{"id":"MT-061","kind":"order","level":"court","jurisdiction":"Montana (statewide judiciary)","state":"MT","metro":"","industry":"","agency":"","eco":"","issuer":"Chief Justice Mike McGrath, Supreme Court of Montana","authority":"Mont. Const. art. VII, sec. 2","instrument":"Memorandum of the Chief Justice, May 17, 2021: Updated Judicial Branch Covid-19 Protocols","title":"Updated Judicial Branch Covid-19 Protocols, May 17, 2021","dateIssued":"2021-05-17","effective":"2021-05-17","end":"Open-ended (in force through Sept. 30, 2021)","startDate":"2021-05-17","endDate":"2021-09-30","quarters":["2021Q2","2021Q3"],"types":["CRT","MASK"],"addressees":["all State courts, clerks and Judicial Branch employees"],"clause":"Considering new guidance from public health authorities, the availability of effective vaccines, and pursuant to state and federal public health recommendations, and on behalf of the Supreme Court, I am updating and ordering the following minimum requirements: 1. Face masks or face covering are not required but can be ordered locally at the discretion of judges, when appropriate and necessary.... Face coverings are no longer required, unless required by the court locally, in Judicial Branch offices, hallways, and other spaces. 2. Courts can continue using remote-hearing or telephonic hearings for cases, which will allow a limit to the number of people in a courthouse and in a courtroom. Attorneys or litigants who are considered to be at high-risk if exposed to COVID-19 should be allowed to appear remotely if requesting to do so.","enforcement":"Ordered \u0027on behalf of the Supreme Court\u0027","functions":["CT courts (remote hearings continue; local mask discretion)"],"notes":"The judiciary\u0027s Q3 2021 posture: remote hearings continued as a permitted \u0027minimum requirement\u0027 practice","sourceUrl":"https://courts.mt.gov/external/virus/COVID-19%20Memo%20from%20Chief%20Justice%20McGrath%20051721.pdf","snapshot":"","fileExists":true,"fileBytes":800212,"grade":"primary","character":"","description":"","collection":"MT","url":"/library/MT-061","exhibitUrl":"/exhibit/MT-061","citation":"Chief Justice Mike McGrath, Supreme Court of Montana, Memorandum of the Chief Justice, May 17, 2021: Updated Judicial Branch Covid-19 Protocols (Ex. MT-061)","stateName":"Montana","related":["MT-060"]}