Memorandum of the Chief Justice, May 17, 2021: Updated Judicial Branch Covid-19 Protocols

The record

Jurisdiction

Montana (statewide judiciary) · Montana

Level

Court

Authority

Mont. Const. art. VII, sec. 2

Issued

2021-05-17 May 17, 2021

Effective

2021-05-17

End

Open-ended (in force through Sept. 30, 2021) (read as 2021-09-30)

In force

May 17, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2021

Quarters

2021 Q22021 Q3

2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3

Limitation types

Face-covering requirementCourts and public offices

Addressees

• all State courts, clerks and Judicial Branch employees

Functions reached

• CT courts (remote hearings continue; local mask discretion)

Collection

Montana MT

Operative words

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

Notes