GR 21
                   EMERGENCY COURT CLOSURE


     (a.) Generally.  A court may be closed if weather,
technological failure or other hazardous or emergency
conditions or events are or become such that the safety and
welfare of the employees are threatened or the court is
unable to operate or demands immediate action to protect the
court, its employees or property.  Closure may be ordered by
the chief justice, the presiding chief judge, presiding
judge or other judge so designated by the affected court in
his or her discretion during the pendency of such conditions
or events.

     (b.) Order and Notification.  Whenever a court is closed in
accordance with section (a), the chief justice, presiding
chief judge, presiding judge or other judge directing the
closure of the court shall enter an administrative order
closing the court which shall be filed with the clerk of the
affected court.  It shall also be the responsibility of the
chief justice, the presiding chief judge, the presiding
judge or other judge so designated by the affected court to
notify the Office of the Administrator for the Courts of any
decision to close a court.  All oral notifications to the
Office of the Administrator for the Courts shall be followed
as soon as practicable with a written statement outlining
the condition or event necessitating such action and the
length of such closure.

     (c.) Filings and Hearings - Time Extended.  Reserved.
          See GR 3.

[Adopted effective October 19, 1999.]