NC delays court cases to slow spread of coronavirus
Most North Carolinians with court dates in the next several weeks are getting a temporary delay in their cases.
Starting Monday, most court cases and other hearings in district and superior court will be continued for at least 30 days.
North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley announced the delays Friday in a news conference at the state’s top court.
“We will be doing our part to help slow the spread of coronavirus,” Beasley said.
The main goal is to balance public safety and public health, Beasley said. Officials didn’t want people to have to decide between skipping court and possibly compromising their health or the health of others.
“Thousands of people enter our courthouses every day, most often because they have been summoned to be there and will risk legal consequences if they do not appear,” she said.
The temporary cancellations, however, won’t apply to everything.
Juvenile cases and emergency proceedings, like those related to domestic violence, will continue as planned, Beasley said.
Other proceedings that are constitutionally guaranteed to criminal defendants will also continue without delay. First appearances and hearings for matters like bail, probable cause and probation will also go ahead as planned.
And even for those whose cases do get delayed, Beasley said, they will be able to ask their local judges to reconsider — if there’s a compelling reason to go ahead with the schedule as planned. Similarly, judges will also have the discretion to delay proceedings that wouldn’t otherwise be delayed, if they anticipate a public health risk related to coronavirus.
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“We’re really offering the trial court judges a lot of flexibility,” Beasley said.
And since the courts aren’t closing their doors at this time, officials will still be on hand to perform marriages, find or file documents and perform other regular duties.
But McKinley Wooten, director of the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts, urged people not to come into court buildings if they can avoid it — particularly if they’ve recently traveled to areas with outbreaks.
In the case of localized outbreaks here in North Carolina, it will be up to county officials — not the state court system — to decide whether to close the local courthouse, Wooten said.
To check your county’s status, visit www.nccourts.gov/closings. No counties had taken any such measures as of Friday morning.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
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This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 11:14 AM with the headline "NC delays court cases to slow spread of coronavirus."
