As the COVID-19 pandemic eases in Illinois, Cook County’s courts will begin to get back to business early next month, even if many of the proceedings will still be handled remotely, for now.
On June 26, Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans announced the Cook County Circuit Court would begin lifting activity restrictions that have remained in place since March as part of the state response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to an order issued by Evans, the courts will resume hearing nearly all matters in all of Cook County’s districts and divisions, beginning July 6.
Jury trials, however, will not resume, just yet, according to the order.
However, most hearings and other proceedings will not yet return to the circuit’s physical courtrooms. Rather, Evans ordered judges to continue conducting proceedings remotely by videoconference “to the extent reasonably possible, subject to the limitations imposed by the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Illinois.” The decision of whether to conduct proceedings by videoconference or in person would be left to the judge hearing the case, taking into consideration any objections from parties involved in the case.
Since March 17, Cook County judges had handled emergency hearings in criminal and civil cases by videoconference. After July 6, that use of technology will be expanded to include “more proceedings that do not require jurors.”
“As we continue to navigate these times, the court will allow access to justice to the extent we safely can,” Judge Evans said in a prepared statement. “We will continue to hold many hearings via videoconference, and we remain committed to ongoing efforts to protect the health of everybody in our system of justice.”
According to a release from Evans’ office, defendants in criminal cases who plead guilty “may proceed to a sentencing hearing.” Defendants who plead not guilty can opt for a bench trial, before a judge, and not a jury, either in person or by videoconference, if both sides agree.
All misdemeanor proceedings, including traffic tickets, will be handled by videoconference, the judge said.
“Nobody should attend court in person if they have a traffic or misdemeanor matter,” Evans’ release said. “These matters will be held via videoconference, and parties will be notified by mail of their next court date.”
All civil matters will proceed, Evans said, except for most eviction and foreclosure actions. Those will generally remain suspended until July 31, Evans ordered.
However, landlords may proceed with evictions against tenants who endanger “the health and safety of other tenants” or present “an immediate and severe risk to property.”
Civil cases scheduled for jury trial can be switched to a bench trial via videoconference by agreement of the parties, the order said.
Anyone entering the courthouse will be required to wear face masks and submit to body temperature checks. No one will be allowed to enter a courthouse with a body temperature higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Courtrooms will also be equipped with plexiglass barriers on the judge’s bench. Seating areas will include decals indicating where people should stand and sit.
Marriage ceremonies will resume in Marriage Court or at courthouses by appointment, the order said.