Article

Covid-19

March 19, 2020 | John L. Calcagni, III

Contents

Massachusetts State Trial Courts
Massachusetts Federal Court
Rhode Island State Trial Courts
Rhode Island Federal Court
Connecticut State Courts
Connecticut Federal Court

Massachusetts State Trial Courts

Due the recent COVID-19 pandemic, there have been modifications made to state court criminal procedures in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The trial courts will only hold hearings under very limited circumstances by videoconference and teleconference, with limited exceptions. These circumstances include:

(1) emergency abuse prevention orders and initial hearing after notice;
(2) emergency harassment prevention orders and initial hearing after notice;
(3) emergency extreme risk protective orders and initial hearing after notice;
(4) arraignments of new arrests in which the arrestee is in custody;
(5) warrant removals for persons under arrest;
(6) probation violations where detention is sought for persons arrested on a warrant or for a new crime;
(7) search warrants;
(8) mental health commitment hearings or evaluations; and
(9) mental health orders.

As indicated above, there are exceptions to this in-court access rule for non-trial court employees, which include:

(1) section 35 proceedings;
(2) fitting a global positioning device or SCRAM device ordered by a judge; and
(3) posting bail. All cases scheduled between March 18, 2020 and May 1, 2020 shall be continued to a date no earlier to May 4, 2020 and no less than 60 days from the date of the scheduled event or to a date by agreement of the parties or the respective Clerk’s Office.

Our office will be in contact with the Clerk’s Office and District Attorney’s Office to monitor the scheduling and rescheduling of our clients’ cases, and thereafter, will notify each client by phone, text and/or email. If you have a question about your case, please phone us directly at (401) 351-5100

Massachusetts Federal Court

Due to the recent COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts has implemented modifications to its criminal procedure. The court will continue to hold criminal proceedings where personal freedom and/or public safety issues are immediately implicated.

All other proceedings, subject to certain exceptions, will be continued for 60 days. All initial proceedings, arraignments, detention hearings, discovery and pretrial conferences shall proceed in the ordinary course and conducted by videoconference or teleconference where feasible. All pretrial deadlines, motions, proceedings on possible probation revocation and supervised release, change of plea hearings and sentencing will all be continued for 60 days, unless a compelling reason is presented to the court. This time will be considered excluded under the Speedy Trial Act.

Our office will be in contact with the Clerk’s Office and U.S. Attorney’s Office to monitor the scheduling and rescheduling of our clients’ cases, and thereafter, will notify each client by phone, text and/or email. If you have a question about your case, please phone us directly at (401) 351-5100.

Rhode Island State Trial Courts

Due the recent COVID-19 pandemic, there have been modifications made to state court criminal procedures in Rhode Island. The District and Superior Courts will only hold criminal hearings under very limited circumstances. The District Court will conduct (1) arraignments for capital offenses (sexual assault, child molestation, robbery, arson, murder and drug trafficking), domestic violence offenses, alcohol-related driving offenses, fugitive from justice complaints, and other crimes of violence involving public safety), bail hearings, bail and probation violation hearings, and competency hearing. The Superior Court will conduct arraignments for capital offenses, bail petitions and hearings, bail and probation violation hearings and warrant cancellations. All cases will be rescheduled until a date after April 17, 2020.

Our office will be in contact with the Clerk’s Office, Attorney General’s Office and police departments to monitor the scheduling and rescheduling of our clients’ cases, and thereafter, will notify each client by phone, text and/or email. If you have a question about your case, please phone us directly at (401) 351-5100.

Rhode Island Federal Court

Due to the recent COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island has implemented modifications to its criminal procedure. The courthouse is closed to the public until further notice. All grand jury proceedings and on-going criminal hearings will be continued unless the Defendant’s liberty interested are involved, and if so, will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

This time will be considered excluded under the Speedy Trial Act. Our office will be in contact with the Clerk’s Office and U.S. Attorney’s Office to monitor the scheduling and rescheduling of our clients’ cases, and thereafter, will notify each client by phone, text and/or email. If you have a question about your case, please phone us directly at (401) 351-5100.

Connecticut State Courts

Due the recent COVID-19 pandemic, there have been modifications made to state court criminal procedures in Connecticut. All criminal jury trials are presently suspended. The courts will continue to conduct criminal arraignments of defendants held without bond, all arraignments for domestic violence cases and juvenile detention hearings.

Our office will be in contact with the Clerk’s Office and Office of the State’s Attorney to monitor the scheduling and rescheduling of our clients’ cases, and thereafter, will notify each client by phone, text and/or email. If you have a question about your case, please phone us directly at (401) 351-5100.

Connecticut Federal Court

Due to the recent COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut has implemented modifications to its criminal procedure. The courthouse is closed to the public until further notice. All grand jury and trial proceeds criminal hearings will be continued until April 10, 2020. The Court will continue to handle present of new arrests, initial appearances, detention hearings, grand jury returns, and other matters the court deems necessary.