McHenry County Illinois Court Status

The recent updates from the McHenry County regarding the impact of Coronavirus on the court system is available here:

• https://www.mchenrycountybarassoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/22nd-Judicial-Circuit-Update.pdf
• https://www.mchenrycountybarassoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/3-27-20.pdf

3/23/20 Order.  The first, March 23, 2020, order provides:

The Michael J. Sullivan Judicial Center and the 22nd Judicial Circuit remains open, however, the Court continues to only hear emergency matters. If you have a previously scheduled court date, please contact your attorney, or go to the Circuit Clerk of the Court’s website at https://caseinfo.mchenrycountyil.gov in order to see if your case has been rescheduled.

The court continues to hold hearings on the following matters:

• Emergency Petitions for Orders of Protection, Stalking, No Contact and subsequent hearings;
• Emergency Petitions for Civil No Contact, and Petitions for Firearm Surrender Order and subsequent hearings;
• Detention hearings for juveniles who are detained;
• Shelter care hearings for juveniles who may have been abused or neglected;
• Summary Suspension Hearings;
• Criminal matters related to the setting and modification of bond;
• Criminal trials with speedy trial demands; and
• Mental health hearings for involuntary commitment or treatment.

Please do not attempt to enter the Judicial Center if you have:

• Flu-like symptoms including fever, cough or shortness of breath;
• Been diagnosed with COVID 19 (or someone close to you has);
• Been directed to quarantine, isolate or self-monitor at home by any medical provider;
• Traveled, within the last 21 days, to any country designated by the CDC as a high-risk locations for COVID-19; or
• Had close contact with anyone who has traveled to any of these high risk locations.

3/27/20 Order: It provides that civil and family law division cases shall use remote access procedures as allowed to obtain a new status or trial date for existing trials through to May 1, 2020.

The law as a profession is an essential business. The Gitlin Law Firm remains open with Attorney Gunnar J. Gitlin in the office and the lawyers accepting new client interviews via the phone with electronic exchange in advance of documents.

While the courthouse is closed to non-emergency matters generally, lawyers can work on behalf of their family law clients toward agreed orders and necessary court filings since all filings in the State of Illinois are required to be done electronically as has been the case for the past few years.

For those wondering regarding the specific details of what constitutes an essential business, please see this summary:

Illinois Essential Businesses and Operations.

Gunnar J. Gitlin