TO PARTIES AND THE PUBLIC

8.1 Primary Contact for Notices:

9. LIABILITY, COMPLIANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT

9.1 Compliance. All court personnel, officers of the court, counsel, and parties shall comply with this Notice. Failure to comply may result in administrative or contempt procedures as permitted by law.

9.2 Immunity. Actions taken in good faith to implement this emergency closure and protect public safety are protected by applicable statutory immunities for official acts performed during emergencies, except for willful misconduct or gross negligence.

10. RECORD OF ACTIONS TAKEN

11. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

11.1 Severability. If any provision of this Notice is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the Notice shall remain in full force and effect to the greatest extent permitted by law.

11.2 Governing Law. This Notice shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws applicable to the jurisdiction in which the court facility is located.

11.3 Entire Agreement. This Notice constitutes the complete and final written notice of the Issuing Authority regarding the emergency closure described herein and supersedes any inconsistent prior oral or written communications concerning the same subject matter.

11.4 Amendments; Waiver. This Notice may be amended only by a subsequent written order of the Issuing Authority. Any waiver of a provision must be in writing and signed by the Issuing Authority.

11.5 Counterparts. This Notice may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The undersigned acknowledge receipt of this Court Closure Emergency Notice and certify that they have authority to act on behalf of the entities they represent.

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