Stefan R. Underhill, Chief United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut, issued two Orders yesterday regarding the implementation of revised court operations due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Orders were issued out of an abundance of caution, in view of the Governor of the State of Connecticut’s recent declaration of a public health emergency throughout the State, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent advice to minimize the spread of the COVID19 virus through social distancing.

Chief Judge Underhill said, “The judges of the District Court are deeply concerned about the health and well-being of our employees and visitors to our courthouses, and we are taking precautions to ensure courthouses remain open, people feel safe, and services remain available.”

The U.S. General Services Administration, the Judiciary’s landlord, is daily cleaning and sanitizing all public areas inside the courthouses (i.e., courtrooms, bathrooms, etc.) in order to limit exposure to and spread of the virus. The Court’s Orders, among other things, continued to April 10, 2020, all civil and criminal (grand and petit) jury selections and jury trials scheduled before any district or magistrate judge in any courthouse in the District of Connecticut (i.e., Richard C. Lee U.S. Courthouse in New Haven; Abraham Ribicoff Federal Building in Hartford; and Brien McMahon Federal Building in Bridgeport), pending further Order of the Court.

The District of Connecticut courthouses remain open for all other business; however, specific entry protocols have been implemented, limiting access to the District’s courthouses to screen out high-risk persons, such as those who have traveled to China; Italy; New Rochelle, New York; and other high-risk locations in the past 14 days. A related order extends the restrictions to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s offices at 157 Church St., New Haven.

Staff in the District Court Clerk’s Office are available by telephone (New Haven, 203-773-2140) (Hartford, 860-240-3200), (Bridgeport, 203-579-5861) and e-mail (as shown on the Court’s website http://www.ctd.uscourts.gov/), mail will be received, and intake counters remain open for filings. The Court’s CM/ECF filing system remains available 24/7. The public is encouraged to continue utilizing Court services while following all applicable public health guidelines. The full text of both Orders is available on the District Court’s Website at ctd.uscourts.gov.