SALT LAKE CITY — All criminal calendars, hearings and trials in the 3rd District Court, which covers Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele counties, are canceled for the next 14 days.
Presiding Judge Mark S. Kouris issued an order Thursday afternoon, which will be in effect until April 3, 2020. At that point, the situation will be reevaluated “determining whether this stay will be continued.”
“For all criminal matters scheduled through April 3, 2020, the jail and prison transports are cancelled and no attorneys will appear at the courthouse,” the order said. “All out-of-custody defendants will be given another hearing date 60 to 90 days out, and the clerk will send notice of the new date,” the order said.
“If the defendant appears in person, they will be given a new date and asked to leave the courthouse.”
Beginning Friday, March 27, 2020, court officials will attempt to offer proceedings remotely. The jail will assign each judge a time slot, and judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys will communicate remotely. Those details are forthcoming, according to the order.
Correction: A headline on an earlier version indicated hearings are canceled in Utah courts. The cancelations are only in the 3rd District.