This is to notify all attorneys about the procedures that are used by the both of us regarding weather related closings. In accordance with Chief Judge Robert M. Bell's Administrative Order, effective February 15, 1999, the authority and decision to close the Circuit Court including the Clerk's Office rests with Judge Turnbull and likewise, the decision in the District Court remains with Judge Williams.
As part of that Order, it states that courts are to be closed only in the case of extremely severe weather conditions that are of such a nature that the welfare or safety of citizens and court personnel would be seriously endangered were the courts not to close. It further states that in making this decision, the administrative judge should be mindful of the fact that the courts labor under a heavy burden of cases and that it can be seriously disruptive to litigants, witnesses, victims, and others if courts are closed unnecessarily. In short, every effort should be made not to close unless absolutely essential to do so.
Needless to say, the decision to close the courts based on the above criteria along with weather conditions that are rapidly changing in the Baltimore area, can at times be very daunting. Before conferring with each other, information is collected on the latest road conditions as well as current weather forecasts. Once a decision is made, all weather related announcements regarding delayed openings or closings in the Circuit and District Courts will be promptly placed on the following stations: WBAL radio (1090 AM); WBAL television (Channel 11); WJZ (Channel 13); WMAR ( Channel 2) and WBFF (Channel 45). Also information can be obtained on the following court telephone lines: Circuit Court...410-887-8660; and District Court ....410-512-2000. It should be noted that these announcements will only be made if there is a delayed opening or closing. No announcements will be made if the courts remain open.
Finally, you should be aware that several years ago in an effort to accommodate parents with children in day care, the Circuit Court adopted a policy that if schools are closed in Baltimore County or if there are late openings, jurors would report accordingly. No special public announcements are made in this regard since jurors are informed of this policy through local call-in procedures.
Revised December 13, 2004
Courthouse 