Staffing availability to determine court operations

The availability of attorneys and staff in the coming days will dictate whether Butler County’s courts operate as scheduled.

Associate Circuit Judge C. Wade Pierce’s Thursday criminal docket was canceled after a regular participant in court proceedings tested positive for COVID-19.

“Whether or not future dockets are canceled will depend upon the availability of attorneys and staff over the next few days,” said Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett. “Those determinations will be in advance of scheduled dockets, to the extent possible, in order that those with cases may be notified.”

Pritchett encouraged all those with pending cases to keep in touch with their attorneys and monitor their cases on casenet.com.

After receiving news of the positive test Wednesday morning, Pritchett issued an order moving the county’s courts back to operating phase one. It had been operating under phase two, which allowed for more in-person proceedings to be held.

Under operating phase one, most in-person proceedings are suspended, but the Missouri Supreme Court has made exceptions for certain proceedings to still be held. Ex-parte and mental health hearings may still be heard as can cases with time constraints, such as bond hearings and initial appearances.

Courtroom occupancy is restricted to 10 people under phase one.

“Fortunately, not all courts were exposed by the particular incident which resulted in my decision to revert to phase one,” Pritchett said. “For that reason, many court cases will proceed as scheduled although with limited occupancy.

“I anticipate that as those who are now in quarantine return, we will return to more normal court operations, albeit in phase one.”

Pritchett said screenings, including temperature monitoring, for those entering the courthouse will continue, and face coverings and social distancing still are required.

“Compliance with these measures is mandatory,” Pritchett said. “It is important that we all do what we can to protect ourselves and others from exposure to the virus.

“The required procedures, which although sometimes may be uncomfortable, enable us to avoid taking more extreme action in response to positive tests and allow the continuing operation of the courts.”

At this time, Pritchett believes, the action taken by reverting to phase one is “sufficient to deal with the recent issue.”