Federal courts reopen for more in-person proceedings

CAPE GIRARDEAU — The federal judicial system for the Eastern District of Missouri began holding more in-person proceedings on Monday, with jury trials on hold for another month.

“We are evaluating just like most (entities) with the health agencies,” said Clerk of Court Greg Linhares for Eastern District of Missouri, which includes the Southeast Division in Cape Girardeau. “We are reviewing all the data (for the counties) in the Southeast Division.

“Assuming the data allows … there maybe some increases in limited, in-person proceedings as directed by the judges in the Southeast Division beginning in June.”

Jury trials, Linhares said, currently are postponed until July 6.

“We have social distancing in the courtrooms,” which have been measured off at six-feet distances, Linhares said. “We have put up Plexiglas barriers in any location where we know there will be contact closer than six feet.”

Linhares said there may be different limitations also put in place in the individual courtrooms.

“We have posted screening criteria that the court security officers are asking people who come in,” Linhares said.

Temperatures will not be taken, but those entering will be asked “to tell us if they have a fever or have been exposed to anyone (with COVID-19) in the last two weeks,” he said.

The courts, Linhares said, also will continue to use technology going forward.

“We’ve been doing things by video throughout,” Linhares said. “We never stopped that. … Video conferencing is still available.”

Although “we never ceased proceedings,” what will be happening next is a “gradual increase in in-person proceedings,” Linhares said.

In recent months, the only proceedings that were held were those “deemed an emergency by the judge or had time restraints,” Linhares said.