36th District Court closed due to cold

The 36th District Court announced Tuesday that it will be closed Wednesday, January 30 and Thursday, January 31 due to the impending polar vortex forecasted for the area and pursuant to the Court’s Local Administrative Order 2017-01, Unscheduled Court Closing.

The Court said in a statement that it carefully considered the safety and welfare of the staff, the bench, the public and justice system partners. With temperatures expected to reach record-breaking lows and frigid wind chills as low as 45 degrees below zero, it was determined to be the right and proper decision to close.

“We are very different from other, smaller district courts,” said Court Administrator Kelli Moore Owen. “Our staff must park off-site and walk several blocks to get to work. Likewise, individuals who have business with the Court must also walk several blocks from neighboring parking structures and lots to get to our building. Many litigants also rely on public transportation. For those people, exposure to the frigid temperature is dangerous, and that was the main factor in deciding to close our Court.”

Although the Court did not close early on Monday, as did several of the other courts, employees performing non-essential functions were released early, while other essential staff and judges stayed on to service the public and handle the sizeable dockets that were in progress or already scheduled for the afternoon when the weather took a turn for the worse. 

In-Custody Felony Arraignments will be conducted at noon by the assigned Magistrate during the Court closure.  All other cases scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday will be rescheduled and new Notices to Appear will be mailed by the Court.

Visit the Court’s website at http://www.36thdistrictcourt.org/ for further details, including the Court’s schedule.