LAFAYETTE, La. — The Lafayette City Court announced its Phase One guidelines for how it will resume normal court operations beginning Monday, May 18.
According to an order from the City Court Judges, the court building will be open to the public during the business hours of 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Tuesday - Friday, and until the close of court on Mondays or 5 p.m., whichever comes first.
The order also states that as of May 15, all juvenile, civil, criminal and traffic court hearings except for civil trials that were canceled due to COVID-19 have now been rescheduled.
All court matters other than evictions that have been rescheduled for Monday, June 1 and after will remain as scheduled and defendants and plaintiffs must appear in court as shown on their notice.
The court order also addresses the subject of local evictions.
In accordance with Gov. John Bel Edwards' extension of his emergency proclamations and the latest order from the Louisiana Supreme Court, the court states that all eviction matters that were rescheduled for May 18 - June 5 are canceled and will be rescheduled a second time once all stay orders expire.
The court states that it is not necessary that a defendant or plaintiff appear at the courthouse on their scheduled eviction court date.
The court advises that it has already begun mailing notices of rescheduled court dates to all civil, criminal, traffic and juvenile defendants, except for evictions. The court notes that notices have been sent to the last address on file and that it up to defendants and plaintiffs to ensure that the court has a current address.
A warrant may be issued if a defendant not appear for their rescheduled court date.
The city courthouse will also require masks for everyone entering and will follow the 25% capacity rule for everyone inside the building at one time.
City court staff will also be screening individuals at the entrance to the city courthouse for COVID-19 symptoms.
For more information on updates and rescheduled court dates, visit www.CityCourtLafayetteLa.org.
You can read the full court order below.
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