Due to the rising cases of COVID-19, the Onslow County District Court will remain closed until the end of January.
Chief District Court judge Sarah C. Seaton made the announced effective on January 12 for Duplin, Sampson and Jones County District Courts as well.
Seaton s administrative order coincides with that of Governor Roy Cooper and Former Chief Justice Cheri Beasley. Cooper extended North Carolina s stay at home order on Jan. 6 while Beasley released an emergency directive on Dec. 14 where all non-essential in person court proceedings were postponed.
All district courts in those counties are scheduled to remain closed through Jan. 29.
All four counties have shown increased positive coronavirus cases and increased fatalities during the month of January. With the backlog of court cases from full closure of the courthouses during the pandemic, the heavy dockets require a large number of people inside the court rooms working closely together.