General Orders of Division II

RESCINDED - 2020-9 Response by the Court Of Appeals, Division 2 to the Public Health Emergency in Washington (Rescinded)

     On February 29, 2020, Governor Inslee proclaimed a state of emergency due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Washington; and
     On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a national emergency due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak across the United States; and
     On October 13, 2020, Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Stephens entered a Fourth Revised and Extended Order Regarding Court Operations, authorizing the Presiding Judges of the Washington courts to take all necessary steps to address the current public health emergency.
     During this state of emergency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Washington State Department of Health strongly urge all organizations to impose social distancing measures and other restrictions on public gatherings.
     Pursuant to the Court’s authority to administer justice and to ensure the safety of court personnel, litigants, and the public,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

     1. Effective March 20, 2020, the offices of the Court of Appeals, Division 2 will be
closed to the public until March 31, 2021, unless otherwise ordered by this court. All business
with the court shall continue using the telephone, email, regular mail, and other available means
that do not require physical entry of the public into the offices of the court. See the Appendix for
contact information.
     2. Oral arguments will be conducted virtually using Zoom.
     3. Unless otherwise ordered by this court, all hearings held before the Commissioners of this court through March 31, 2021, shall be conducted remotely.
     4. All of the court’s orders requiring in-court hearings in trial courts are suspended or
tolled until those courts are back in full operations.

Dated this 19th day of November, 2020.

Chief Judge Linda CJ Lee
Court of Appeals, Division 2