State of Illinois Fourth Judicial Circuit Ninth Amended Administrative Order No. 2020-4

The Eighth Amended Administrative Order No. 2020-4 is amended by vacating the
portion thereof which is shown stricken below.

Out of an abundance of caution and in response to the recent outbreak of COVID-19,
the Fourth Judicial Circuit is amending its procedures in an attempt to reduce the possibility of
spreading the disease.

The following procedures will be in effect until FURTHER ORDER OF COURT:

The following cases will be continued to a different date to be determined by the court:
• All Evictions will cease until the expiration of this Order.

The following cases will be held as usual:
• All Traffic cases, including DUIs
• All In-Custody cases, including bond settings;
• All Criminal Felony cases with time constraints;
• All Misdemeanor cases;
• All Juvenile Detention, Shelter Care and Permanency hearings;
• All hearings involving Emergency and Plenary Orders of Protection;
• All Family law cases, including support cases;
• All Small Claims as allowed by Supreme Court Rules;
• All Probate and Chancery cases;
• Marriages, with a total number of 4 persons allowed at the ceremony;
• All the above hearings may be handled using remote video conferencing, if possible,
and in compliance with Administrative Order 2020-11 which was enacted on April
27, 2020. All in-custody hearings shall be conducted by remote video conferencing.
Felony guilty pleas may be done in person at a time that social distancing can be
guaranteed, but it is recommended that they be conducted by video conferencing
which allows the Defendant to participate and be present in the courtroom by way of
video conferencing.

The following cases may resume being heard by the Courts:
• All Pay or Appear and compliance hearings;
• All Ordinance cases.
• These cases shall be scheduled by the Clerk in compliance with this Order and shall
be conducted by remote hearing, when possible.

When the Courthouses are open, in-person attendance is permitted, but the number of
people permitted in the courtroom will be limited and social distancing will be implemented;

Participants in court proceedings shall be allowed in the courtroom, except for minors
who will be allowed to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Marriages shall be allowed to
have two witnesses. The Public shall be allowed in courtroom, if social distancing allows.

All criminal cases involving defendants with attorneys shall be held at 10:00 a.m. and
the Court will waive the personal appearance of a defendant if his/her attorney is present and
no plea is being taken in the hearing;

The Clerk will be imposing a cap on the number of cases to be set on a particular date
to control size of future calls;

Problem Solving Courts: Staffing shall continue by video conferencing during this
period. Court appearances shall be in the discretion of the presiding Judge;

Family Division: It is recommended and suggested that hearings that may be
conducted by remote hearing continue. In the discretion of the Judge, if an in-person hearing
is to be conducted, the number of participants will be taken into consideration. If the hearing
would require more than the courtroom could accommodate with social distancing, the matter
will be re-set. Courtesy copies of pleadings, financial affidavits and other documents should be
electronically provided to the responsible Judge and in accordance with the local rules.

The Probation Departments, State’s Attorney offices and Public Defender offices will
continue to meet the needs of their clients. In-person contacts will be reduced as determined
by the Department Heads and the Resident Circuit Judge of each county in the Fourth Judicial
Circuit.

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 appropriate.

The Fourth Circuit will continue to provide a court reporter for any hearings that will
occur per this Order.

An Order of the Illinois Supreme Court was entered on March 20, 2020,
allowing the Chief Judge of each circuit to continue all trials, including in-custody
trials, for the next 60 days and until further order of the Illinois Supreme Court
without the continuance being attributable to the State or the Defendant for
purposes of Section 103-5 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (725 ILCS
5/103-5);

A subsequent Order of the Illinois Supreme Court was entered on April 3,
2020, allowing the Chief Judge of each circuit to continue all trials, including in-custody trials, until further order of the Illinois Supreme Court;

Therefore: all criminal jury trials in the Fourth Judicial Circuit are continued until
June 15, 2020 or until further Order of the Illinois Supreme Court and the Fourth
Judicial Circuit without this delay being attributed to the State or the Defendant.

Additionally, all civil jury trials currently scheduled in 2020 shall be vacated and
are to be re-set to a date after January 1, 2021. The civil jury trial weeks shall be
used as criminal jury trial weeks.

The Circuit Clerk will provide notice to all litigants of the dates their cases will be set on and
whether the hearing will be conducted in person or by remote hearing.

No Persons shall be allowed access to the courthouses in the Fourth Judicial Circuit if:
a.) You have flu-like symptoms including fever, cough or shortness of breath;
b.) Been diagnosed with COVID 19 (or someone close to you has):
c.) Been directed to quarantine, isolate or self-monitor at home by any medical provider;
d.) Traveled within the last 21 days, to any country designated by the CDC as a high-risk location for COVID-19: or
e.) Had close contact with anyone who has traveled to any of these high-risk locations.
f.) Masks are recommended to be worn when entering the courthouse and while in the
courtrooms by litigants and when social distancing can not be maintained.
Discretion is given to each Resident Circuit Judge to determine whether masks will
be mandatory for their respective courtrooms.

Entered: January 15, 2021

Douglas L. Jarman, Chief Judge
Fourth Judicial Circuit