The Oklahoma Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals issued their Third Emergency Joint Order on April 29, 2020, SCAD-2020-36, which sets a timeline for courts to reopen, generally beginning May 16 (which is a Saturday, so don't get excited about going to court on May 16). Notable provisions of the Order include:
1) According to ¶¶ 5-9, all deadlines that were to be running through the period from March 16-May 15 are tolled - this means that time does NOT count for any purpose. Any deadline that began running prior to March 16 will resume AT THE POINT IT STOPPED RUNNING on May 16. Any deadline that began during that period will begin running May 16. Paragraph 9 provides that in the event these deadlines pose a hardship, parties are directed to seek relief from the court that they are before, and those requests "should be generously granted."
2) Paragraph 10 allows "all civil and criminal non-jury hearings" to be set after May 16.
3) Per ¶ 12, local county officials continue to have control of access to the courthouse, and the conditions for access (such as mask or glove requirements). Before you go to the courthouse, you should call and check to make sure you can comply with those requirements.
4) Paragraph 13 continues the ban on individuals with symptoms from entering court facilities.
5) Paragraph 14 limits the number of people who may be in a courtroom "or other area" to 10 at a time; this is to continue "until public and health officials expand this number to 50 or more."
6) Jury trials are not to be held in any matter before July 31, per ¶ 3.
If you have questions about how this affects your particular case, you should call your attorney if you have one. It is doubtful that court staff or court clerks will be able to help you meaningfully, especially in interpreting deadlines, etc.
1) According to ¶¶ 5-9, all deadlines that were to be running through the period from March 16-May 15 are tolled - this means that time does NOT count for any purpose. Any deadline that began running prior to March 16 will resume AT THE POINT IT STOPPED RUNNING on May 16. Any deadline that began during that period will begin running May 16. Paragraph 9 provides that in the event these deadlines pose a hardship, parties are directed to seek relief from the court that they are before, and those requests "should be generously granted."
2) Paragraph 10 allows "all civil and criminal non-jury hearings" to be set after May 16.
3) Per ¶ 12, local county officials continue to have control of access to the courthouse, and the conditions for access (such as mask or glove requirements). Before you go to the courthouse, you should call and check to make sure you can comply with those requirements.
4) Paragraph 13 continues the ban on individuals with symptoms from entering court facilities.
5) Paragraph 14 limits the number of people who may be in a courtroom "or other area" to 10 at a time; this is to continue "until public and health officials expand this number to 50 or more."
6) Jury trials are not to be held in any matter before July 31, per ¶ 3.
If you have questions about how this affects your particular case, you should call your attorney if you have one. It is doubtful that court staff or court clerks will be able to help you meaningfully, especially in interpreting deadlines, etc.
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