1 IN THE TRIAL COURT FOR THE ST ATE OF ALASKA 2 In the Matter of: 3 4 COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS 5 ) ) ) ) ) 6 PRESIDING JUDGES' STATEWIDE ADMINISTRATIVE COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS ORDER 7 8 The Alaska Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Comi, an 9 the presiding judges have issued orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chief Justic 10 Order No. 8149 was issued on May 20, 2020 and in part requires that: "All visitors to Alask 11 Court System courthouses must take precautions to keep other members of the public and cou 12 staff safe"; "Visitors are strongly encouraged to wear a mask or other face covering"; and, 'Th 13 presiding judge may make these policies mandatory for any comi location or district." 14 The undersigned, in consideration of the present COVID-19 related circumstance 15 16 17 in the State of Alaska and the expert health advice that the Alaska Court System has received. orders the following: 18 I. All persons in Alaska Court System facilities shall comply with the Alaska Court System 19 statewide COVID-19 precautions, including social distancing, any health screening in effect, 20 and the requirements of related signage. The Alaska Court System's COVID-19 precaution 21 are subject to change and are posted on the Alaska Court System's website. 22 facilities" includes off-site locations used to conduct court proceedings. 23 24 "Com 2. All persons in Alaska Court System facilities must also comply with all applicable statewid COVID-19 mandates imposed by the Governor and all applicable local COVID-19 mandates. 25 PRESIDING JUDGES' STATEWIDE ADMINISTRATIVE COVID-19 PRECATUION ORDER Page 1of4 Alaska Court System l 3. All visitors to Alaska Court System facilities must wear a face covering or mask whic 2 covers the person's mouth and nose unless a stated exemption applies. "Visitors" includes 3 but is not limited to: attorneys, parties, witnesses, other participants in the proceeding 4 persons qualifying as victims under Alaska statute, persons conducting business at a Cour 5 Clerk's Office, and members of the public. 6 4. All persons attending a court proceeding in person must wear a face covering or mask tha 7 covers the person's nose and mouth, including the judicial officer and in-court clerk, unless 8 stated exemption applies. The judicial officer presiding over a court proceeding with person 9 lO attending in person may authorize the removal of a face covering or mask in accordance wit ll section 5 of Chief Justice Order No. 8149. 1 l2 5. Court Clerk offices in each court location shall make face coverings or masks available t visitors upon request. l3 l4 6. The following persons are exempt from the face covering or mask requirements: l5 a. Any child under two years of age; l6 b. Any individual who has a mental or physical disability that prevents the person fro l7 being able to wear or remove a face covering or mask, provided the person is able t l8 maintain required social distancing while in the court facility; and l9 c. Any individual who has trouble breathing, is unable to remove a face covering or mas 20 without assistance, or has been advised by a medical professional that wearing a fac 2l 22 23 1 24 25 Special Order of the Chief Justice No.8149 Regarding COVID-19 Visitor Health Precautions (d)(5): "During courtroom proceedings, the judge may authorize removal of masks or fac coverings as necessary, including for purposes of witness testimony, defendant identification, 01 making an appropriate record, provided that appropriate social distancing or other protectiv measures are followed." PRESIDING JUDGES' STATEWIDE ADMINISTRATIVE COVID-19 PRECATUION ORDER Page 2 of 4 Alaska Court System 1 covering or mask may pose an unreasonable risk to that person, provided the person i 2 able to maintain required social distancing while in the court facility. 3 4 7. A person who is not in compliance with the foregoing requirements, including the fac covering or mask requirement, will be excluded from the court facility. Judicial Servic 5 Officers shall enforce the exclusion. 6 8. A person excluded from a court proceeding may participate in or otherwise attend the cou 7 proceeding by teleconference, or by videoconference if reasonably available, provided tha 8 9 10 11 12 the court proceeding is not a confidential proceeding that the person is not privileged t attend. 9. The Court Clerk for each court location shall prominently place signage at that court facilit informing visitors of the foregoing. 13 10. The presiding judges are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation and additiona 14 precaution orders will be issued as warranted. A presiding judge for a District may issue a 15 16 order for that District or any comt location(s) in the District with regards to the face coverin or mask requirements based on the COVID-19 circumstances that then exist in the District a 17 a whole or at particular court location(s) in the District. 18 19 IT IS SO ORDERED. 20 21 ~ Dated at Kotzebue, Alaska this _l _ day of June 2020. 22 23 Paul Roetman Presiding Judge - Second Judicial District 24 25 PRESIDING JUDGES' STATEWIDE ADMINISTRATIVE COVID-19 PRECATUION ORDER Page 3 of4 Alaska Court System s""t 1 Dated at Fairbanks, Alaska this _\ _day of June 2020. /}/VI.~~ 2 3 Michael MacDonald Presiding Judge - Fourth Judicial District 4 5 6 si Dated at Anchorage, Alaska this _l _ day of June 2020. 7 8 William Morse Presiding Judge - Third Judicial District 9 10 Dated at Ketchikan, Alaska this I s\day of June 2020. 11 12 13 Trevor Stephens Presiding Judge - First Judicial District 14 15 16 Distribution: 17 18 19 20 21 Chief Justice Joel Bolger Administrative Director Stacey Marz Court Rules Attorney Stacy Steinberg ACAs Superior Court Judges District Court Judges Magistrate Judges Clerks of Court 22 23 24 25 PRESIDING JUDGES' STATEWIDE ADMINISTRATIVE COVID-19 PRECATUION ORDER Page 4of4 Alaska Court System