New York State Unified Court System Halts All But Essential Proceedings

New York State Unified Court System Halts All But Essential Proceedings

3.23.2020

By Dan Weiller

New York State Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks issued an administrative order on Sunday, March 22 that effectively halts all court activity in New York with the exception of essential proceedings.

The order went into effect immediately upon issuance.

The list of essential proceedings is subject to ongoing review and amendment as necessary, and includes the following:

Criminal matters

• Arraignments
• Bail applications, reviews and writs
• Temporary orders of protection
• Resentencing of retained and incarcerated defendants
• Essential sex offender registration act (SORA) matters

Family Court

• Child protection intake cases involving removal applications
• Newly filed juvenile delinquency intake cases involving remand placement
• Applications, or modification thereof
• Emergency family offense petitions/temporary orders of protection
• Orders to show cause
• Stipulations on submission

Supreme Court

• Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) applications and hearings addressing patient retention or release
• MHL hearings addressing the involuntary administration of medication and other Medical care
• Newly filed MHL applications for an assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) plan
• Emergency applications in guardianship matters
• Temporary orders of protection (including but not limited to matters involving domestic violence)
• Emergency applications related to the coronavirus
• Emergency Election Law applications
• Extreme risk protection orders (ERPO)

Civil/Housing matters

• Applications addressing landlord lockouts (including reductions in essential services)
• Applications addressing serious code violations
• Applications addressing serious repair orders
• Applications for post-eviction relief

All Courts

• Any other matter that the court deems essential