The state's pause on evictions expires on October 17, 2020. When the state moratorium expires, a federal moratorium established by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) will become effective in Massachusetts. The federal moratorium will apply to renters who expect to make under $99,000 in 2020 (or no more than $198,000 if filing a joint return).
CONNECTICUT - Updated Status of Residential Evictions
Per Notice issued by the Connecticut Judiciary on October 13, 2020, Short Calendar 01 (civil arguable matters) are set to resume beginning with the October 26, 2020 calendar. Also, all motions printing on the calendar can be marked during the marking period.
FLORIDA - State Courts Engaged in Phased Reopening Process
Florida State Courts are engaging in a phased reopening process. All Florida State Courts are currently in Phase 1 or Phase 2. Those that are in Phase 2 permit limited in-person contact for certain purposes subject to the following of protective measures. Courts in Phase 1 are more restricted, rarely conducting in-person proceedings and keeping their facilities largely closed to the public. Each Court’s particular phase can be found on its website. Currently, the phases vary throughout the State and may change depending on local conditions.
Edited 10/19/2020
While most Floridian Courts are operating in Phase 2, some are experiencing conditions necessitating a move back to Phase 1. For example, it is possible that Alachua County and Marion County may be moving back to Phase 1 the week of 10/19.
PENNSYLVANIA - Court Statuses Determined on a Local Basis
On March 16, 2020, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania declared a statewide judicial emergency due to the national pandemic. However, this emergency ended on June 1, 2020. Since June 1, 2020, President Judges have been given wide discretion as to when jury trials will resume in their respective judicial districts.
MASSACHUSETTS - Court Proceedings Still Primarily Virtual
As per the Supreme Judicial Court’s Fourth Updated Order dated September 17, 2020, Massachusetts state courthouses will remain physically open to the public for limited purposes. However, most matters will continue to be addressed virtually. After October 23, 2020, will begin a phased resumption of jury trials, beginning with Phase I. Depending on the COVID situation within Massachusetts in the coming months, the next phase will be implemented sometime in February 2021.
Additionally, bench trials in civil and criminal matters will continue to be conducted remotely, and new grand juries may be empaneled subject to certain health-minded restrictions.
GEORGIA - Chief Judges Authorized to Resume Grand Jury
Per Order dated October 10, 2020, Chief Judges are now authorized to resume grand jury proceedings and jury trials if doing so can be done safely based on local conditions. Georgia Courts will continue to use and increase the use of technology to conduct remote judicial proceedings. Courts have resumed limited in-person proceedings that can be conducted safely.
Aside from these updates, Georgia Courts will continue to operate in a similarly restricted/virtual manner until at least November 9, 2020, after which date the current Order Declaring Statewide Judicial Emergency will expire without further extension.
CONNECTICUT - Limited Re-Openings and Resumption of Defaults
On August 28, 2020, the Connecticut Judicial Branch issued a press release detailing the continued expansion of Court operations within the State. Courthouses in New Haven, Waterford, and Willimantic are open to the public, subject to mask wearing and social distancing. Also, Connecticut Courts will begin to act on defaults and nonsuits in civil (including housing and small claims) and family matters, effective September 20, 2020. Regarding evictions, the Judicial Branch will begin to schedule hearings for matters in which a request for execution has been filed, beginning the week of September 14, 2020.
NEW YORK - NYC Jury Trials set to Resume
Per a message issued by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore delivered on October 12, 2020, New York Courts will continue to operate at about 10% capacity regarding in person appearances. Judge DiFiore further stated that jury trials will begin again in New York City beginning the week of October 19, 2020. The number of/locations of these trials will be determined based on the latest COVID data. Beyond these developments, Judge DiFiore emphasized that the Courts would continue their efforts to expand ADR to aid in efficiently moving the Courts’ docket.
Additionally, the Chief Administrative Judge, Lawrence Marks, issued an Order effective as of October 12, 2020, which provided that there will be a resumption of residential eviction matters.
NEW JERSEY - State Courts Enter Phase 2.5 of Post Pandemic Plan
On September 23, 2020, New Jersey State Courts entered “Phase 2.5” of their Post Pandemic Plan. Previously, the Courts were in “Phase 2” which saw between 15-20% of Judges and staff on site. Those percentages were set to increase to between 50-75% in “Phase 3.”
However, based on current health trends, the Courts will not move directly from “Phase 2” to “Phase 3.” Rather, the Courts will now transition into a “Phase 2.5.” This new transitional phase will limit the number of Judges and staff on-site to a maximum of 25%.
In short, New Jersey Superior and Municipal Courts are slowly resuming some in-person services. However, approximately 75% of Judges and staff continue to work remotely.