While many industries across the country have slowed down significantly due to the pandemic, the same cannot be said for our courts. Courts often update their Local Rules and procedures and this summer courts are busier than ever. Not only are courts countrywide updating their Local Rules and practices as usual, they are having to adapt to the rapidly changing crisis. Which means that we have to keep up with the frequently shifting landscape of court processes and procedures.
SmartRules Editorial Team monitors courts 24/7/365 through an extensive network of court contacts to keep our guides perpetually up to date.
Here is a list of recent changes to court rules and procedures.
Local Rules and Procedures
July 2020
California Rules of Court were amended July 1st.
California Supreme Court unanimously adopted changes to Code of Judicial Ethics July 1st.
The following California Superior Court Local Rules were updated July 1st:
Butte, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Orange, Placer, Riverside, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Solano, Stanislaus, Ventura.
Georgia Uniform Superior Court Rules were updated July 2nd.
Maryland Court Local Rules will be amended July 1st via the 205th Rules Order.
Missouri Rules of Civil Procedure were updated July 1st.
New York Supreme Court Section 202.70(g) Commercial Division Rule 1, Appearance, will be amended July 15th.
Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure were updated July 1st.
Code of Virginia was updated July 1st.
Washington General Rules were updated July 1st.
June 2020
Central District of California Local Rules were updated June 1st.
Southern District of California Local Rules were updated June 1st.
Florida Rules of Judicial Administration were amended June 1st.
Northern District of Georgia Local Rules were updated June 18th.
Hawai’i court rule amendments after July 1, 2019 are not incorporated into court rules but can be found under Orders of Amendment column on the court’s rules page.
Illinois Rule 795, Accreditation Standards, was amended June 15th, nunc pro tunc to May 8th.
Massachusetts Superior Judicial Court Rules were updated June 1st.
New York Supreme Court Section 202.70(g) Commercial Division Rule 23 was repealed June 23rd.
Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct were amended June 20th.
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure were updated June 1st.
Upcoming Local Rule Amendments
Maryland Court Rules will be updated August 1st and October 1st.
Vermont Rule of Civil Procedure 3.1 will be amended August 18th.
Temporary COVID-19 Procedures
Emergency procedures are being updated frequently. Always check with your local court for updated emergency procedures.
Alameda, California Superior Court amended Emergency Local Rules June 20th. Emergency amendments were made to Local Rule 1.10 June 5th.
Riverside, California Superior Court Emergency Local Rule 2 was amended July 1st.
San Bernardino, California Superior Court published reopening plans.
San Diego, California Superior Court suspended Local Rule 2.5.8 with regards to unlawful detainer cases until further notice.
San Mateo, California Superior Court is resuming jury trials.
Florida Supreme Court instituted Emergency Filing Procedures.
Georgia Courts extended statewide emergency order.
Maine Supreme Court consolidated emergency orders into PMO-SMC-2.
District of Massachusetts extended certain statutory deadlines.
Michigan Courts resumed usual deadline computations and are beginning a phased return to full court operations.
Updated emergency filing information for New York Supreme Courts can be found in AO-121-20.
Five Upstate New York courts are beginning Phase 4 operations.
Suffolk, New York Supreme Court implemented Phase 2 court operations.
Richmond, New York Supreme Court resumed Early Litigation Tort Evaluations July 6th.
Eastern District of New York further continues jury trials and exclusion of time.
As always, SmartRules Editorial Team works hard to keep you up to date on the latest rules and practices so your precious time can be better spent elsewhere.