COVID-19 Information and Updates
The Illinois Judicial Branch continues to monitor the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. It is important to have reliable information when dealing with a public health emergency. The Illinois Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control are two verified sources for information on COVID-19. Court users and employees are reminded to take the same precautions that would be used during any flu season (wash your hands thoroughly, cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and stay home if you are feeling sick). Please refer back to this page as it will be updated with new information as it becomes available.
PLEASE NOTE: Many Illinois courts are open for emergencies only. Additionally, the Illinois Supreme Court has issued extensions for deadlines in the Appellate Court and Supreme Court. Please find information below about your local courthouse or contact the clerk in your county or appellate district.
NOTA IMPORTANTE: Muchos tribunales de Illinois están abiertos solamente para emergencias. Además, la Corte Suprema de Illinois ha concedido extensiones de tiempo para los tramites en el Tribunal de Apelaciones y la Corte Suprema. A continuación podrá encontrar información acerca del juzgado de su localidad. Asimismo, puede comunicarse con el actuario de su condado o distrito de apelaciones.
For more COVID-19 information, please visit the websites listed below:
- State of Illinois Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response
- Illinois Department of Public Health
- IDPH County Level COVID-19 Risk Metrics
- Centers for Disease Control
Chief Justice Anne M. Burke's Thank You Letter to Court Personnel
COVID-19 Task Force
The COVID-19 Task Force was created in June to address the ongoing challenges with resuming court operations through the next phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Task Force is charged with analyzing and making recommendations regarding the continuing challenges for the administration of justice resultant from the pandemic. The Task Force is considering, among other matters: (1) how technology might appropriately be used for jury selection and trials; (2) use of remote proceedings in civil and criminal cases (particularly with regard to assurances of due process); and (3) logistics of maintaining safety for court personnel, litigants and the public. The current roster is here.
Task Force initiatives:
COVID-19 Resources for Courts
Illinois Supreme Court
- Supreme Court Guidelines for Resuming Illinois Judicial Branch Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- COVID-19 signage in English and Spanish
- Illinois Courts' Remote Hearings Information and Listings
- Attending Court by Phone or Video: Questions and Tips for Court Users
- COVID-19 Exposure Response Guide
Court Reestablishment Plans
- Cook County
- 1st Circuit
- 2nd Circuit
- 3rd Circuit - Criminal
- 3rd Circuit - Civil
- 4th Circuit
- 5th Circuit
- 6th Circuit
- 7th Circuit - Greene County
- 7th Circuit - Jersey County
- 7th Circuit - Macoupin County
- 7th Circuit - Morgan County
- 7th Circuit - Sangamon County
- 7th Circuit - Scott County
- 8th Circuit
- 9th Circuit
- 10th Circuit
- 11th Circuit
- 12th Circuit
- 14th Circuit
- 13th Circuit
- 15th Circuit
- 16th Circuit
- 16th Circuit - Civil Division
- 16th Circuit - Criminal Jury Trial Proceedures
- 16th Circuit - Family Division
- 17th Circuit
- 18th Circuit
- 19th Circuit - Civil Division
- 19th Circuit - Criminal Division
- 19th Circuit - Family Division
- 20th Circuit
- 21st Circuit
- 22nd Circuit
- 23nd Circuit
Virtual Courtroom Guides
- Supreme Court Remote Court Proceedings Guidance Document
- 1st Circuit - Saline County
- 1st Circuit - Williamson County
- 1st Circuit - Williamson County
- 12th Circuit
- 15th Circuit - Carroll County
- 15th Circuit - Jo Daviess County
- 15th Circuit - Ogle County
- 16th Circuit
- 20th Circuit
- 23rd Circuit
Illinois Circuit Court Remote Jury Guidelines
- Guidelines on Remote Jury Selection in Civil Trials
- Appendix 1 - 19th Judicial Circuit's Remote Jury Selection Protocol
- Appendix 2 - Model COVID-19 Juror Summons for Remote Selection and In-Person Service (if selected)
- Appendix 3 - Model COVID-19 Juror Pre-Selection Questionnaire
- Appendix 4 - Juror Admonishments and Rules of Conduct for Remote Jury Selection
Illinois Judicial College Webinars
- State & Federal Courts Series Module 3: Virtual Trials – Constitutional and Practical Considerations, August 14, 2020
- Interviewing Court Involved Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic, August 14, 2020
- Evidentiary Issues in Remote Proceedings, August 12, 2020
- Lessons Learned from the Bench During COVID-19, June 23, 2020
- Managing a Jury During COVID-19, June 18, 2020
- Family Law Prove-Up Basics: Family Law Prove-Up Basics: Remote and Traditional Hearings, June 11, 2020
- Using Interpreters in Remote Hearings, May 28, 2020
- Circuit Court Clerks: How to Reopen After a Pandemic, May 13, 2020
- Conducting Remote Hearings in Child Protection Cases, April 17, 2020
- COVID-19 Impact on Probation and Court Services, April 9, 2020
- Circuit Court Clerks: Managing in a Pandemic, March 27, 2020
- Access to Justice & Emergency Preparedness in a Pandemic, March 19, 2020
Illinois State Bar Association Webinars
- Remote Hearings 201: The Sequel, May 27, 2020
- Remote Hearings 101, May, 2020
- Remote Hearings: Coming Soon to a Courtroom Near You, May 14, 2020
National Center for State Courts Webinars
- Webinar Series: Rubber, Meet Road: Where Innovations in Applied Court Technology Mean Real Change, September 10th, 17th & 24th at 3:00 p.m. EDT
- Essential Steps to Tackle Backlog and Prepare for a Surge in New Cases, July 17, 2020
- National Center for State Courts: "Back to the Future": Virtual Remote Interpreting and Other Language Access Solutions in the Time of COVID, Tuesday, June 30, 2020
- Addressing Court Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being, June 25, 2020
- Jury Service and Accessing Court Services Remotely in a (Post) Pandemic America: Results From a New National Public Opinion Poll, June 18, 2020
- Handling High Volume Dockets: Spotlight on Eviction Diversion Programs, Tuesday, June 16, 2020
- Reestablishing Jury Pools in the COVID-19 Era, Thursday, June 4, 2020
- Finance Webinar: Reopening Strategies & Costs, Wednesday, June 3, 2020
- How State Courts are Using Innovative Technologies and Responsible Health and Safety Practices to Resume Jury Trials, May 22, 2020
- Expanding Court Operations II: Outside the Box Strategies, May 19, 2020
- COVID-19 and Courthouses: Planning to get back to business inside the courthouse, May 15, 2020
- Developing Plans for Expanding In-Person Court Operations, May 1, 2020
- Lights, Cameras, Motion!, Act III, April 20, 2020
- Lights, Cameras, Motion!, Act II, April 15, 2020
- Lights, Cameras, Motion!, April 7, 2020
- Access to Justice Considerations for State and Local Courts as They Respond to COVID-19: A Conversation, April 3, 2020
Supreme Court Updates
Recent Updates
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