Several counties in North Central Arkansas are being affected by courts cancelling due to COVID-19.
Baxter County District Court Judge Jason Duffy has announced all appearances set for the next three weeks in his court will be moved to May due to concern over the nationwide coronavirus outbreak.
Circuit Judge Andrew Bailey is postponing all hearings except orders of protection in Baxter, Marion, Boone and Newton Counties through March 31.
The first announcement of a court scheduling change came late Saturday from Circuit Judge Gordon Webb. Judge Webb said all cases and jury trials would be postponed and rescheduled.
Judge Webb says the change will begin Tuesday and run through April 13 for his circuit court division.
The judge indicates he will review the situation in mid-April.
According to an announcement posted Saturday on the Administrative Office of the Courts website, Judge Webb said his decision was made “under an abundance of caution for the safety of the public, litigants and all court officials.”
Judge Webb said all cases set to come before him during this period would be moved to other dates, and new scheduling orders would be issued by the court.
Judge Webb holds court in Baxter, Boone, Marion and Newton counties.
According to a news release from the Arkansas Supreme Court, some courts in the state will continue in some fashion what were termed “essential court functions” even if the regular schedule is disrupted.
Essential court functions are defined generally as hearings that cannot be continued indefinitely.
The Arkansas Supreme Court has also asked judges to carefully study the need for jury trials where groups of people would have to be present, increasing the chances of transmitting the virus.
Some courts in the state have announced interaction with inmates would be done only on video hookups rather than bringing inmates into the courtroom. The courts in Baxter County utilize such a system on a regular basis.
The list of courts changing the way they operate or cancelling court altogether until mid-April continues to grow, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts in Little Rock.
The Izard County District Court has cancelled its cases until May 7. To learn when a case has been rescheduled, contact the district court clerk’s office at 870-368-4390.
The Stone County District Court’s session scheduled for Tuesday has been cancelled. All defendants set for Tuesday’s session will need to contact district court clerk Janet Harris at 870-269-3465 for a new court date.
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