Defendants in Cook County are getting 30 days’ continuance should they fail to appear with the latest measures being taken to combat the Coronavirus pandemic. Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans also called a halt to criminal bench and jury trials in instructing judges to conduct hearings on Zoom, Webex and other conferencing platforms. The move comes in response to positive COVID-19 tests among some 40 workers in the system.
The edict leaves at the presiding judge’s discretion whether to permit further continuances based on public health considerations. However, Evans’ office said that only cases of “extraordinary or compelling circumstances” could proceed in the county. This as previously scheduled mandatory arbitration hearings are permitted to go ahead. http://www.cookcountycourt.org/MEDIA/View-Press-Release/ArticleId/2801/Cook-County-courts-to-go-virtual-where-possible-to-prevent-COVID-19-spread
The Chicagoland Law Firm conducts appearances on Zoom in for cases in Cook county.