Some Kane courtrooms return to remote Jan. 10 due to COVID rate increase

ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP – Kane County 16th Circuit Chief Judge Clint Hull ordered today that its courtrooms will shift from in-person appearances to remote appearances beginning Jan. 10 through Feb. 4, officials announced in a news release.

The branch courts will go remote as well, but they will re-open to in-person appearances on Feb. 7.

“It has been our goal throughout the pandemic to keep our public as safe as possible while still providing the means to seek justice in our court system,” Hull stated in the release.

“The decision to shift to remote appearances is in response to the increasing positivity rates throughout Kane County and the State of Illinois. This decision was made in order to protect the health and safety of the general public and courthouse employees and made after consultation with the Presiding Judges and offices of the County Board, State’s Attorney, Public Defender, Court Services, Circuit Clerk and representatives of the private bar,” Hull stated in the release.

The Kane County Courthouse, 100 S. Third St., Geneva, the Kane County Judicial Center, 37W777 Route 38, St. Charles Township and the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center, 37W655 Route 38, St. Charles Township will only remain open for orders of protection hearings, jury trials, or by order of the court, the release stated.

All other scheduled cases will be heard remotely.

Aurora Branch Court, 1200 E. Indian Trail Road, Aurora, Elgin Branch Court, 150 Dexter Court, Elgin and Kane County Branch Court, 530 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, will also be closed for in-person appearances and all branch court cases will be heard via Zoom, the release stated.

“The Sixteenth Circuit has the equipment, experience, and technology to allow us to keep the courts operating through the use of remote hearing via the Zoom platform,” Hull stated in the release. “Unlike at the start of COVID, litigants, attorneys, judges have become familiar with the use of Zoom, and, as a result, our courts can keep cases moving through the system while not requiring in-person appearances.”

Court-goers will need to download the free Zoom app to their mobile device, go to www.KaneCourt.org in any internet browser, click on Join Zoom Court, find their courtroom number, and click on Join Hearing to attend remote court.

“We will continue to monitor the situation daily,” Hull stated in the release. “We appreciate the cooperation we have received from everyone involved in the court system. We are doing our best to balance the needs of protecting the public and the court staff while keeping the courthouses open to hearing those cases that must be heard. We are focused on those cases that involve individuals who are in custody and those matters required for the protection of individuals and the public. I want to thank everyone for their understanding and patience.”

Courtrooms were previously on remote in November 2020.

Hull stated that if court users have questions about remote court access or other court procedures, they may call or visit the Kane County Law Library & Self Help Legal Center at 630-406-7126, or use the chat/email feature on the Law Library’s website at www.KCLawLibrary.org.

Additional information can be found at the 16th Judicial Circuit website at www.Illinois16thJudicialCircuit.org or by following the Sixteenth Circuit Court’s Facebook page @16thCircuitCoronavirusInfo.