ORDER GOVERNING THE CONTINUING OPERATIONS OF THE MINNESOTA JUDICIAL BRANCH
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STATE OF MINNESOTA March 3, 2022 IN SUPREME COURT ADM20-8001 ORDER GOVERNING THE CONTINUING OPERATIONS OF THE MINNESOTA JUDICIAL BRANCH ORDER The operations of the Minnesota Judicial Branch are currently governed by the order filed on June 28, 2021, which was extended and modified in part by orders filed on July 30, 2021, and October 18, 2021. See Order Governing the Continuing Operations of the Minnesota Judicial Branch, No. ADM20-8001 (Minn. filed June 28, 2021) (setting out COVID-19 prevention practices affecting case processing, court facilities, public access, and court administration); Order Governing the Continuing Operations of the Minnesota Judicial Branch, No. ADM20-8001 (Minn. filed July 30, 2021) (modifying provisions of the June 28 order and extending that order indefinitely); Order Governing the Continuing Operations of the Minnesota Judicial Branch, No. ADM20-8001 (Minn. filed Oct. 18, 2021) (modifying provisions of the June 28 and July 30 orders). On February 25, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance as to what prevention steps should be taken based on a county’s COVID-19 Community Level. COVID-19 by County, CDC (Feb. 25, 2022), https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html. Under the CDC’s current guidance, wearing a mask indoors in public is a recommended prevention step only for counties at a “high” COVID-19 Community Level. Id. The CDC recognizes, however, that “[p]eople may choose to mask at any time” and that “[p]eople with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure 1 to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.” Id. Consistent with this updated maskrelated guidance from the CDC, as set out below, the Judicial Branch will lift the statewide requirement for face coverings in Judicial Branch facilities, effective March 7, 2022. The chief judges of the ten judicial districts are authorized to require face coverings at court facilities in individual districts or counties that are designated as a “high” COVID-19 Community Level by the CDC. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT: 1. Effective March 7, 2022, the face covering requirement for every person entering a court facility, set forth in the order dated October 18, 2021, is lifted. 2. Effective March 7, 2022, the chief judge of each district is to review the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level for the districts and counties which they oversee. Each chief judge is authorized to require face coverings at the court facilities in the districts or counties which they oversee if the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level in that district or county is “high.” 3. The Chief Justice will determine, based on the COVID-19 Community Level in Ramsey County, whether to require face coverings at the Minnesota Judicial Center. 4. Effective March 7, 2022, the Directors of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility and the Board of Law Examiners are to review the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level for the counties in which those offices operate. Each Director is authorized to require face coverings for operations of the office, and any boards or panels of the office, if the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level for the local county is “high.” 2 5. Nothing in this order prevents an individual from choosing to wear a face covering at any court facility. 6. The orders filed on June 28, 2021, July 30, 2021, and October 18, 2021, all of which govern the continuing operations of the Minnesota Judicial Branch, remain in effect unless expressly superseded by the provisions of this order. BY THE COURT: , Dated: March 3, 2022 Lorie S. Gildea Chief Justice 3
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