Cook County’s courts will continue to remain mostly closed for at least most of the month of June, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On May 28, Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy Evans again issued an amended order shutting down the county’s courtrooms to all but emergency and essential activities.
The order comes as many areas of society have begun to reopen. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot have announced the easing of social distancing and stay at home restrictions, allowing restaurants, stores and other businesses shuttered for more than two months to resume at least some normal activities.
Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy Evans
During those weeks and months, trial lawyers have continued to pile up lawsuits, arrests have continued to be made and new charges filed, and judges have issued rulings in various matters. However, Judge Evans said the continued public health threat from COVID-19 has forced him to again extend the courthouse shutdown, perhaps by another 30 days.
The order declares that all case activity is extended by 30 days to July 6, or until further order of the court – which means Evans could lift restrictions sooner, according to a statement issued by Evans’ spokesperson.
“Chief Judge Evans considered entering an order to resume more court proceedings on June 15,” the spokesperson said in a prepared statement. “But he decided to extend the date to July 6 to allow enough time for all justice system stakeholders to ensure that more proceedings will be conducted in a way that protects everybody.”
According to the statement, Evans is “asking judges to review pending cases with attorneys via telephone or videoconference to determine when cases can be scheduled on or after July 6.”
Also, the Cook County courts are seeking to boost their use of Zoom to livestream court proceedings on Youtube and conduct court business via videoconference, by seeking 350 more Zoom licenses, the chief judge’s office said. The courts currently hold 50 such licenses.
As before, the new order would extend to July all hearings on traffic and misdemeanor cases, and would delay lawsuits and civil actions for another 35-56 days.
The order maintains the county’s hold on all home eviction and foreclosure proceedings for another month, as well.
No marriages will be now be performed until after July 6.