General Orders of Division III

RESCINDED - Emergency Order No. 1 - Re: Court Operations - COVID-19 - 2020 Order

STATE OF WASHINGTON COURT OF APPEALS

DIVISION III

IN RE THE MATTER OF COURT           )

OPERATIONS GIVEN THE PUBLIC       )

HEALTH EMERGENCY REGARDING      )        EMERGENCY ORDER

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)    )        No. 1

IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON        )                 

          WHEREAS, 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

          WHEREAS, during this state of emergency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Washington State Department of Health have recommended increasingly stringent social distancing measures of at least six feet between people, and encouraged vulnerable individuals to avoid public spaces; and

          WHEREAS, consistent with these recommendations, Governor Inslee has barred gatherings of more than fifty people and ordered all schools, businesses, faith-based organizations, and other public venues to close during the ongoing public health emergency, and the CDC has recommended restricting gatherings to no more than 10 people; and

          WHEREAS, the increasingly aggressive spread of COVID-19 across Washington necessitates a proactive response from Washington courts to prevent further outbreak,

          WHEREAS the Court of Appeals, Division III operates in a stand-alone building with limited public access and historically low-levels of public traffic,

          WHEREAS, all essential functions of the Court of Appeals, Division III can continue uninterrupted without remaining open to the public for full business hours,

          WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions contained in Washington Supreme Court Orders 25700-B-602 of March 4, 2020 and 25700-B-607 of March 19, 2020,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED

1.       Effective Monday, March 23, 2020 the Court of Appeals, Division III public lobby hours will be reduced to 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. daily until further order of the court.  During the foregoing hours of operation, public access shall be limited to business interactions with the clerk’s office.  Attorneys and individuals having business with the court shall reduce in-person interactions with the court to the maximum extent possible.  Court filings continue to be accepted in the following manner:

• Washington State Appellate Courts’ Portal (electronic filing) at no cost to the filer - https://ac.courts.wa.gov/
• FAX pursuant to Washington Court General Rule 17 – 509-456-4288
• U.S. Postal Service – 500 N Cedar Street, Spokane, WA  99201

2.       All in-person oral arguments are cancelled until further notice. Parties to cases currently scheduled for in-person argument will be notified as to whether their cases will be considered without oral argument or telephonically.

                                                                                                             Rebecca L. Pennell
                                                                                                             Chief Judge