Effective June 28, 2021, all Miami-Dade court facilities are open to the public. The Honorable Bertila Soto, Chief Judge of the Miami-Dade Courts, issued Administrative Order 21-11, terminating Phase 2 COVID-19 Emergency Court Operations and reopening courts. The new order comes after recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Florida Supreme Court.
As of June 21st, masks are no longer required in court facilities. However, masks may still be worn and are strongly encouraged for anyone who is not vaccinated. Masks may be provided to court participants upon request. Physical distancing is also no longer required but may be accommodated upon request for in-court proceedings, at the court’s discretion.
All court buildings are now open to the public, with judges and court staff working from their assigned courthouse locations. Any public areas that may have been closed during COVID-19 emergency operations are now open to the public, effective June 28th.
Certain court proceedings will continue via Zoom while in-person court proceedings will start to expand. If you already have a court proceeding scheduled for Zoom, it will remain on Zoom unless the presiding judge makes a change. If you have a scheduled in-person proceeding, your physical attendance will be required at the specified location.
Read the full text of Administrative Order 21-11 or visit the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida website for more information and updates.
Cases Continue Despite Delays
The pandemic may have created some hurdles and delays for the courts, but rest assured that our team at Panter, Panter & Sampedro has been doing all we can to push through these challenging times. Throughout the past year, we have used all of our available resources to review, monitor, and continue to pursue cases. If you have any questions about a potential case, we urge you to set up a free consultation with our firm. Please call us today at (305) 662-6178.
Sources:
11th Judicial Circuit of Florida. (June 16, 2021). COVID-19 Advisory #86: Administrative Order 21-11 Terminates Phase 2 COVID-19 Operations June 21 and Reopens Courthouses to the Public June 28. Retrieved from: http://jud11.flcourts.org/Court-Announcements/ArtMID/584/ArticleID/4398/COVID-19-Advisory-86-Administrative-Order-21-11-Terminates-Phase-2-COVID-19-Operations-June-21-and-Reopens-Courthouses-to-the-Public-June-28
https://wcjb.com/2021/06/21/florida-courts-resume-normal-operations-no-more-masks/
https://miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article252410503.html
