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COVID-19 Responses and Resources
Trial courts | Appellate courts | Schedule changes | Resources & sample documents | Statements & messaging | More information
The Indiana Supreme Court, in concert with other state officials, is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and has responded with guidance for state and local courts. This page is updated daily with information about how courts are continuing operations while maintaining safe practices and complying with the Governor's executive orders.
Latest updates
Follow @incourts on Twitter to stay up-to-date
See list of Supreme Court orders related to COVID-19
Questions?
Do you have questions about matters like upcoming court hearings, housing, child support, parenting time and custody, warrants, and jails?
See public access to courts during COVID-19 for more information
Lawyers, are you looking for information about distance CLE, offering pro bono services, ethical guidance during the pandemic, and managing your cases?
See information for lawyers during COVID-19
Trial courts
Courts around the state have made adjustments to their operations and schedules to aid in limiting spread of the virus. To check the status of your case and find out about hearing dates, search mycase.in.gov. If you have questions, please contact the court directly.
- Emergency petitions filed by the trial courts are effective through May 30, however some parts are extended through August 14 in a May 29 Supreme Court order
- Trial courts are required to submit plans for reopening to the Supreme Court by May 30
Many courts are conducting remote hearings to move cases forward, and they are authorized by Supreme Court order (through the end of 2020) to live-stream hearings that would typically be open to the public. Tips on attending remote hearings are available for lawyers and litigants.
Video conferences are also allowed as a means of witnessing wills and administering oaths, extended through the end of 2020.
Trial courts are prohibited from issuing any new orders (through the end of 2020) that would apply an individual's federal stimulus payment to satisfy a judgment, with the exception of child support. And existing child support and parenting time orders around the state are still in place, though parents may petition the court to modify those orders.
Appellate courts
The Supreme Court ordered on May 19 an extension of its April 7, and April 30 orders, which suspended in-person rotunda filing through June 14 and directed parties who cannot meet the deadlines established in the March 23, March 25, and March 27 orders to file motions for extensions of time.
The Supreme Court also increased the limit on distance CLE for lawyers and judges.
Schedule changes
- Indiana July bar exam will be a one-day remote test
- Law school graduates eligible to be legal interns
- Interview times set for Court of Appeals applicants
- Interview times set for Allen County judicial applicants
- Deadline to apply for Marion County judicial vacancies is moved and interviews rescheduled
Resources & sample documents
Guidance
- Considerations in Resuming Community Supervision Operations (5-29-2020)
- Updated memo regarding status of foreclosure and eviction proceedings (5-27-2020)
- Memo regarding status of foreclosure and eviction proceedings (5-20-2020)
- Ethical guidance for lawyers on COVID-19 (4-2-2020)
- Guidance on family law for courts and communities (4-2-2020)
- Guidance to community supervision (3-31-2020)
- Guidance to trial, city, and town courts regarding court operations during the state of emergency (3-30-2020)
- Memo regarding status of foreclosure and eviction proceedings (3-25-2020)
Expanding operations
- Template for county/court transition plans (5-20-2020) (MS Word file)
- Instructions on submitting transition plans (5-21-2020)
- Guidelines for resuming operations of the trial courts (5-13-2020)
- List of Personal Protective Equipment Vendors (5-13-2020)
Isolation and quarantine
- IC 16-41-9-1.5 - Isolation; quarantine; notice; hearing; orders; renewal; crime; rules
- IC 16-41-9-1.6 - Actions of public health authority in event of quarantine
- ISDH guidance on Implementing Isolation and Quarantine
- Sample county protocol for court orders
- Sample court orders imposing isolation or quarantine
Press release template
- Letter to judges on communicating court operations
- Template press release on communicating court operations (MS Word file)
Sample signage
- Sample signage for courtrooms (MS Word file)
Statements & messaging
The following messages have been distributed by the Supreme Court and Office of Judicial Administration:
- Message to judges about expanding court operations (5-13-2020)
- Press release: Indiana Supreme Court to hold May oral arguments remotely (5-1-2020)
- Press release: Attorney swearing-in ceremony moved up and live stream available (4-28-2020)
- Press release: Extension of emergency orders for trial courts (4-3-2020)
- Press release: Release assessment of low-risk, non-violent juveniles and jail inmates a local effort (4-3-2020)
- Message to judges regarding AR 17 order (4-3-2020)
- Release assessment of low-risk, non-violent juveniles and jail inmates a local effort (4-3-2020)
- Press release: Adjustments to court operations designed to help meet legal needs in response to COVID-19 (3-31-2020)
- Press release: Judicial Branch operations adjust to mirror state response to COVID-19 (3-23-2020)
- Chief Justice Rush's statement, press conference with state leaders (3-19-2020)
- Message to lawyers about necessary measures for COVID-19 (3-18-2020)
- Message to judges implementing necessary measures for COVID-19 (3-16-2020)
- Press release: Indiana Judicial Branch continues to respond to COVID-19 (3-16-2020)
- Message to judges providing notice of OJA actions (3-11-2020)
- Message to judges encouraging COOP planning (3-4-2020)