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Court Hearing Updates
If you are attending a court hearing via virtual means, view the virtual/video courtroom appearance instructions. For more details about court cancellations and rescheduling, contact our office or the 10th Judicial Circuit.
- Essential & Critical Proceedings
- Non-Essential Proceedings & Non-Critical Proceedings
- Rescheduling Canceled Proceedings
- Presence of Children at Shelter Hearings
- Weekender Program
- Continuance of Fines &/or Court Costs
Essential & Critical Proceedings
Essential and critical proceedings will continue to be conducted remotely unless the presiding judge deems it necessary to conduct the proceeding in-person. Essential proceedings include, but are not limited to:
- Criminal arraignments, as necessary
- Critical proceedings related to the state of emergency or the public health emergency, include but are not limited to proceedings related to:
- Enforcement of curfew orders
- Violation of orders to close a public or private building
- Violation of orders to limit travel
- Violation of quarantine or isolation
- First appearance
- Hearings on motions to set or modify monetary bail for individuals who are in custody
- Hearings on petitions for the appointment of an emergency temporary guardian
- Hearings on petitions for extraordinary writs as necessary to protect constitutional rights
- Hearings on petitions for risk protection orders
- Hearings on petitions for temporary injunctions relating to the safety of an individual
- Hearings to determine whether an individual should be involuntarily committed under the Baker Act or the Marchman Act
- Juvenile delinquency detention hearings
- Juvenile dependency shelter hearings
Non-Essential Proceedings & Non-Critical Proceedings
All non-essential and non-critical proceedings shall be conducted using remote technology. View the virtual/video courtroom appearance instructions.
Rescheduling Canceled Proceedings
For matters that are not rescheduled by the Clerk of Court, it is up to the parties to reschedule any proceedings that have been stayed, canceled, or postponed. The Clerk of Court and the Judicial Assistant of the assigned judge are tasked with informing a party who inquires as to whether a matter is to be rescheduled by the Clerk or the parties with the assistance of the Judicial Assistant.
If you are unsure of your court date, please check your paperwork or contact our office.
Presence of Children at Shelter Hearings
Unless directed otherwise by the assigned judge, the presence of children at shelter hearings is waived during the Court's response to the pandemic or until further order
Weekender Program
As a result of social distancing requirements, the Weekender Program may not be able to accommodate the full number of participants in the program. If the program reaches maximum capacity for any weekend and must turn participants away due to social distancing requirements, the Polk County Sheriff's Office shall provide the Court with a list of the names of the individuals turned away and unable to complete their weekend work-release requirements due to no fault of their own.
Continuance of Fines and/or Court Costs in County Criminal Cases & Non-Criminal Traffic Violations
The Clerks of Court may, without request, extend the time for the payment of fines and/or costs imposed in county criminal cases for a period of 60 days and for non-criminal traffic violations for a period of 120 days. This is a special limited exception to Administrative Order 7-16.0, In Re: Continuances of Fines and/or Court Costs entered on March 20, 2020.