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Circuit Court and J&DR COVID-19 Policies

As of 3/30/20

Alexandria

Alexandria Circuit Court

  • Circuit Court Clerk's office will operate on a reduced schedule from 9:00am to 3:00pm until further notice
  • Case information can now be accessed free online through the Alexandria Circuit Court Online Records system (previously only available by paid subscription).
  • Filings
    • As of 3/19, the court will not allow walk-in services for any matter. You must email case.intake@alexandria.gov to schedule appointments for civil matters (including for any courier services).
    • New pleadings for existing cases, should be mailed in or dropped off at the marked box located at the screening post of the courthouse.
      • Pleadings that have a fee can be mailed or you may schedule an appointment by providing information on the needed service and two preferred dates.
    • For copies of orders from case files and other pleadings, email case.intake@alexandria.gov and they will arrange payment over the phone and mail copies to address provided.
  • Civil Hearings, Motions, Trials
    • All civil bench and jury trials are suspended through April 17, 202. These cases will be set for status conference on June 8, 2020 at 9:00 a.m., unless the parties agree to appear telephonically by calling Judges' Chambers at 703-746-4123 and setting a new trial date.
    • All Motions Day dockets (2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month) are suspended through April 17, 2020, except those emergency matters set by contacting Judges' Chambers.
      • Emergency Matters include but are not limited to: Quarantine or isolation matters, Arraignments, Bail Review, Protective Order Cases, Emergency Child Custody and Protection Cases, Civil Commitment Hearings, Guardian/ conservator hearings.
    • The current civil status conference/selection of trial date docket is continued from April 13, 2020 to May 11, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.
    • All civil appeals noted from the JDR Court & GDC between March 16, 2020 and mid-May shall be scheduled by the Clerks of the JDR Court and the GDC for the June 8, 2020 Circuit Court Status Hearing/Selection of a Trial Date at 9:00 a.m. However, the parties may contact Judges' Chambers if they wish to select a trial date by telephone.

Alexandria J&DR

  • A liberal continuance policy is in effect for all cases in which both sides agree to a continuance
    • Special consideration will be given to continuance requests in cases involving ill or elderly parties, witnesses, or counsel and those who may be susceptible to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
    • Phone-in requests for continuances are encouraged but not required. Parties may consent by verbal authorization.
  • All Division of Child Support and Enforcement, child support and spousal support cases in March and April shall be re-scheduled to May and June 2020 dates. Written notice of re-scheduled dates shall be sent by the clerk. Any consent orders shall be submitted for the court's immediate consideration.
  • All CHINS truancy cases in March and April shall be re-scheduled to May and June 2020 dates. Written notice of re-scheduled dates shall be sent by the clerk. Any consent orders shall be submitted for the court's immediate consideration.

Arlington

Arlington Circuit Court

  • Filing
    • Effective, Tuesday, March 24, 2020, the Arlington Circuit Court Clerk’s offices will not be open to walk-in business.
      • All parties are encouraged to use the e-filing system in place by the Clerk of the Court for fastest service
      • Receptacles for in-person filings will be available outside each division’s door and will be processed throughout the business day.
  • Civil Docket
    • All civil matters on the Court’s Monday - Thursday dockets through April 3 are converted to status, except provided herein:
      • All matters currently set the week of March 23, 2020 are removed from the Court's docket and witnesses are released from subpoena. These cases are reset to the Court's docket of April 16, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. for status or to be set for hearing.
      • All matters currently set the week of March 30, 2020 are removed from the Court's docket and witnesses are released from subpoena. These cases are reset to the Court's docket of April 20, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. for status or to be set for hearing.
      • Friday civil motions currently docketed, except adult guardianship petitions, are removed and may be re-noticed on a Friday after April 26, 2020 complying with the 17th Cir. R.P.
    • No Friday civil motions, except adult guardianship petitions, will be heard through April 3, 2020.
      • Counsel in adult guardianship cases who still intend to appear in court must notify the court so they can take appropriate precautionary measures.
  • Adding to the Docket
    • Telephonic appearances are permitted by filing a pleading requesting the same and with a copy to Chambers via email ccct12.copy@arlingtonva.us. The written request must include a call-in number and counsel is responsible for coordinating multiparty communication calls.
    • Emergency motions properly detailed may be filed with a copy send via email to cct12.copy@arlingtonva.us. The court will determine whether or not to docket the matter
      • Emergency Matters include, but are not limited to: Quarantine or isolation matters, Arraignments, Bail Review, Protective Order Cases, Emergency Child Custody and Protection Cases, Civil Commitment Hearings, Guardianship Petitions
      • Should a party believe a matter must be heard by the Court prior to April 26, the emergency motion procedure should be followed.

Arlington J&DR

Request for a continuance for any matter that remains on the docket shall be made by written motion and granted for good cause.

  • Abuse and Neglect, Child Protective Orders, and Termination of Parental Rights
    • Uncontested or review hearing may be conducted by audio/video conference
    • Contested matter will remain on the docket as scheduled
  • Civil Cases
    • All hearings from March 17 to April 3 are continued and will be set for status on April 7. Counsel is encouraged to contact Clerk’s office to obtain a mutually agreeable date for trial and submit an agreed order setting the date.
  • Division of Child Support Enforcement Cases
    • All cases in which the Division of Child Support Enforcement is involved will be rescheduled for status or for entry of agreed upon orders on May 5 for hearings original scheduled on Tuesdays and on May 7 for hearings scheduled on Thursdays.
  • Protective Orders
    • All petitions for Preliminary Protective Orders (PPO) will proceed as normal and without change.
    • At a full hearing on Petitions, the court will have a liberal continuance policy. Should a continuance be granted, another PPO may be entered pending final adjudication.

Clarke

Clarke County Circuit Court

The clerk’s office is still open for new filings.

  • All non-emergency and non-essential court hearings are suspended through April 26
    • Individuals who have cases before April 26 that are non-emergency and non-essential will receive notices by mail with new court dates.
    • Emergency/ Essential Cases include but are not limited to: quarantine or isolation matters, bail review hearings, arraignments, protective order hearings, emergency child protective or custody hearings, and civil commitment hearings.
  • If you are unsure your case will be continued, or you wish to request a continuance, contact Circuit Court at 540-955-5117.

Clarke County J&DR https://www.clarkecounty.gov/government/court-system/juvenile-domestic-relations-district-court

  • The status of a case depends on the nature of the case, but there is no specific list of what was continued and what remains.
  • The quickest way to find out the status of your case is to call 540-955-1154.

Fairfax

Fairfax County Circuit Court

  • As a precaution, the Court recommends that you not come to the Courthouse, unless circumstances require you to do so.
    • Update 3/25: Court Status: Although county buildings will close to the public on March 27, 2020 at 5 p.m., the Courts remain open and operating on a limited docket.
  • All civil bench trials are suspended until April 16, 2020. These cases will be set for status/term day on May 26, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., unless the parties agree to appear telephonically and set a new trial date in calendar control.
  • The Circuit Court has established Temporary Procedures to allow the submission of motions to the Circuit Court, to be ruled on without oral argument or a court appearance.
    • In order to request the Waiver of Oral Argument, the moving party shall send an email to the Circuit Court at CCRMotionNoArgument@fairfaxcounty.gov.
  • Civil docket
    • All Friday Motions Practice are suspended through April 17, 2020, except those emergency matters set by calendar control order.
      • All calendar control matters are to be heard telephonically.
    • The current civil term day docket is continued from March 23, 2020 to May 26, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.
    • The court will still hear civil emergency motions
      • Emergency Matters include, but are not limited to: Quarantine or isolation matters, Arraignments, Bail Review, Protective Order Cases, Emergency Child Custody and Protection Cases, and Civil Commitment Hearings

FairfaxJ&DR

Consistent with all other legal requirements, a liberal continuance policy is in effect for all matters that are not suspended by these policies and procedures.

  • Filings.
    • Attorney-filed papers should be dropped through the document slot in Room 303
    • For all other filings, the Court will make available a secure container, from which documents will be regularly collected and date-stamped by Court staff.
    • All filings should have necessary filing fees attached by check and include a self-addressed stamped envelope if the filer wishes to have a copy of the date-stamped filing returned.
  • Civil Cases
    • Rules to show cause hearings for support obligations where the respondent is held in custody shall be heard as scheduled.
    • All other custody, visitation, and support status hearings and trials are suspended.
      • Each of these matters shall be set for a new status hearing no earlier than May 10, 2020.
  • Motions
    • Wednesday Motions dockets are suspended
      • Except as otherwise stated herein, the Clerk of Court shall continue all other pending motions to the scheduled trial date.
    • Emergency motions, for cases in which relief is necessary to prevent imminent and substantial physical or psychological harm to a child, shall be heard as usual.
      • When submitting the motion must state, with particularity, the factual basis for claiming that relief must be granted on an emergency basis.
  • Agreed Orders
    • Fully-endorsed agreed orders may be submitted to the court by email to JDRDC-Filings@fairfaxcounty.gov, with the original delivered to the Court via mail within three days thereafter.
  • Protective Orders
    • Preliminary Protective Orders.
      • Preliminary protective orders shall be heard by affidavit only.
    • Motions.
      • Motions to amend, modify, extend, or dissolve protective orders (whether arising from a civil filing or criminal case) shall be heard as previously scheduled.
      • Any future motions to amend, modify, extend, or dissolve protective orders shall be given priority on the Court's docket and scheduled for a date and time certain.

Loudoun

Loudoun Circuit Court

  • Filings
    • Filings done in person can be left at a secure drop box located in the customer service transaction window outside the Civil Window.
      • If you need a receipt mailed to you, please indicate this on the “special instructions” section of the drop box coversheet.
      • If you need a copy of a pleading sent back to you, you must provide the extra copy.
    • Clerk’s Office staff is responding to copy requests by email and phone to deliver these services.
  • Civil Hearings, Motions, Trials
    • All civil matters on the Court's dockets through April I 0, 2020 are removed from the docket and docketed for tracking, as follows:
      • All matters currently set the week of March 16, 2020 and March 23, 2020 are removed from the Court's docket and witnesses are released from subpoena. These cases are reset to the Court's docket of April 20, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. for status or to be set for hearing.
      • All matters currently set the week of March 30, 2020 and April 26, 2020 are removed from the Court's docket and witnesses are released from subpoena. These cases are reset to the Court's docket of April 27, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. for status or to be set for hearing.
    • Cases set on the April 3, 2020 Loudoun County Circuit Court Motions Day have been suspended.
      • If necessary, counsel and litigants should re-praecipe any such motions to a future motions day. Should counsel or a litigant contend that a motion constitutes an emergency, they should follow the Emergency Motions Procedure.
  • Emergency Motions Procedure
    • Emergency motions properly detailed may be filed with the Circuit Court. Clerk's Office with a copy to chambers via email to amy.bain@loudoun.gov. The Court will determine whether to docket the matter.

Loudoun J&DR

  • Filings
    • In person filings are still being accepted at this time.
  • Civil Hearings, Motions, Trials
    • Most hearings and trials have been suspended, but it is on a case by case basis.
    • The quickest way to find out the status of your case is to call 703-777-0300

Prince William

Prince William Circuit Court

  • Filings
    • While the court is still open for filing, is it highly recommended to mail in pleadings or documentation for existing cases (i.e. motions, order, and praecipes).
      • Check payment should be made payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Office and include room #314 in the address.
  • Civil Hearings, Motions, Trials
    • Civil cases, including trials and motions without statutory priority scheduled between March 16, 2020 and April 30, 2020 will be continued to a date after April 30, 2020. Counsel should contact Chambers to obtain a new date.
    • No additional civil hearings, motions or trials shall be scheduled for the period from March 16, 202 through April 30, 2020.
    • Civil Term Day for April 7, 2020 is canceled, and all cases are continued to the May 5, 2020 Term Day at 2:00PM.
  • Special Continuing Order
    • Cases that are presently scheduled for trial between March 16 and April 30 may be continued without further showing of good cause if a fully endorsed Agreed Order is submitted to the appropriate judge’s chamber OR the client, attorney of record or a witness is experiencing flu-like symptoms or is under quarantine or caring for a family member of the same.
      • The request should be sent by email to circuitcourt@pwcgov.org and the requesting party must notify opposing counsel or party.
      • Each party should notify their own witnesses of the continuance.

Prince William J&DR

  • Emergency docketing requests will still be received and reviewed on a case by case basis.
  • The court has reduced operations to only those that have been deemed essential and reschedule court appearances of those matters that have been determined to be non-essential to a date after April 30, 2020.
    • Only the following essential matters will be heard daily through April 17
      • Courtroom 1:
        • 9:00 Adult Walk-in Arraignments
        • 1:30 Family Abuse Protective Order Hearings
      • Courtroom 2:
        • 11:00 Exparte Family Abuse Preliminary Protective Orders
      • Courtroom 3:
        • 9:00 Juvenile Detention Hearings, Bond Motions, Shelter Care Hearings
        • 10:00 Essential Juvenile Trials Only-Liberal continuances provided Juvenile is not being held
        • 1:30 Family Abuse Protective Order Hearings
      • Courtroom 4:
        • 11:00 Child Abuse & Neglect removal or CPO hearings, including Motions to extend or dismiss child protective orders
        • 1:30 Child Abuse & Neglect adjudicatory, dispositional, TPR hearings
      • Courtroom 6:
        • 8:30 Adult Arraignments and Bond Motions
        • 9:00 Essential Adult Criminal Motions and Essential Adult Criminal Trials/Preliminary Hearings
        • 1:30 Family Abuse Protective Order Hearings
  • Cases that are presently scheduled for trial between March 16 and April 30 may be continued without a further showing of good cause if a fully endorsed Agreed Order is submitted to the appropriate judge’s chamber OR the client, attorney of record or a witness is experiencing flu-like symptoms or is under quarantine or caring for a family member of the same.
    • The request should be sent by email and requesting party must notify opposing counsel or party
    • Each party should notify their own witnesses of the continuance

Spotsylvania

Spotsylvania Circuit Court

  • Courthouses will be closed effective immediately through April 26, 2020, unless the closure is extended. Only emergency proceedings will be allowed during that time.

Stafford

StaffordCircuit Court

  • The Clerk's Office will be closed to the public at close of business March 16 through close of business April 26, 2020. Staff will be available to respond to telephonic inquiries and to process land records electronic e-filings.
    • Courts will have a few predetermined cases go forward, most by video.
  • All questions relating to cases and continuances should be directed to the Clerk’s Office (540) 658-8750/4255

Stafford County J&DR

  • The court will be open; however, closed to the public and all court hearings will be rescheduled for a later date (except all protective orders, Department of Social Service cases, and juvenile detention cases.