The Fourth Judicial Circuit Court is amending its procedures in an attempt to reduce the possibility of spreading the coronavirus. The following procedures are in place until at least March 30th, 2020. The following cases will be continued to a different date to be determined by the court; Civil and non-custodial jury trials, all traffic cases including driving under the influence, all criminal misdemeanor cases, all ordinance cases, all small claims cases, all family court cases, all child support cases, all pay-or-appear and compliance hearings, and all marriages.

The following cases will be held as usual; all in-custody cases including bond settings; all criminal felony cases with time constraints; all juvenile detention and shelter care hearings; all hearings involving emergency and plenary orders of protection; and any other emergency-type hearings at the discretion of the Resident Circuit Judge of each county. 

During the next two weeks, the probation departments, State’s Attorney Offices, and Public Defender Offices will still be able to meet the needs of their clients but will reduce in-person contacts. The Resident Circuit Judges of each county in the Fourth Circuit are afforded discretion to handle issues not covered by this Order as he or she deems necessary. 

The Circuit Clerk will provide notice to all litigants of the dates their cases will be continued to.