KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Supreme Court is extending its order largely prohibiting in-person court hearings from the end of March until the end of April.
The court in Nashville issued the order Wednesday afternoon.
"This order is intended to be interpreted broadly for protection of the public from risks associated with COVID-19," the document signed by the five justices reads.
It was not unexpected because Tennessee is just now seeing a significant rise in the numbers of positive coronavirus results from testing, which also has begun in earnest.
RELATED: Most Tennessee in-person court proceedings suspended for March in response to coronavirus concerns
The court hopes to limit the potential spread of the virus, which is highly contagious and has killed at least three people so far in the state.
During normal times, hundreds of people often pack into local courtrooms for report-backs and hearings. Courtrooms often are small with poor or limited ventilation.
Essentially, the court said, Tennessee is dealing with a disaster that merits the appropriate response.
The court said a number of exceptions, as before, will apply with its Wednesday order:
*Proceedings necessary to protect constitutional rights of criminal defendants, including bond-related matters, preliminary hearings for incarcerated individuals, and plea agreements for incarcerated individuals
*Proceedings related to relief from abuse, including but not limited to orders of protection
*Proceedings related to statutory order of protection hearings after entry of an ex parte order as necessary to satisfy any due process concerns
*Proceedings related to emergency child custody or visitation orders
*Proceedings related to the voluntary surrender of parental rights
*Settlements involving a minor or a person with a disability
*Department of Children’s Services emergency matters related to child safety, placement, permanency, or federal funding for children in foster care
*Proceedings related to petitions for temporary injunctive relief
*Proceedings related to emergency mental health orders
*Proceedings related to emergency protection of elderly or vulnerable persons
*Proceedings directly related to the COVID-19 public health emergency
Courts and courthouses remain open. For example, clerical offices in Knox County continue to be staffed, and lawyers and judges can still do their work.
The federal courts in the Eastern District of Tennessee have taken similar measures to limit large gatherings of people. Chief District Judge Pamela Reeves also went further, prohibiting people who have recently traveled from some regions including China and Europe from even entering a federal court building in East Tennessee.
Defense attorneys in the state have expressed concern about people charged with crimes and the protection of their constitutional rights during the coronavirus crisis.
Also, they sought late Tuesday to have the court impose stricter orders about the release of pre-trial detainees to protect them from being exposed to the virus while confined behind bars.
Wednesday's court order does not address that issue.
In Knox County and some other East Tennessee counties, sheriffs have been slowly reducing jail populations, and law enforcement has begun switching, in non-violent cases where appropriate, to issuing citations rather than making arrests and detentions.