IN RE :

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA
COVID - 19 PANDEMIC EMERGENCY RESPONSE
MAY 13, 2020

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 7 :
RESUMPTION OF IN-PERSON HEARINGS AUTHORIZED AFTER MAY 15,
2020, AND CONTINUED SUSPENSION OF JURY TRIALS UNTIL
SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

2020 ,
Governor Kay Ivey announced the
On May 8 ,
amendment of the " Safer at Home Order , " effective May 11 ,
2020 .
This Court hereby extends the state of emergency for
the Judicial Branch of the State of Alabama pending further
order .
All administrative orders issued by this Court in
relation to the COVID - 19 pandemic , except for Administrative
Order No. 3 pertaining to briefing and filing deadlines , are
hereby extended and shall remain in effect , except as set
forth below .
Subject to the approval of the Presiding Circuit Judge
of each circuit and subject to the provisions of this order ,
in-person hearings in the circuit courts , district courts ,
juvenile courts , municipal courts , and probate courts are
authorized to recommence after May 15 , 2020 .
For the purposes of determining whether to recommence
in - person court hearings , the Presiding Circuit Judge is
granted authority to make decisions regarding the safety and
welfare of all court personnel in all courts within the
circuit .
The Presiding Circuit Judge is specifically
authorized to
adopt procedures
that ,
in his
or her
discretion ,
will
implement
the
recommendations
and
requirements of the " Safer at Home Order " so as to protect
court employees and other individuals accessing all courts
within the circuit . In making such determinations and before
adopting any order or procedures , the Presiding Circuit
Judge should consult with other judges in the circuit , the
Chairman of the County Commission(s) , the Circuit Clerk(s) ,
the Sheriff(s) ,
the District Attorney ,
and the Public
Defender in counties or circuits having a full-time public
defender .

 Presiding Circuit Judges are authorized to extend the
restriction of in-person court proceedings in any court
beyond May 15 , 2020 , provided that a written order is
entered and forwarded to the Chief Justice and provided that
the order does not extend beyond August 15 , 2020 .
Jury trials shall remain suspended until September 14 ,
2020 .
Parker , C. J ., and Bolin , Shaw , Wise , Bryan ,
Mendheim , Stewart , and Mitchell , JJ. , concur .

Sellers ,

Witness
2020 .

of

my

hand

and

seal

this

the

13th day

May ,

of Court
Supreme Court of Alabama