In re Response to Covid-19 Pandemic

• Decision Date: 23 April 2020
• Citation: In re Response to Covid-19 Pandemic, 2020 Ark. 163 (Ark. Apr 23, 2020)
• Parties: IN RE RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
• Court: Arkansas Supreme Court

2020 Ark. 163

IN RE RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS

April 23, 2020

PER CURIAM

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court of Arkansas delivered per curiam orders on March 17, March 20, and April 3, 2020, implementing emergency precautions to help protect the public from unnecessary risks. See In re Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020 Ark. 116 (per curiam); In re Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020 Ark. 125 (per curiam); In re Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020 Ark. 132 (per curiam). On April 16, President Donald Trump released Guidelines for Opening Up America Again to help guide state and local officials when reopening their locations. Today, we announce additional measures to combat the spread of the disease to the public, including the employees of the Arkansas judiciary.

The courts of the State of Arkansas shall remain open. The previous suspension of all in-person proceedings in all appellate, circuit, and district courts shall be extended through May 15, 2020, and may be extended by this court as circumstances warrant. All previously announced suspensions and extensions from the court's earlier responses to the COVID-19 pandemic remain in effect until further notice.

The excepted proceedings listed in the March 17 per curiam, In re Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020 Ark. 116 ("emergency proceedings"), should continue to be held but only occur in-person if holding the proceeding remotely is not possible or feasible. If emergency proceedings must be held in-person, the court should ensure that (1) no more than 10 persons are gathered in the courtroom or in areas around the courtroom; (2) participants wear face coverings where possible; and (3) participants in the courtroom are separated...