Forecasts calling for record cold temperatures will shut down most court operations in Cook County on Wednesday and Thursday, Chief Judge Timothy Evans said.
Meanwhile, officials on Tuesday also announced that federal courts will be closed on Wednesday.
Evans’ order closes all court buildings except the Juvenile Justice Center and Leighton Criminal Court Building, 2650 S. California, on Wednesday and Thursday, and only bond hearings, juvenile detention hearings, and “certain pre-trial matters,” will take place. Bond hearings for all court branches will be heard at the Leighton Building at 12:30 p.m.
All hearing dates set for Wednesday and Thursday will be rescheduled, with many hearings moved to Friday dockets or on dates on next Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 6 and 7.
Jurors serving on trials that don’t end by Tuesday will not have to return to the courthouse until the next date scheduled by their courtroom judge.
Citizens summoned to report for their first day of jury duty on Wednesday and Thursday do not have to come to the court house, and will receive notification of another date to appear.
In federal court, each judicial officer will reschedule their in-court matters, according to a news release from the Northern District of Illinois.
The Cook County courts last were closed due to inclement weather on Feb. 9, 2018, because of heavy snows, said Pat Milhizer, Evans’ spokesman.
