COVID-19 Resources

• Review your court’s Continuity of Operations (COOP) plan. [NOTE: Most courts created
one during the H1N1 bird flu scare in 2008 or 2009.] Courts should check with their
Regional office if you don’t have access to or are unsure where yours is located. If your
court has not created a COOP, reach out to your Regional Office for assistance. See here for
SCAO’s guide to developing a COOP.

• Statutory Authority: MCL 333.5207 et seq., http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-333-

5207, gives jurisdiction to the circuit courts for these matters.

• Infectious Disease Forms bank, (forms most likely needed, all reside here)
https://courts.michigan.gov/Administration/SCAO/Forms/Pages/Infectious-Disease.aspx

o Petition and Ex Parte Order for Transport and/or Temporary Detention,

o Order Following Hearing on Petition for Treatment of Infectious Disease

• MDHHS Coronavirus, Michigan Data and Latest Information (updated daily at 4:00pm),
https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus

• The CDC provides guidance for employers in the workplace. At this link,
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-business-
response.html, you can scroll down the page to Recommended Strategies for employers to
use now. There is also an article on ADA compliance and OSHA requirements associated
with the Coronavirus.

• The Michigan Trial Court Standards for Courtroom Technology contains a list of hearings
allowed to be performed with remote participants. Appendix A (beginning at pg. 29-33) of
this document contains a list of hearings allowed using remote technology.

• If the court needs to close for a period of time, the Court Closure LAO - Model LAO 16 [see
Appendix A to this document] must be completed and filed with the Regional Office.

• The U.S. Office of Personnel Management website has additional guidance. COVID-19
additional guidance document, https://www.chcoc.gov/content/coronavirus-disease-2019-
covid-19-additional-guidance
 APPENDIX A

State Court Administrative Office

Sample Local Administrative Order 16 - Closure for Pending Case Inventory

[LOCAL COURT LETTERHEAD]

Administrative Order [year] - [number]

Court Closure - [reason for closure]

Previous Local Administrative Orders Rescinded by this Order:

IT IS ORDERED:

This administrative order is issued in accordance with MCR 8.110(C). The purpose of this
order is to close the business offices of the court to the public in order to [insert reason for closure],
upon approval by the State Court Administrative Office.

The business offices of [insert name of court] will be closed on [insert dates of closure].
All in-custody arraignments and emergency matters (including emergency filings) will be
conducted while the court’s business offices are closed to the public.

Notice of the court closure and of how emergency matters and filings shall be accomplished
during the closing shall be given to the public, the court’s funding unit, and other affected agencies
and officials. Notice shall include a sign posted at the court.

Effective Date:

Date: Chief Judge Signature: