Courts anticipate resuming more business by June

Assuming the downward trend in COVID-19 cases continues and the vaccine becomes more widely available, court officials said March 12 that courts could reopen by June to provide more in-person hearings and jury trials. Phase 3 reopening details are available at the Delaware Courts website at courts.delaware.gov/aoc/courtsreopeningplan.pdf.

In Phase 3, officials said, Delaware Courts will maintain current health safety precautions that include COVID-19 screening and temperature checks at the entrances to court facilities, mask requirements and social distancing. Officials said criminal cases will be given priority to remove the backlog.

“We will only move to Phase 3 if it is safe for our employees, justice partners, and the public,” said Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz Jr. in a press release. “If conditions change for the worse, we will re-evaluate the move to Phase 3. We are mindful that while the COVID-19 trends currently look good, we are not yet past this pandemic and must not let our guard down.”