The Louisiana Supreme Court issued a new Order for Louisiana Courts in response to COVID-19 in Louisiana. - Press Release

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The Louisiana Supreme Court issued a new Order for Louisiana Courts in response to COVID
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>March 23, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-03-23_LASC.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>The Louisiana Supreme Court issued a new Order today</strong></a>, considering the continuing spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards&rsquo; declaration of public health emergencies in Proclamation Numbers 25 JBE 2020, 27 JBE 2020, 30 JBE 2020 and 33 JBE 2020, President Donald Trump&rsquo;s declaration of a national emergency on March 13, 2020, the Orders of this Court dated March 16 and March 20, 2020, and in consideration of public health recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus and slowing the spread of the disease while balancing the need to protect the constitutional rights and public safety of the citizens of the state by maintaining access to Louisiana courts.</p><p>The Court&rsquo;s new order sets forth the following:</p><ol><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">The provisions set forth in the Orders of this Court dated March 16, 2020, as amended by the Order dated March 20, 2020, remain in effect, but are further restricted as set forth below;</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">Courts must take immediate measures to limit access to courtrooms and other spaces, with absolute minimum physical contact, to practice social distancing and limit court activity to only the essential functions enumerated in Sections 2 and 3 of this Courts March 16, 2020 Order, as amended by the Order dated March 20, 2020, as modified herein, in accordance with the &ldquo;Stay at Home Order&rdquo; issued by Governor Edwards in Proclamation 33 JBE 2020 on March 22, 2020.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">As this situation is constantly changing, courts are further instructed to follow all guidelines issued by the Center for Disease Control, the President and the Governor, and to further limit access to courtroom and other spaces to the maximum number of people set forth in any future guideline or official proclamation that may be issued.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">All essential court functions should be conducted with the use of video and telephone conferencing whenever possible. Any court lacking the technological capabilities to implement this mandate shall notify the Judicial Administrator of the Louisiana Supreme Court so that accommodations can be made.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">The essential criminal matters set forth in Section 3 of this Court&rsquo;s March 16, 2020 Order should be conducted via video and/or telephone conferencing with increased frequency to alleviate potential overcrowding of jails, which is a public health emergency for citizens and jail personnel.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">The essential civil matters set forth in Section 2 of this Court&rsquo;s March 16, 2020 Order should be conducted via video and/or telephone conferencing, including but not limited to civil protective orders, child in need of care proceedings, emergency child custody matters, proceedings for children removed from their home by emergency court order, proceedings related to emergency interdictions and mental health orders, temporary restraining orders and injunctions, and matters of public health related to this crisis and other emergency matters necessary to protect the health, safety and liberty of individuals as determined by each court.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">All matters that are resolved by agreement of the parties and with the approval of the court that do not involve any appearance at the court may proceed during the pendency of this order. This authority does not extend to any matters suspended by executive action by the Governor, including but not limited to evictions.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">Courts should work with parish clerks to encourage in-person filings of court pleadings to be replaced with filing by other means, such as U.S. mail, e-filing, email or facsimile. In all criminal, juvenile and civil matters handled on an emergency or expedited basis, a record shall be kept under the direction of the acting judge for each action.</li></ol><p>&ldquo;In compliance with the Governor&rsquo;s stay at home mandate released yesterday, it is the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s responsibility to modify daily operations to reduce traffic to our courts by reducing the number of individuals in one space,&rdquo; Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson said today. &ldquo;The circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic are ever-changing and the Court is committed to supporting government efforts to flatten the curve of newly contracted cases by altering the means by which we interact. While remaining dedicated to due process and the rule of law, we continue to balance the legal needs of our citizens with their safety which includes the safety of our court staff.&rdquo;</p><p>Copies of the Court&rsquo;s previous orders can be found here:</p><ul><li><a href="/COVID19/orders/2020-03-20_LASC_EXTENSION.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Order for Louisiana Courts</strong></a> (3/20/2020) - amending the Court&rsquo;s Order of March 16, 2020 </li><li><strong><a href="/COVID19/orders/2020-03-20_LASC_DEADLINES.pdf" target="_blank">Louisiana Supreme Court Order</a></strong> (3/20/2020) - affecting filing deadlines at the Louisiana Supreme Court</li><li><strong><a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-03-16_LASCorder.pdf" target="_blank">Louisiana Supreme Court Order for Louisiana Courts</a></strong> (3/16/2020)</li></ul><p>Copies of the previous Orders and press releases from the Louisiana Supreme Court as well as information and Orders from courts across Louisiana can be found at <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a> and <a href="/COVID19">www.lasc.org/COVID19</a>.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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