DeKalb County Courthouse adjusts COVID-19 protocols amid ongoing virus surge

SYCAMORE - The DeKalb County Courthouse is amending its COVID-19 protocols amid the current pandemic surge, according to a general order signed by 23rd Judicial Circuit Court Chief Judge Bradley Waller.

The order comes in light of surging virus cases in the county, and to protect the health and safety of the general public, judges and circuit court employees, according to a news release. The changes will go into effect Jan. 11 and remain through Feb. 27.

COVID-19 protocols for public

All people in public areas of the courthouse, including courtrooms, are required to wear a mask or face covering unless the judge presiding gives permission to remove it to participate in court proceedings, according to the general order.

In event permission is given, that person should remain a minimum of 12 feet from other people while unmasked.

Visitors are being asked to be limited due to the COVID-19 surge. If an in-person appearance for a court proceeding is permitted by a judge, or a person visits the courthouse for other purposes, they’re allowed one additional person to accompany. That limitation does not apply to members of the same household.

Non-essential gatherings, meetings or programs that are scheduled at the courthouse are only allowed to proceed if given written consent by Chief Judge Waller or the DeKalb County Sheriff.

Hearing changes, remote protocol

According to the general order, all judges will conduct non-evidentiary hearings remotely, unless otherwise specified by the court. Hearings that will continue as follows will be decided on a case by case basis, and include plenary hearings for orders of protection, criminal trials that can’t otherwise be continued and emergency matters defined by the court.

Remote hearings will be via phone or Zoom, and continue for status hearings, plea and motion hearings and bench trials, according to the order.

All criminal jury trials mandated by the law to proceed from Jan. 11 through Feb. 28 will be held in courtroom 100.

Civil jury trials will be continued until after Feb. 28, and the scheduling and rescheduling will be handled by each judge assigned to each case, the order states.

Bond call, orders of protection and expungements will continue to be held in a remote setting, via Zoom. The courthouse will remain open for in-person matters for people representing themselves for emergency orders of protection, stalking or no contact orders, civil no contact orders, and plenary orders of protection hearings.

Expungement hearings will continue to be held remotely.

According to the order, the courthouse will continue to be open for people needing to pay a fine, file a pleading or other document, or engage in court related business including a court-ordered drug test. People wishing to appear in person in a courtroom for a non-evidentiary hearing will be asked to leave and return to their vehicle or outside and participate via Zoom.

A judge retains the discretion to issue or not issue bench warrants and default judgments, the order states.

Treatment Court will be held remotely, and the judge presiding retains the discretion to oder an in-person appearance for people on a case by case basis.

Weddings will not proceed until Feb. 28, the order states.