Due to concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19 in the general population, and pursuant to Arizona Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 2020-79 and Mohave County Superior Court Administrative Order No. 2020-23, and in order to safely transition back to in-person court proceedings, the following directives are being implemented beginning on June 1, 2020 by this division and shall remain in effect until further order: 1. The Court will follow all the requirements of Arizona Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 2020-79 and Mohave County Superior Court Administrative Order No. 2020-23. 2. Appearances at hearings: a. Routine hearings, including Pretrial Conferences, Status Conferences, Final Management Conferences, etc. (which typically take place on Thursday): These hearings will not be conducted in-person. In-custody defendants shall appear by videoconference. All other participants shall appear telephonically. b. Arraignments: Defendants and their attorneys shall appear in person. For good cause and upon prior request, defense attorneys and out-of-custody defendants may appear telephonically, and in-custody defendants may appear by video conference. All other participants may appear telephonically. c. Change of Plea Hearings: Defendants and their attorneys shall appear in person. For good cause and upon prior request, in-custody defendants may appear by video conference, and out of custody defendants and their attorneys may appear telephonically. If the Defendant is appearing telephonically or by video conference, the plea agreement shall be signed by all parties and provided to the Court before the hearing. All other participants may appear telephonically. d. Judgment and Sentencing Hearings: Defendants and their attorneys shall appear in person. Attorneys for the State shall appear in person, but the Court may permit them to appear telephonically for good cause. All other participants may appear telephonically. e. Evidentiary Hearings and Bench Trials: The Defendant, attorneys and witnesses shall appear in person. All other participants may appear telephonically. f. Jury Trials: Except as Outlined in Mohave County Administrative Order No. 2020-23, Paragraph (II)(3), as it relates to jury selection, all participants shall appear in person. 3. After July 1, 2020, this Court will resume jury trials. Unless otherwise specified this Division will begin jury selection on Friday mornings. Only jury selection will take place on the first day of trial. 4. If a party that would normally be permitted to attend a hearing in person is experiencing symptoms indicative of COVID-19 or has been exposed to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of any hearing, that person shall not attend the court proceeding in person. The Court shall be promptly notified of the situation. The Court will either permit the person to appear telephonically, continue the hearing, or take whatever action is appropriate under the circumstances. Attorneys shall inform all parties and participants of these policies and advise any such person not to come to court while he/she is experiencing any such symptoms or within 14 days of being exposed to COVID-19. 5. If any person who would like to attend court proceedings but is unable to do so because of these policies, Mohave County Superior Court Administrative Order 2020-23, or any Administrative Order issued by the Arizona Supreme Court, the Court will provide a conference line for such person to listen to the proceedings. Parties may join the conference line by calling (267) 807-9605 access code 408522. Unless permitted to speak by the Court, any persons listening to the proceedings on the conference line shall place their phones on mute while court is in session. If the proceedings are disrupted by any person on the conference line, including having background noise, the Court may have the person removed from the Conference line. |