DuPage taking steps to reduce courthouse visitors amid coronavirus fears
DuPage County's chief judge has directed steps be taken to reduce the number of people and groups entering the courthouse in Wheaton to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Chief Judge Daniel Guerin's decision was announced in a memo sent to all personnel at the courthouse. The note says the precautions are being taken "out of an abundance of caution" and will be in place through the end of the month.
On Wednesday, Guerin said he made the decision after public health officials recommended people avoid large crowds. "It's just an effort to take some prudent and proactive steps based on the guidelines that have been issued," he said.
All courthouse school tours and training or education seminars and meetings involving outside participants have been canceled. Marriage and civil union ceremonies have been canceled for anyone obtaining a marriage or civil union license on or after Tuesday.
In addition, a plan has been implemented for probation and court services to limit in-person contacts. Finally, a plan has been implemented to limit the number of jurors called for service.
"These are precautionary measures only," the memo reads. "We continue to regularly monitor the situation involving COVID-19 and will evaluate and update our procedures accordingly."
Guerin said officials will examine the situation at the end of March, "but I thought it was a prudent step to take at this point."
Meanwhile, judicial officials in Lake, Kane and McHenry counties are talking about possible contingencies, but no plans have been implemented.
"At this point in time, we have not followed DuPage County yet as it relates to the precautions they've put into place," said Clint Hull, Kane County's chief judge. "That's not to say there might not be something like that put together in the future."
James "Dan" Wallis, trial court administrator for the 22nd Judicial Circuit in McHenry County, said conversations are ongoing.
"We're always going to look for what's best for the people that are coming to the courthouse, including the employees," Wallis said. "We will continue to evaluate. We are in constant contact with emergency management. We are in constant contact with our department of health."
On Wednesday, Lake County Board member Dick Barr released a statement calling on his colleagues to join him in requesting the county heighten its response to the coronavirus.
In the written statement, board member Michael Danforth talked about how the courthouse has hundreds of visitors.
"Our judges, employees, officers, attorneys and the general public are being somewhat forced to be in close quarters, in small, enclosed spaces, which is probably the number one way for a virus to spread," said Danforth, a Barrington Republican. "We need to investigate options that would add video and teleconferencing for simple matters that don't necessarily require in-person appearances."