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Most Kane County court business to be done remotely the next four weeks

The Kane County circuit court will conduct most business remotely from Jan. 10 to Feb. 4 because of a rise in COVID-19 cases in Kane County and throughout the state.

Chief Judge Clint Hull announced the measure Wednesday.

Only jury trials and requests for orders of protection will be handled in person at courtrooms at the courthouse in Geneva and the judicial center in St. Charles, unless a special circumstance is approved by the court.

All other scheduled cases will be heard remotely, including everything that was to be heard at the branch courts in Aurora, St. Charles and Elgin.

Remote hearings will be conducted using Zoom. The links to individual courtrooms can be found in the "streaming directory" at illinois16thjudicialcircuit.org.

People who have questions about remote court access or other court procedures may call or visit the Kane County Law Library and Self Help Legal Center. Its phone number is (630) 406-7126, and its website, KCLawlibrary.org, has chat and email features.

Hull said the decision was made in consultation with judges, county officials, the public defender, the state's attorney, court services workers, the circuit court clerk and representatives of private attorneys.

"The Sixteenth Circuit has the equipment, experience, and technology to allow us to keep the courts operating through the use of remote hearing via the Zoom platform. Unlike at the start of COVID, litigants, attorneys, judges have become familiar with the use of Zoom, and, as a result, our courts can keep cases moving through the system while not requiring in-person appearances," Hull said in a news release.

The Kane County jail has been on lockdown because of an outbreak, so incarcerated defendants haven't been brought to court in the last week. Wedding ceremonies still will be performed at the courthouses, but only the partners and their minor children will be allowed to attend.

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