CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW)- The Montgomery County Court Complex will reopen its doors to the public on Monday, May 4th.
A detailed plan outlines how the courts will operate in the 19th Judicial District that includes Montgomery and Robertson County addressing in-person and inmate criminal, civil, child support and juvenile proceedings.
The biggest changes will include daily court dockets for in-person proceedings being staggered throughout the day in order to limit the number of litigants in a courtroom to 10 (ten) or less, not including the judges or court staff. The assigned time will be shown on the dockets, according to Cheryl Castle, Circuit Court Clerk.
COVID screening procedures will also be required for anyone entering the building and mask and PPE are recommended for all entering the building including staff.
Courtrooms will be sanitized periodically throughout the day and hand sanitizer will be available in courtrooms.
The plan includes specific instructions on how to determine the capacity in each courtroom, seating instructions to ensure social distancing in the courtroom, and how testimony will be handled.
Video conferencing will be still be used by judges for arraignments, hearings and non-contested settlements for inmates.
Defendants in criminal matters out on bond, who must appear for appearances, arraignments, contested motions and other non-jury proceedings will be scheduled on the staggered dockets with judges coordinating their calendars to eliminate crowding issues.
A 10-day notice of scheduled court dates will be provided. Bail Bonding agents will be required to notify their clients of the proper date and time for their clients to appear.
The number of people allowed in the courtroom at one time will be monitored to meet social distancing recommendations.
Jury trials will continue to be suspended until July 3, unless extradorinary circumstances, according to the latest Tennessee Supreme Court order.
The Montgomery County Court Clerk’s Office cashier windows at their main office and our Juvenile office will be open to the public but physical access to our offices will remain closed. In order to address your health and safety as well as ours, we still encourage the use of our drop box for filings (any costs due will be billed) and the use of our online services, i.e. case info and payments.
Questions or requests to the court clerk’s office can be e-mailed to them at cccmont@mcgtn.net.
To read the order in it’s entirety click 19th JD Comprehensive Plan (003)
For detailed court updates visit the Court Clerks website.