Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Court closings announced in anticipation of killer cold snap

Updated with additional information from Illinois Courts website


The Circuit Court of Cook County will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, January 30, and Thursday, January 31, according to an announcement made today by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.

The United States District Court announced last night that it, too, will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, January 30. The District Court's website advises, "Each judicial officer will reschedule their in-court matters as they determine best for their cases."

The Cook County Circuit Court's announcement is more nuanced.

There will be bail hearings and certain pretrial matters for in-custody defendants at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago and juvenile detention hearings at the Juvenile Center in Chicago -- but, other than these, all Cook County Circuit Courts will be closed as we all hunker down for the Polar Vortex.

Jurors who are currently assigned to a trial do not need to come to court on Wednesday and Thursday, but must return to court on the next date scheduled by the trial judge. Those who were called for jury duty on Wednesday or Thursday do not have to come to court on Wednesday or Thursday, and they will receive a new summons for duty on a future date.

Cook County lawyers looking for specific information about the continuance of matters previously set for tomorrow or Thursday can click here to access the complete text of General Administrative Order 2019-02.

The Illinois Courts website has announced that these courts will be closed tomorrow:
  • 1st District Appellate Court Courthouse
  • 2nd District Appellate Court Courthouse (Elgin)
  • Champaign County
  • Cook County
  • DeKalb County
  • DuPage County all divisions, including Field Courts
  • Henderson County
  • Iroquois County
  • Kane County
  • Kankakee County
  • Kendall County
  • Knox County
  • Lake County courts and all divisions
  • McHenry County
  • Ogle County
  • Peoria County
  • Warren County
Several of these courts will remain closed on Thursday as well. This is the list of Thursday closings, as of 1:25 p.m., from the Illinois Courts website:
  • 1st District Appellate Court Courthouse
  • 2nd District Appellate Court Courthouse – closed until Noon
  • Cook County
  • Kendall County – closed until Noon
  • Lake County courts and all divisions - exception of Bond Court
  • Lake County Bond Court, hearings will be conducted at 1:30 p.m.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Illinois Courts website (and Twitter feed) is also listing Illinois court closures http://www.illinoiscourts.gov

Jack Leyhane said...

Thanks for the tip -- I've updated the post accordingly.

Anonymous said...

Dan Tiernan appointed to 14th subcircuit