COVID-19 UPDATE: ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER MODIFYING AND EXTENDING PREVIOUS ORDERS
As efforts continue in the fight against COVID-19, adjustments are continually being made nationally, and on state and local levels.
The Honorable James H. Daniel has issued an Administrative Order as an extension and modification of the temporary local emergency procedures for the courts originally issued in AO 2020-1 and AO 2020-3. This current AO extends these through close of business on Friday, April 17, 2020.
To following is a summary of the points listed in the latest AO. For complete details, please see the Administrative Order in its entirety, including the original orders, at the link provided below.
Felony Cases:
All felony cases scheduled on the court’s docket will be conducted remotely by video conference using the Zoom Application.
County Criminal Cases:
Misdemeanor cases scheduled where the defendant is incarcerated at the Nassau County Jail, court will continue appearances remotely using the Zoom Application.
Misdemeanor cases where the defendant is out-of-custody, the presiding judge will develop specific procedures.
Pre-trial hearings for out-of-custody defendants normally scheduled for Wednesday mornings starting at 8:00 am at the Historic Courthouse in Fernandina Beach will be relocated to the Judicial Center in Yulee, starting on Wednesday afternoons at 1:30 pm.
Juvenile Delinquency Cases:
The court will conduct court appearances remotely using Zoom.
Dependency Cases:
The court will conduct court appearances remotely using Zoom.
Upon request of DCF, the court will conduct a shelter hearing in person, if circumstances warrant.
Small Claims Cases:
The court will hear cases either remotely with Zoom or over the telephone.
Domestic Violence Injunctions:
No changes to the previous order regarding DV injunctions.
Third party witnesses will have to testify remotely through Zoom. If the witness is not able to testify via Zoom, a continuance may be granted.
Foreclosure, Eviction & Writs of Possession:
Foreclosure and eviction cases may proceed forward. The presiding judge has discretion to grant a continuance on a case by case basis.
Foreclosure sales will not automatically be cancelled. The presiding judge has discretion to cancel a specific sale.
The issuance of a writ of possession is suspended through close of business on Friday, April 17, 2020. No county or circuit judge will issue an order directing the Clerk to issue a writ of possession during the period of suspension.
Specialty Courts:
All Veterans Court sessions scheduled for April of 2020 have been cancelled.
Adult Drug Court and Mental Health Court shall resume on their normally scheduled dates starting the week of March 30, 2020. However, each session will be heard remotely via Zoom.
Jury Trials
All criminal jury trials have been suspended through April 17, 2020.
Please call our office if you have any questions or need clarification on a specific case. (904) 548-4600.
To read the Administrative Order in its entirety, including the original AO’s this one addresses, please click below.