In accordance with the Order issued Tuesday by the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) providing that, from March 18 until at least April 6, Massachusetts courts will be closed to the public, except to conduct emergency hearings that cannot be resolved through a videoconference or telephonic hearing. Individual clerks’ offices will be open to accept emergency pleadings, to address questions and to assist with videoconference or telephonic hearings.
“We are in uncharted territory for state judicial systems, and we are working to continue to deliver justice to all individuals while striving to keep the public, court users and our employees safe,” said Trial Court Chief Justice Paula Carey. “In these unprecedented times, we intend to listen, learn and adjust as necessary to accomplish our objective to deliver justice and to keep all safe. I am extraordinarily proud of those who work in the Trial Court who have tirelessly done their jobs in the face of this pandemic. I know that they will continue to do so.”
As directed in that Order, each of the Trial Court departments has issued a new standing order to specify what constitutes an emergency matter. The new standing orders are available on the court’s website: https://www.mass.gov/guides/court-system-response-to-covid-19 Individual standing orders should be consulted for the specific types of emergency matters that will be heard in each court department.
In addition, persons who have a previously scheduled hearing, whether emergency or non-emergency in nature, during the time of the court closure as ordered by the SJC, should contact the appropriate Clerk’s, Clerk Magistrate’s, Register’s or Recorder’s office for instruction. Those courts include Boston Municipal Court, District Courts, Housing Court, Land Court and Superior Court. Each have versions of the standing order and those can be found online.