COVID-19 Responses and Resources
- Indiana Judicial Branch
- Current: COVID-19 Responses and Resources
The Indiana Supreme Court—with other state officials—closely monitors the COVID-19 pandemic and provides guidance for state and local courts, the public, and lawyers. This page has information about how courts are continuing operations and maintaining safety precautions, complying with the Governor's executive orders.
Indiana's courts are open and continue to operate. To check the status of your case and find out about hearing dates, search mycase.in.gov. If you have questions about court operations in your county, see your local courts' website or call the court or clerk's office directly.
Remote hearings
The court handling your case may invite you to attend a remote hearing using a video conference app, and a Supreme Court order allows courts to live stream (extended until further order of the court) those hearings for public access. Many courts stream to public.courts.in.gov.
Appearing in a video conference is different than appearing in court. Follow the instructions provided by the court, including the specific information on accessing the video conference. Consider things like making sure you have a private space to be during the hearing, a good chair to sit in, and other tips for attending remote court hearings. See also frequently asked questions.
Rent assistance
- If you have any trouble paying rent during the pandemic or have an eviction case already filed against you, help is available. You can look into one or all of these options for help with housing depending on your needs.
- Learn about the Landlord and Tenant Settlement Conference Program, which provides, at no cost to you, a facilitator who is neutral, like a mediator that does not represent either party, to negotiate a settlement.
Managing your cases and remote hearings
If you have questions for the court handling your case, contact the court or clerk's office directly. You can sign into mycase.in.gov to check the status and see the list of upcoming hearings in your cases.
The court handling your case may invite you to attend a remote hearing using a video conference app. See tips for attending remote court hearings and frequently asked questions. If you are an appellate practice attorney, see Supreme Court instructions for remote oral arguments and Court of Appeals instructions for remote oral arguments.
Well-being and support
Lawyers belong to a profession that can be stressful even in the best of times. It's important that we all strive to stay well physically, mentally, and emotionally well. The Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program and the Indiana State Bar Association have lists of resources available.
Complete your CLE online
Until further notice by the Supreme Court, any continuing legal education taken by attorneys, judges and other state-level judicial officers will not count toward distance education credit-hour limits in Admission and Discipline Rules 28 and 29. See the September 23, 2020 order.
To search for distance CLE, visit our CLE course search and under "Course Type" choose "Distance Education" to find online courses. You can also click the "Report attendance online" button to sign into the Courts Portal and upload your certificate of attendance.
Trial courts
Courts around the state should be operating under the November 10, 2020 Order on Continued Emergency Actions and are authorized to live-stream hearings (extended until further order of the court) that would typically be open to the public. Hearing officers in attorney discipline cases have similar guidance in a November 18 Supreme Court order.
- Plans for how trial courts operate during COVID-19 were submitted in May 2020; see trial court transition plans for expanded operations
- Earlier in 2020, trial courts filed emergency petitions to adjust their operations in response to COVID-19
Courts are authorized by Supreme Court order to create videos or other visuals detailing their efforts to promote a safe environment for jurors, employees, and other courthouse guests. The following additional resources for courts are also available:
- IOCS guidance for court operations if a spike affects your county (8-11-2021)
- Resuming Court Operations Task Force guidance as cases surge (11-16-2020)
- IOCS guidance for court operations during the COVID-19 Health Emergency (11-12-2020)
- Protocol for resuming operations of the trial courts (9-15-2020)
- Guidelines for resuming operations of the trial courts (5-13-2020)
Appellate courts
The Supreme Court reinstated in-person rotunda filing with a December 21 order. The order also reaffirmed that if parties cannot meet deadlines established earlier orders, they may file motions for extensions of time or belated filing.
Other resources
