COVID-19: Cullman Courts clarify postponed cases

CULLMAN, Ala. – After the Alabama Supreme Court issued an order postponing most court activities across the state (see

www.cullmantribune.com/2020/03/14/al-supreme-court-suspends-in-person-court-proceedings-statewide-most-local-cases-continued), Cullman County’s courts issued this statement Sunday evening to help clarify what that order means for local cases:

 

Subject to a very few exceptions, most cases that have been set for trial in Cullman County between March 16, 2020 and April 16, 2020 have been continued by the Administrative Order of the Alabama Supreme Court. However, there are a few types of cases that are not subject to the 30 day suspension and are required to be held within the 30 day suspension period. This has caused some understandable confusion among members of the public who are unsure as to whether their particular cases fall within one of the listed exceptions.

Cullman Circuit and District Court judges will begin entering orders tomorrow, March 16, 2020, formally continuing or postponing those cases subject to the 30 day suspension mandated by the Alabama Supreme Court. The Circuit Court Clerk will then begin mailing notices of the postponement to attorneys of record and to the parties. However, it will take a few days for these notices to be received in the mail. Therefore, if you have a case set for trial the first part of this coming week and are unsure whether your case has been postponed, you should first attempt to contact your attorney (if you are represented by counsel). If you do not have an attorney you may contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office regarding the status of your case. Also, if you have been subpoenaed by a party to appear as a witness in a case, please contact the attorney listed on the subpoena you received to see if the case has been continued.” 

Check back with The Tribune for updates regarding court dockets that have been postponed, and you may also check http://www.cullmancourts.org/news.html.