From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville Municipal Court is suspending all in-person court proceedings for the next 30 days following the Supreme Court of Alabama’s deceleration of a state of emergency in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
All in-court proceedings will be stayed for the next 30 days. Clerks of the court will contact each defendant whose case was to be held within the 30-day hiatus. Contact will be made by phone or by written note to notify each defendant of their next court date.
However, the court’s offices will remain open to the public during normal business hours at City Hall. Though the clerks are to have no personal contact with any person.
All other functions of the court will remain open to the public and police personnel. Verification of traffic citations and warrants will be conducted through the clerk’s window or by video conference.
In addition, the procedures for bonding defendants will remain the same. So will obtaining a court order to draw blood and all detained prisoners will still be afforded counsel.
Exceptions to this suspension of in-person court proceedings include, but are not limited to:
- Proceedings necessary to protect constitutional rights of criminal defendants, including bond-related matters and plea agreements for incarcerated individuals.
- Civil and criminal jury trials that are in progress as of March 13, 2020.
- Proceedings related to protection from abuse.
- Proceedings related to emergency child custody and protection orders.
- Department of Human Resources emergency matters related to child protection.
- Proceedings related to petitions for temporary injunctive relief.
- Proceedings related to emergency mental health orders.
- Proceedings related to emergency protection of elderly or vulnerable persons.
- Proceedings directly related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- Any emergent proceeding as needed by law enforcement.
- Other exceptions as approved by the Chief Justice.
