W hen Joanna Lin appeared for jury duty in New York City on March 12, she noticed the other 180 prospective jurors in the Manhattan waiting room were trying to … The Court may be able to handle this matter administratively without a hearing IF the DA and probation do not have an objection. — With jury trials set to resume in some Massachusetts courtrooms on Jan. 11, 5 Investigates got an exclusive first look at one courthouse to see how it will work. A. A. A. Please see Learn about eFiling in the Trial Court for more information. Please see, Tenants and small landlords can get legal help and information from the, The Probate and Family Court is open for business on family matters, including divorce, name change, child support, and more. Court contact pages are found here. If you do have to go to court, there are certain things you must do, such as wear a mask, social distance, and self-screen before you come. The public access index on MassCourts.org will display all new filings added to our case management system, and you may wish to check this site location. To request to appear for your hearing virtually, please call the court to ask how you should make this request. You may need to make your request to the clerk or register or file a motion with the judge. However, with limited staffing, there may be some delay in receipting the new filings. By order of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, all jury trials have been continued to a date on or after October 23, 2020. c. 140, §§ 131R-131Y); Show Cause hearings (unless the clerk determines to conduct virtually), Criminal Evidentiary Hearing on motion or request. If you are scheduled for jury duty before October 23, your jury duty has been cancelled. You can look up your court’s phone number using the Courthouse Locator or find your court’s email on the Court department emails page. To the extent that a judge provides such alternative dispute resolution services, that judge shall not rule on any dispositive motions or conduct the trial in the matter, should such event occur. Yes, all persons in the courthouse over the age of two are required to wear a mask or cloth face, and entry will only be admitted to persons after a screening for COVID-19 symptoms or exposure. Alternatively, you may contact either your local court by telephone, or the court where you believe the person is currently located, to discuss the filing of a petition without having to come to court as well as other options that may be available in the current health crisis (telephone contact information is on the District Court location information pages). Mass.gov® is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. C. if you would like to present evidence through a witness, with documents, or with photos. Every District Court Clerk’s Office is open for the conducting of court business. This page, Court system response to COVID-19, is, Courts are open for limited business in-person but are providing most services virtually. This document is called an “execution.” For a full explanation, view the Trial Court FAQs about the CDC moratorium order. A. Courts are also open to accept applications in person. Yes, all persons in the courthouse over the age of two are required to wear a mask or cloth face, and entry will only be admitted to persons after a screening for COVID-19 symptoms or exposure. Q. A. Households must meet certain income and other criteria to be protected. The public access index on. If your trial is a civil case and the case will be decided after a bench trial (a case where the judge serves as the fact-finder instead of a jury) without the need for in-person appearance in court, it is possible that your trial may proceed by videoconference. If you want to make an appointment, talk to someone about sealing or expunging a record, or have other questions, please call (617) 557-0225. DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL ORDER 20-3 MARCH 13, 2020 IN RE: CORONAVIRUS PUBLIC EMERGENCY ORDER CONCERNING GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS SAYLOR, C.J. Please see how to search court dockets online and which types of cases are available to the public online for more information. Tenants and small landlords can get legal help and information from the Eviction Diversion Initiative. Would you like to provide additional feedback to help improve Mass.gov? How do I obtain a protection order when the court is closed? By The Editorial Board Updated April 10, 2020, 10:00 a.m. Hearings may be in person or virtual (by phone or by videoconference). Generally, the District Court’s mediation programs are prepared to offer virtual mediation sessions. A. Click here if the video above does not load. The courts are operating with reduced staff due to the coronavirus. Q. A. Please see, which types of cases are available to the public online, If you aren’t sure when your case will be heard or whether your case will be heard in person or virtually, please call or email your court. Small claims cases are being heard at some courts, but not all. They will also let the other parties in your case know if the hearing will take place in person or virtually. If you have a court date listed for an event that is on the list of matters to be conducted virtually, it will be held virtually as scheduled. No fees or fines can be paid at a courthouse at this time. Coronavirus and courts: Massachusetts trial courts get deep cleaning; jurors expected to serve, but can seek extensions. Yes. Some courts also have options for the filing of documents without having to come into the Clerk’s Office, such as electronic filing or filing documents in drop boxes outside of a courthouse. Federal courts in Connecticut and Massachusetts on Thursday postponed all jury trials until mid- to late-April. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ordered that all jury trials, in both criminal and civil cases, are postponed until after October 23, 2020. Court email and telephone information is located on each of the District Court location information pages. It depends. You should contact your probation officer. The Center for Disease Control has issued a moratorium on evictions for certain non-payment of rent cases. If you are unsure whether to appear at court in-person, you should contact the local district court by telephone or by calling the Trial Court call center at 833-91COURT. Do not include sensitive information, such as Social Security or bank account numbers. Justice Melton suspended jury trials in December, citing increased COVID-19 infection and death rates in the Peach State since he had first allowed courts to resume jury trials in October. Can I speak to someone in person at a specific Clerk, A. The courts are operating with reduced staff due to the coronavirus. The first event that will take place when you appear in court will be a Case Management Conference. You can find public case information on MassCourts.org. Courts won’t order GPS monitoring as a condition of release or probation unless a judge finds there is a public safety need for it. The lists of matters that the District Court is hearing in-person are set forth below. You can contact the courts by phone or email. small claims trials, at the discretion of the court. The court will let you know if you should appear in person or virtually. You will not be summoned again until 2021, at the earliest. They may contact you by U.S. mail, email, or phone. Clerk’s Offices continue to receive mail, and the electronic filing system continues to operate in regular civil matters. My family member is held on bail, can I get a bail review? Jo…, Probate & Family Court division protocols for court operations, Superior Court frequently asked questions concerning COVID-19, Clerk of Court Policies on Filing in the Superior Court, Alternative options for resolving civil cases in the Superior Court during the …, Protocol for requesting a teleconference or videoconference hearing in Superior…, Tips for attorneys and self-represented litigants appearing in remote civil hea…, Hampden County - Guidelines for Operation for Civil Session During COVID-19 Pan…, Hampden County - Guidelines for Operation for Criminal First Session During COV…, Middlesex County - Guidelines for Operation for Civil Session During COVID-19 P…, Middlesex County - Guidelines for Operation for Criminal Session During COVID-1…, Suffolk Civil County - Guidelines for Operation for Civil Session During COVID-…, Worcester County - Guidelines for Operation for Civil Sessions During COVID-19 …, Well-being and technical assistance for lawyers during COVID-19, معلومات عن ""كوفد 19"" (كورونا فايروس) باللغة العربية, COVID-19 Informason na Kabuverdianu / COVID-19 information in Cape Verdean Creo…, Enfòmasyon sou COVID – 19 an Kreyol Ayisyen, Juízo Municipal de Boston - Perguntas Frequentes Sobre a COVID-19, Juízo de Comarca – Perguntas Frequentes relacionadas à COVID-19, Vara de Locações: perguntas frequentes sobre a COVID-19, Perguntas frequentes da Vara da Infância e Juventude sobre COVID-19, Vara de Família e Sucessões Perguntas Frequentes (FAQs) sobre o Funcionamento J…, Informações em português acerca de COVID-19 (Probate & Family Court), Varas Penal e Cível – Perguntas frequentes sobre a COVID-19, Tribunal Municipal de Boston - Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQs) - COVID-19, Preguntas Frecuentes del Tribunal de Distrito en cuanto a la COVID–19, Preguntas Frecuentes del Tribunal de Vivienda ante la pandemia de COVID-19, Preguntas Frecuentes del Tribunal de Asuntos de Familia, Testamentos y Sucesion…, Información sobre el coronavirus (COVID-19) en español (Probate & Family Court), Preguntas frecuentes del Tribunal Superior en cuanto a la COVID-19, Thông tin đại dịch COVID-19 bằng tiếng Việt, District Court location information pages, Trial Court FAQs about the CDC moratorium order, Plaintiff's Affidavit Concerning CDC Order, Petitions for substance use disorder commitments. What non-criminal matters are the District Courts hearing during this phase of the public health crisis? Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state, A. Are masks required to enter a courthouse? You will receive notice from the court with the next hearing date. Until March 31, 2021, qualified tenants who can’t pay rent can’t be evicted if they give the written CDC notice to their landlord. How do I access the Zoom hearing? To request to appear for your hearing virtually, please call the court to ask how you should make this request. On February 24, 2021 the Supreme Judicial Court issued the Fifth updated order regarding the operation of Massachusetts state courts and courthouses during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This form only gathers feedback about the website. You can reach the Clerk’s Office by using the general email address or main phone number for more information. To request an interpreter, contact the court or call the Trial Court Helpline at 1-833-91COURT (1-833-912-6878). The court will let you know if you should appear in person or virtually. The best way to reach court staff is by calling or by email – contact information can be found on the. If there is an objection, a video or telephone conference will be arranged. SAGINAW, MI — Jury trials in Saginaw and Bay counties have been suspended for April, and possibly longer, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If a matter on your criminal record is interfering with your housing or employment situation, please call the Clerk's Office where the record that you are seeking to expunge was created. regular civil cases, where litigants wish to do so. A. A. Some jury trials resumed on March 1, 2021. Do not include sensitive information, such as Social Security or bank account numbers. Court contact pages are found here. BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts’ state courts will resume jury trials at the end of this month to deal with a growing backlog of cases caused by the coronavirus, but with new safety measures in … This page, District Court FAQs Related to COVID-19, is. A. A. If you’ve been called to jury duty during COVID-19, please see the video What to expect when you are summoned to jury duty. News and information on actions being taken by Massachusetts state courts in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Cases that have been scheduled for a trial will be held virtually unless one of the parties doesn’t want a virtual trial. Updated Sep 20, 2020; Posted Sep 20, 2020 . During this phase, jury trials are limited to 6 person juries. Get more information on. A. Yes, if the bail was set in one of the District Courts, bail reviews by the Superior Court are being scheduled and conducted by video. A. Additionally, the judge may permit members of the public, including the “news media” as defined in Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19(2), to access the proceeding, which may include allowing them to sit in the courtroom, provided there is sufficient space for them to maintain appropriate physical distance. on either a computer, table or smart phone and “join a meeting” by entering the meeting ID and password if necessary. The affidavit states whether the plaintiff has received a CDC Declaration from the defendant. A. Court email and telephone information is located on each of. Yes, all District Courts are open to conduct certain designated business and to conduct hearings in certain designated matters. For a list of court locations and dates they will have access to jury pools, please see Trial Court Schedule for Access to Jury Pools for Phase 2 Jury of 6 Trials. Unless prohibited by statute, rule, or order, members of the public can virtually attend court hearings by videoconference or telephonic conference call. Massachusetts courthouses, which have been physically shuttered for the last two months amid the COVID-19 pandemic, are expected to reopen for in-person proceedings this summer, with jury … The order says cases where a jury has already been selected will continue until a verdict. Please use that email and a member of the Clerk’s office staff will respond to you as soon as possible. If seeking entry to a courthouse but you are unable to wear a mask due to a medical condition, the Trial Court’s ADA Coordinator should be contacted at reasonableaccommodations@jud.state.ma.us. You will find the main number to the courthouse listed on each of the District Court location information pages. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. Additionally, the judge may permit members of the public, including the “news media” as defined in. This may include, but is not limited to information such as:  the nature of your relationship with the defendant; contact information for both you and the defendant; the nature of the abuse or harassment that occurred; whether or not either you or the defendant are under the age of 18; whether or not the defendant possesses any guns, ammunition, firearms identification cards, and/or a license to carry; and, what relief you are requesting from the court, meaning what are you asking the judge to order. In this case, the trial will be re-scheduled to a future date when the parties can go to court in person. A. The courts are operating with reduced staff due to the coronavirus. Please use that email and a member of the Clerk’s office staff will respond to you as soon as possible. Massachusetts courthouses, which have been largely closed to the general public for months, may start to slowly reopen this summer, according to a letter sent by state judiciary leaders. will display all new filings added to our case management system, and you may wish to check this site location. If you wish, you can make a payment online using the ePay System, by visiting, Revised Appellate Division guidelines regarding COVID-19 internal operating procedures, Waiver of signature requirement for affidavit of indigency for appeals under G.L. A. Judges may, upon request, authorize a participant (attorney, party, or witness) to appear virtually while other participants appear in person, so long as it is consistent with the protection of constitutional rights. If circumstances warrant, you should not hesitate to contact the police directly. All individuals typically physically present in a courtroom will also participate in virtual hearings. Jury Duty in Massachusetts | Mass.gov If circumstances warrant, you should not hesitate to contact the police directly. The court may also establish a trial date. If the matter you are calling about is not one of the designated matters, and if you are not in urgent need of a response, the best way to communicate directly with a specific Clerk’s Office is to email them using the email address listed on each of the District Court pages on Mass.gov. My case is supposed to go to trial, will I be able to have a jury trial? During COVID-19, all warrants that Probation issues under G.L. On October 6, 2020, the District Court issued a standing order that requires that the first date for both pending and newly filed cases will be a case management conference, during which the court may: A. If you feel that there is an immediate danger you should contact your local police or emergency services. probation detention hearings of persons in custody, unless the detention hearing arises during the arraignment or as a direct result of the arraignment, which, in such case, shall be conducted in person; probation violation hearings of persons, unless a judge orders an in-person hearing; pre-trial criminal matters (for persons both in custody and not in custody), including tenders of pleas and admissions (unless ordered to be conducted in person by the judge); emergency motions for review or release of persons in custody, including those subject to, motions for funds for social workers and others necessary to put in place release plans for those who are being held pretrial, those who are civilly committed for substance abuse treatment, and those who are serving a committed sentence, as set forth in. You can find information regarding temporary court closures at: Temporary court closures due to COVID-19. Jury duty Vulnerable Pierce County jurors will be excused in response to the risk of coronavirus, the Superior Court, District Court and Tacoma Municipal Court said in a press release . Mass.gov® is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If you have not heard from the Clerk’s Office within a reasonable period of time, you may call the general phone number or email the general email account again. On October 6, 2020, the District Court issued a standing order that requires that the first date for both pending and newly filed cases will be a. A. What should I do if I was scheduled for Jury Duty? Judges may, upon request, authorize a participant (attorney, party, or witness) to appear virtually while other participants appear in person, so long as it is consistent with the protection of constitutional rights. Court email and telephone information is located on each of the District Court location information pages. The court will obtain all necessary information from you and arrange an immediate hearing with a judge by videoconference or by telephone. You can download Zoom on either a computer, table or smart phone and “join a meeting” by entering the meeting ID and password if necessary. At the hearing, the judge or judicial officer will decide if any witnesses will be allowed to testify. If you need to obtain a protection order outside of court hours, you should contact your police department directly and may do so by phone. 279, § 3 that would usually expire after 72 hours will stay in effect until the Trial Court has resumed normal operations. Payment due dates have been extended to November 1, 2020. A. Please note that courts are operating with reduced staff due to the coronavirus. Judges may, upon request, authorize a participant to one of the events listed above (an attorney, party, or witness) to appear virtually while other participants appear in-person, so long as it is consistent with the protection of constitutional rights. You should check with your attorney regarding the status of your case as he or she may be able to look up the court date using the Attorney Portal. Additionally, the judge may permit members of the public, including the “news media” as defined in. Please visit the Court System Response to COVID Domestic and Sexual Violence webpage for more information. No. Justice in the age of coronavirus Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ought to be a model for the nation. For more information view the, Allow the court to ensure the parties are aware of rental assistance programs and the status of any applications for such assistance. You will be asked to provide information to complete the application package for the type of protection order you are requesting. BOSTON (CBS) – The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is ordering new jury trials in the state to be postponed until at least April 21 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Who is allowed to be in the courtroom during, A. Jo…, Probate & Family Court division protocols for court operations, Superior Court frequently asked questions concerning COVID-19, Clerk of Court Policies on Filing in the Superior Court, Alternative options for resolving civil cases in the Superior Court during the …, Protocol for requesting a teleconference or videoconference hearing in Superior…, Tips for attorneys and self-represented litigants appearing in remote civil hea…, Hampden County - Guidelines for Operation for Civil Session During COVID-19 Pan…, Hampden County - Guidelines for Operation for Criminal First Session During COV…, Middlesex County - Guidelines for Operation for Civil Session During COVID-19 P…, Middlesex County - Guidelines for Operation for Criminal Session During COVID-1…, Suffolk Civil County - Guidelines for Operation for Civil Session During COVID-…, Worcester County - Guidelines for Operation for Civil Sessions During COVID-19 …, Well-being and technical assistance for lawyers during COVID-19, معلومات عن ""كوفد 19"" (كورونا فايروس) باللغة العربية, COVID-19 Informason na Kabuverdianu / COVID-19 information in Cape Verdean Creo…, Enfòmasyon sou COVID – 19 an Kreyol Ayisyen, Juízo Municipal de Boston - Perguntas Frequentes Sobre a COVID-19, Juízo de Comarca – Perguntas Frequentes relacionadas à COVID-19, Vara de Locações: perguntas frequentes sobre a COVID-19, Perguntas frequentes da Vara da Infância e Juventude sobre COVID-19, Vara de Família e Sucessões Perguntas Frequentes (FAQs) sobre o Funcionamento J…, Informações em português acerca de COVID-19 (Probate & Family Court), Varas Penal e Cível – Perguntas frequentes sobre a COVID-19, Tribunal Municipal de Boston - Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQs) - COVID-19, Preguntas Frecuentes del Tribunal de Distrito en cuanto a la COVID–19, Preguntas Frecuentes del Tribunal de Vivienda ante la pandemia de COVID-19, Preguntas Frecuentes del Tribunal de Asuntos de Familia, Testamentos y Sucesion…, Información sobre el coronavirus (COVID-19) en español (Probate & Family Court), Preguntas frecuentes del Tribunal Superior en cuanto a la COVID-19, Thông tin đại dịch COVID-19 bằng tiếng Việt, COVID-19 information from other state departments. c. 123, § 12(e) or § 35, (which are conducted in-person); motions to remove or modify wage attachments and payment orders; pre-trial events in civil actions, including case management conferences and the hearing of dispositive motions. If an order is issued, the court will notify you of the date and time for a follow up hearing after notice to the defendant. other civil matters deemed an emergency by a judge or clerk-magistrate. This form only gathers feedback about the website. You may enter the courthouse to address the warrant in-person. How can I file something in the District Court? Criminal cases where the defendant is in custody take priority. The conference call lines are for court hearings only. Q. Q. If you feel that there is an immediate danger you should contact your local police or emergency services. During the public health crisis, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts has instructed that parties will be allowed to bring their cellphones with them into courthouses. A. Can I have my probation conditions changed? How can I make sure my email is being received by the Clerk, A. A. Expungement Petitions are not among the designated matters the Court is hearing during this public health crisis considered Emergency Matters. A. Some wore masks, and just about everyone, including the court clerk, was discussing the coronavirus. Courts are also open to accept applications in person. During court hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., persons in need of a protection order should contact their local court by telephone (telephone contact information for the courts that serve your city or town can be found through the courthouse locator on Mass.gov).