North Carolina’s chief justice has pushed most court proceedings back to June in order to promote social distancing to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley announced on Friday that she had issued an order that state superior and district court proceedings be rescheduled until June 1 unless they meet certain exceptions. Beasley had previously postponed most court proceedings until mid-April.

Beasley said in an announcement that her top priority was to protect court personnel and the public “by limiting gatherings and foot traffic in our county courthouses, while making sure our courts stay available to serve the public.”

The order allows exceptions for proceedings that can be conducted remotely, certain urgent criminal proceedings or emergency relief such as restraining orders and domestic violence protective orders. Chief local judges can also make exceptions if they determine that a hearing can be held in their territory without endangering people’s health.

Other provisions of the order include pushing back deadlines for most fines and fees. It suspends the reporting of failures to pay debts to the DMV.

“We want people to know that they do not need to come to the courthouse right now to pay a traffic ticket,” she said. “Deadlines for those payments have been extended and licenses will not be suspended until this emergency passes.”

Related Stories
‹
North Carolina Judges Issue Mixed Ruling on Governor’s Appointment Powers
North Carolina trial judges issued a mixed ruling for Gov. Josh Stein and lawmakers over recent changes to the governor's appointment powers.
Chief Judge is Replaced in a Shakeup on the North Carolina Court of Appeals
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON North Carolina’s chief justice has quietly replaced the next leader of the state’s intermediate-level appeals court in a move that appears to run counter to tradition at the state Court of Appeals. The new chief judge of the 15-member Court of Appeals is Judge Chris Dillon, whose appointment to the […]
Voting Rights Lawyer To Fill N. Carolina Appeals Court Seat
Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A longtime voting rights attorney will be appointed to the North Carolina Court of Appeals, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday, filling a vacancy when Judge Richard Dietz moves to the state Supreme Court next month. Allison Riggs, a co-leader of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice in Durham, has […]
Judge Sets Deadline for N. Carolina To Boost School Funding
A North Carolina judge has set a mid-October deadline for state lawmakers to follow a court-ordered plan to provide full funding for improving public education or he will take action himself. State Superior Court Judge David Lee said he was “very disheartened” that the General Assembly is funding a small part of a plan calling […]
New NC Chief Justice Seeks Vaccine Access for Open Courts
North Carolina’s new chief justice says he’s asked Gov. Roy Cooper to consider getting COVID-19 vaccines more quickly to local court officials to meet a state constitutional requirement that “all courts shall be open.” Speaking at Wednesday’s online installation ceremony for himself and two new justices, Chief Justice Paul Newby said “access to justice through […]
North Carolina Chief Justice Halts Courts for 30 Days
Non-essential in-person court proceedings in North Carolina will be halted starting Monday for 30 days due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, the chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court announced Friday. Chief Justice Cheri Beasley said in a news release that the pause is necessary to protect the health and safety of court […]
Close Race for N.C. Chief Justice Likely Headed to Recount
The election to lead North Carolina’s judicial branch was likely headed for a recount after county tallies reported Friday showed an extremely close race between current state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley and challenger Paul Newby. The canvassed results from nearly all counties show the Democrat Beasley and Newby — a Republican and current […]
Face Mask Requirement Begins in N.C. Courts as Cases Grow
Jury trials in North Carolina courtrooms will be delayed for at least another two months because of the new coronavirus, Chief Justice Cheri Beasley announced on Thursday while also instituting a face covering requirement in court buildings. Gov. Roy Cooper’s face-mask mandate in public spaces started three weeks ago but didn’t apply to the judicial branch. […]
Chief Justice Beasley Extends Several Emergency Orders for NC Courts
The chief justice of North Carolina’s Supreme Court is extending various emergency directives in the state’s courts in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Chief Justice Cheri Beasley said in a statement Monday that directives would continue to allow increased use of remote technology and limit foot traffic in courthouses. The directives […]
Orange County Judge: Normal Court Proceedings Present Public Health Challenges
While the state prepares to enter Phase 1 on Friday, there are still many aspects of state government operating on reduced capacity. That includes North Carolina’s courts, which are determining when to begin full proceedings again. North Carolina Chief Justice Cheri Beasley pushed back most court proceedings until at least June 1, giving the court […]
›