Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court COVID Update

On June 24, 2020, the Supreme Judicial Court once updated their orders regarding the opening of Massachusetts courts. In this order, the SJC addressed how the court will begin opening to the public.

Specifically, the SJC’s order states the following:

  • Massachusetts courts will be closed to the public until July 13, 2020.
  • Beginning July 13, 2020, the courts may begin reopening to the public for emergency and non-emergency matters that would not be viable to hold via video or phone.
  • Beginning August 8, 2020, the courts shall enter into a second phase where more matters will be allowed to occur in person.
  • By July 13, 2020 each individual court shall issue a public notice informing the public what types of hearings will be allowed to occur in person.
  • Jury trials will be held no earlier than September 8, 2020.

What this means is that we can expect that most hearings will take place either over the phone or by video through at least the summer. However, some hearings will begin to occur in person at a slow pace this summer.