On March 16, Gov. Ralph Northam requested a declaration of a judicial emergency in all district and circuit courts in the state, which Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Donald Lemons honored that same day.
That declaration has been extended 13 times, most recently on Dec. 3, and will remain in effect through Jan. 3, 2021.
The order suspends non-essential and non-emergency court proceedings in all circuit and district courts and extends the deadlines of those suspended proceedings.
Unless a court has requested and received a specific exception from the State Supreme Court, all civil, traffic and criminal matters, including jury trials, have been suspended.