Travis County courts are taking a break from jury trials and other nonurgent matters to limit the odds of courthouse visitors spreading the new coronavirus.

In the criminal courts, there will be no misdemeanor or felony trials through May 8, according to a memo circulated Saturday from state District Judge Brenda Kennedy.

Kennedy, the presiding judge over the county’s criminal courts, also revealed that anyone with a pending case who is out of jail will not have to appear for a setting in their case until after May 8.

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Travis County civil and family courts are suspending in-person, nonemergency hearings until April 13. This suspension covers jury trials, nonjury trials and all nonessential hearings.

That delay does not include juvenile court matters.

The order drafted by local administrative Judge Tim Sulak and civil presiding Judge Amy Clark Meachum instructs lawyers and litigants to exercise their best judgment as to whether their hearing is an emergency and to communicate with the office of court administration before visiting the courthouse.

In the federal courthouse in Austin, all civil and criminal trials scheduled to begin between now and May 1 will be postponed to a date to be set by each presiding judge. Most other matters will go on as normal with judges still holding in-person hearings, sentencing proceedings and conferences. Lawyers may seek relief from these matters with appropriate motions.

Magistrate judges will continue to preside over criminal matters, such as initial appearances, arraignments, detention hearings and the issuance of warrants.

Retired criminal court Judge Bob Perkins said this is the first time Travis County courts have cut off normal operations in the 40-plus years he has been practicing law in Austin.

"I don’t remember a time where we canceled all jury trials," Perkins said Saturday. "I’ve never seen that."

The criminal district courthouse will not close down entirely.

Special case settings arranged by the parties; emergency hearings; mental health and related hearings; protective order cases; noncontested docket settings; and appearances for in-jail cases will continue.

The five justice of the pPeace courts have reset most court proceedings scheduled between now and April 1.

Exceptions to the postponements are what the courts deem essential proceedings:

• Writs of re-entry, writs of retrieval.

• Writs of restoration.

• Magistration of defendants in custody and of fugitives from justice (in or out of custody).

• Issuing burial transit permits, issuing of birth certificates.

• Repair and remedy cases that materially affect the physical health or safety of a tenant.

No eviction settings will be held until after April 1. No writs of possession will be issued by a justice of the peace court for 60 days from the order, which became official Friday.

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