The Clallam County Superior Court has issued the COVID-19 Protection Plan order, which covers general policies, employee policies, and juror policies during the pandemic times.

Personal protection and physical distancing requirements are posted at the entrance to the Clallam County Courthouse, and must be followed. Face masks are required in the court (and disposable masks are available if you can’t afford your own). Personal appearances are an option for court room hearings, however they are discouraged. The judges are working hard to accommodate Zoom appearances by computer or phone. The court rooms have been reconfigured to create 6 foot distancing and thus seating is restricted. Unless you are with your family members, everyone is required to stay 6 feet apart. Anyone showing signs of illness are prohibited from entering courtrooms or superior court offices.

Juror policies have been amended to provide additional protection for people who have concerns about participating at this time. Please read your juror notices carefully as they include the details about being excused from service because of COVID-19 virus concerns. With that said, the criminal justice system cannot function without jurors. The judges have dramatically altered the layout of the courtrooms to create 6 foot distances between each juror chair. They have implemented other policies to do everything they can to protect jurors and keep the justice system operating.

To see the full COVID-19 Protection Order signed by Chief Judge Brent Basden:

Editor’s note: Our judges and court clerks have been doing a great job of being respectful to all parties and accommodating in-person court appearances and juror concerns. If you have questions, just contact the court clerk, and they will be happy to hear your concerns. We are in this for the long haul. It’s OUR justice system, please be patient and do your part to pitch in help keep our justice system functioning and safe.

Effective May 15, 2020, through September 1, 2020, Clallam County Superior Court Emergency Order #3 restricts in person appearances in court and creates new appearance methods by Zoom video and phone. Because social distancing is difficult in the Courthouse and Court rooms, all people with hearings are asked to appear by Zoom.

Editor’s note: Using Zoom is easy, once you try a time or two. You can use the Zoom program to call into the hearing using a regular phone, or you can appear by Zoom video following the procedures below. We recommend you test out Zoom with a friend or your attorney before you try to appear for your hearing. If you need help you can try contacting the Courthouse Facilitator.

Emergency order 3 re-adopts EO1 and EO2, and includes the following Exhibit A, which sets out the appearance procedures.

EXHIBIT A – EMERGENCY ORDER MAY 11, 2020

Starting on Friday, May 15, 2020, participation in court motion calendars will be by joining the Zoom meeting for that calendar.  Contrary to previous orders, cases on the civil and domestic calendars will no longer be automatically taken under advisement based upon the record but will be argued to the court.   The clerk will no longer call attorneys or their clients.   The following are instructions / guidelines for participation.

1. Download:  You need Zoom on your device in advance of your first scheduled hearing.  A free version is available at Zoom.US or from the app store on your device.

• Contact Number: Each courtroom has an assigned Zoom meeting number that will not change.   All calendars occurring in that courtroom will utilize that assigned number.  They are as follows:

MEETING ID NUMBERS

1. Courtroom I                    976-7336-6377
   1. Courtroom II                   968-5772-2818
   1. Courtroom III                  943-6071-4749
   1. Juvenile Court                  978-5492-0434

TOLL FREE PHONE NUMBERS

                                   888-475-4499

                                  833-548-0276

                                  833-548-0282

                                  877-853-5257

• Phones:  If you log in with a phone you will probably have a better connection.  If you choose this option, take the following steps.
  • Call one of the above toll free numbers.  If you get a busy signal, try a different number.
  • Type in the above listed meeting number assigned to the courtroom where your case is being heard.
  • Hit the # key when it asks for a participant ID number. 
  • A landline is better than a cell phone. 
  • Eliminate all background noise.   
  • When your case is called, switch from speaker mode to speaking directly into your phone.  Ear devices with microphones close to your mouth are helpful.   

• Video devices:  If you use a device with a camera, take the following steps. 
  • Only try a video device if you have excellent internet connection.  Otherwise, use the phone option described above.
  • Go to Zoom.us, click “Join a meeting”
  • Type in the meeting number to the courtroom hearing your case.
  • The portion of your body which appears on video should be dressed appropriately for court.
  • Eliminate background distractions and noise.     
  • Don’t have windows or lighting behind you.  

• General Rules:  Do the following when you join the meeting.
  • Mute your microphone until your case is called.
  • Even when your case is called, it is best to have your device on mute when you are not talking.
  • Do not be in close proximity of someone who is logged into the same meeting on a different device.
  • Do not speak until invited by the judge to do so.  If you wish to object, just say “objection” and wait until the judge asks you to speak.    
  • If you get dropped from the meeting sign back in and rejoin the meeting as you did initially.
  • If the court gets dropped from the meeting, stay on the line and wait patiently until it rejoins the meeting.
  • You may not record court sessions. 

• Information: Attorneys are responsible for informing their clients of the meeting and providing them a copy of these rules.  The rules will also be available on the Court’s webpage.

• Calendar: The court will strive to call cases in the order that they appear on the calendar.  That may not always be possible because of attorneys scheduled to be in more than one court at a time.  

• Mute: The court has the ability to mute and unmute each participant. If you get muted by the court, it is because it is picking up unnecessary audio from your line. The court will attempt to unmute you if it believes that you need to address the court on a case. 

• Technical Difficulties:  If technical difficulties arise, the Zoom meeting may be aborted and parties will be called directly.  The court reserves the right to decide a matter without oral argument, continue a matter, or strike a matter until re-noted by the parties.