March 16, 2020
Please see the important notice from the 19th Judicial Circuit Court regarding COVID-19 Emergency Measures
Date of Release: March 16, 2020
Point of Contact: Kasey D. Morgan 847-377-3818
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Waukegan, Illinois
Effective Tuesday, March, 17, 2020, and in light of the Coronavirus Pandemic, and in order to protect the health and safety of the general public, judges and court employees, and after consultation with the offices of the Lake County State’s Attorney, Public Defender, Sheriff, Clerk of the Circuit Court, County Board, and pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 21(b) and the Court’s inherent authority;
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that except as provided below, all matters in the 19th Judicial Circuit, Lake County, Illinois, are rescheduled and continued for 28 days from the originally scheduled court date unless the 28th day falls on a weekend, in which case, it shall be continued until the following business day, unless otherwise determined by the assigned judge. Notices will be generated by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, who will send notice of rescheduled dates upon receipt from the judge. If you do not receive notice of the continued date, you should contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AS FOLLOWS that except as necessary for the purposes enumerated below, all judges and judicial employees of the 19th Judicial Circuit Court shall be encouraged to work remotely and conduct business telephonically or via videoconference until further notice from the effective date of this order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Sheriff of Lake County shall cease foreclosure sales and the execution of eviction orders relating to residential real estate effective March 17, 2020 until further Order of court.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
ALL DIVISIONS: Judges will be available in-person in each division to hear emergency matters;
CRIMINAL DIVISION: BOND COURT, FELONY, MISDEMEANOR, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DUI:
- All cases will report to Courtroom T-110;
- Speedy trial term cases, statutory summary suspension hearings, forfeiture hearings and probation violation hearings in which an agreement to continue the trial/hearing has not been reached;
- Bond hearings will continue to be heard daily, including Saturday and Sundays;
- In-custody cases in which a plea agreement has been reached;
- Emergency and Plenary Order of Protection hearings;
- Mental Health Involuntary Admission, Treatment, Fitness, and Quarantine hearings; and
- Warrants and any other emergency motion.
PROBLEM SOLVING COURTS: All cases in the Therapeutic Intensive Monitoring Programs (Drug Court, Mental Health Court, STOP and Veterans Court) are continued until further notice. Emergency matters will be held on Wednesday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom T-711. Defendants are not required to attend court unless directed by his/her probation officer.
BRANCH COURTS (MUNDELEIN, PARK CITY AND ROUND LAKE BEACH): All Branch Courts are closed for the next 28 days. All Clerk of the Circuit Clerk activities will be conducted at the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the main Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan and at the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the Depke Center in Vernon Hills.
GRAND JURY: Grand Jury will meet on March 18, 2020 and Grand Jury proceedings after March 18, 2020 will be suspended. Grand jurors whose terms expire on or before March 31, 2020 shall be extended until April 29, 2020. No new grand jury shall be empaneled until May 6, 2020.
FAMILY DIVISION: All cases will be continued except for the following and these matters will be heard in C-105:
- Cases involving Orders of Protection assigned to a Family Division judge;
- Emergency Child Support matters; and
- Matters which are an emergency as defined by statute and local court rule will be heard and may be conducted either in-person, via video, or by telephone conference. Discovery in family matters will continue as scheduled.
JUVENILE DIVISION: All cases will be continued except for the following and these matters will be heard at the Depke Center in Vernon Hills, including on Sundays:
- Shelter Care hearings;
- Detention hearings;
- Emergency motions.
CIVIL DIVISION: All cases will be continued except for the following and these matters will be heard in Courtroom C-202:
- Emergency motions in accordance to statute or local court rule will be heard and may be conducted either in-person, via video, or by telephone conference.
- Discovery in civil matters will continue as scheduled.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION AND BANKRUPTCY CASES: All Workers’ Compensation and Bankruptcy hearings and related matters scheduled in 19th Judicial Circuit court facilities are canceled and shall be rescheduled by the appropriate authority.
MARRIAGES: Marriages and Civil Unions will not be performed at the courthouse during this period, including Saturdays and Sundays.
KIDS KORNER (CHILDREN’S WAITING ROOM): The waiting room will be closed during this period.
OTHER MATTERS: Non-essential gatherings and meetings are canceled. Programs of the 19th Judicial Circuit Court including, but not limited to, Family Mediation, Children First, Traffic Safety School, Victim Impact Panel, and Public Service Employment are continued during this period.
SUMMONSES: All Summonses with return dates between March 17, 2020 and April 17, 2020, are rescheduled and continued for 28 days from the originally scheduled court date unless the 28th day falls on a weekend, in which case, it shall be continued until the following business day shall be returnable upon notice of the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
The Court may issue further Orders, as necessary, to address the changing circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Summoned jurors are not expected to automatically report; however, they will be required to call 847-249-5879. Jurors will only be asked to report if there is a need to address a speedy trial issue, until further notice.
These are precautionary measures only. The health and welfare of all employees and courthouse users is our priority. As more information becomes available or if there are changes to court operations, we will advise.
For the most up-to-date information on the Circuit Clerk's Office find us on Facebook!
| 
