Supreme Court

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Updates

To protect the health, safety and welfare of court users and court employees, the Rhode Island Judiciary (Judiciary) continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on court operations. The Judiciary will continue to implement safe practices in accordance with the State of Emergency declared by the Governor on March 9, 2020 as well the guidelines provided by the Rhode Island Department of Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ORDERS

Supreme Court

2021-04 – COVID-19 Pandemic Response – Continuity of Operations (July 20, 2021)

2021-03 – COVID-19 Pandemic Response – Indigent Defense Services (June 4, 2021)

In re Article IV of the Supreme Court Rules (Further Response to COVID-19 – Annual Registration Deadlines Extended to September 1, 2021 (June 4, 2021).

In re Article II of the Supreme Court Rules (Further Response to COVID-19 – July 2021 Rhode Island Bar Examination (April 9, 2021)

In re Article II of the Supreme Court Rules (Further Response to COVID-19 – February 2021 Rhode Island Bar Examination ) (November 30, 2020)

In re Article IV of the Supreme Court Rules (Further Response to COVID-19 – Annual Registration Deadlines Extended) (June 24, 2020)

In re Article II of the Supreme Court Rules (Further Response to COVID-19 – July 2020 Rhode Island Bar Examination ) (June 11, 2020)

2020-14 – COVID-19 Pandemic Response – Indigent Defense Services (June 3, 2020)

2020-13 – COVID-19 Continued Changes to Supreme Court Clerk’s Office Operations (May 15, 2020)

2020-12 – COVID-19 Pandemic Response – Continuity of Operations (May 15, 2020)

In re Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (Response to COVID-19) (April 30, 2020)

2020-11 - COVID-19 Pandemic Response – Payment of Indigent Defense Services (April 22, 2020)

2020-10 – Continued Changes to Supreme Court Clerk’s Office Operations COVID-19 (April 13, 2020)

2020-09 – COVID-19 Pandemic Response – Continuation of Emergency Measures (April 8, 2020)

2020-08 - COVID-19 Pandemic Response – Closure of Noel Judicial Complex and Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal (April 5, 2020)

No. 2020-103-M.P. - In re: Request for Prison Census Control In Response to COVID-19 (April 3, 2020)

2020-07 – COVID-19 Pandemic Response – Closure of Newport and Washington County Courthouses (March 31, 2020)

2020-06 – COVID-19 Pandemic Response – Limitations on Personnel (March 31, 2020)

2020-05 – Changes to Supreme Court Clerk’s Office Operations COVID-19 (March 18, 2020)

In re Article II of the Supreme Court Rules (Response to COVID-19) (March 18, 2020)

Superior Court

2021-06 - Remote Hearings (July 30, 2021)

2021-05 - Continuity of Business Operations (July 30, 2021)

2021-03 - Assignments - First Period September 5, 2021 to December 18, 2021 (July 2, 2021)

2021-02 – Assignment of Justices to Qualification of Grand Jurors in Providence County – January 11, 2021 Through July 19, 2021 (May 24, 2021)

2021-01 – Continuity of Business Operations and Assignment of Duty Justices and Magistrates June 28, 2021 Through September 4, 2021 (April 27, 2021)

Diversion Program Protocol (March 1, 2021)

Courtroom 4 Protocol (March 1, 2021)

2020-12 – Continuity of Business Operations and Assignment of Duty Justices and Magistrates Through June 27, 2021 (January 21, 2021) (Amending Order Dated December 21, 2020)

2020-13 – Assignment of Justices to Qualification of Grand Jurors in Providence County January 11, 2021 Through June 28, 2021 (December 22, 2020)

2020-12 – Continuity of Business Operations and Assignment of Duty Justices and Magistrates Through June 27, 2021 (December 21, 2020)

Providence/Bristol County Calendar Protocols for Dispositive Motions (October 7, 2020)

Jury Trial Protocols Under COVID-19 Guidelines (September 30, 2020)

Providence/Bristol County Calendar Protocols for Civil Motions (September 24, 2020)

Washington County Scheduling Protocol for Civil Calendars (September 18, 2020)

Newport County Scheduling Protocol for Civil Calendars (September 11, 2020)

Google Conference Scheduling Instructions in Courtrooms 4 and 9 (September 10, 2020)

Protocol for Requesting a Remote Hearing/Conference During COVID-19 Emergency Measures in Criminal and Civil Matters – Amended (September 9, 2020)

Courtroom 4 Protocol (September 9, 2020)

2020-08 – Continuity of Business Operations and Assignment of Duty Justices and Magistrates Through December 18, 2020 (August 28, 2020)

2020-07 – Continuity of Business Operations and Assignment of Duty Justices and Magistrates Through September 7, 2020 (June 10, 2020)

Kent, Newport, and Washington County Scheduling Protocols (May 28, 2020)

Providence County Daily Criminal Calendar and Providence County Miscellaneous Criminal Calendar Protocols Pursuant to Supreme Court Executive Order 2020-12 and Superior Court Administrative Order 2020-06 (May 22, 2020)

Courtroom 5G Protocol (May 20, 2020)

Courtroom 4 Protocol - Limited Matters to Proceed (May 19, 2020)

2020-06 – Continuity of Business Operations and Assignment of Duty Justices and Magistrates Through June 30, 2020 (May 15, 2020)

Superior Court Hearing and Conference Request Protocol (May 6, 2020) (Amending Order dated April 28, 2020)

Providence County Motion Calendar Guidance on Requesting a Remote Hearing/Conference (April 30, 2020)

Superior Court Hearing and Conference Request Protocol (April 28, 2020)

Temporary Courtroom 4 Protocol (April 24, 2020)

Superior Court Business Calendar Motions Protocol (April 21, 2020)

2020-05 – Assignment of Duty Justices and Magistrates During Pandemic Event Through May 17, 2020 (April 14, 2020)

Superior Court Omnibus Order – Reduction in Sentence for Prison Census Control in response to COVID-19 (April 4, 2020)

2020-04 - COVID-19 Business Recovery Plan (March 31, 2020)

2020-03 - Assignment of Duty Justices and Magistrates During Pandemic Event Through April 17, 2020 (March 18, 2020)

Family Court

2020-05 Continuity of Operations During Public Health Crises Caused by “Covid-19”(May 22, 2020)  

2020-04 Continuation of Administrative Order 2020-02 (May 15, 2020)  

2020-03 Special Remote Pre-trial Calendar for Divorce Matters (May 1, 2020)  

2020-02 – Continuation of Suspension of Family Court Calendars From March 23rd Through May 17, 2020 and Remote Hearings (April 15, 2020)

2020-01 - Suspension of Family Court Calendars From March 23rd Through April 30th, 2020 (March 18, 2020)

District Court

2021-05 District Court Eviction Protocols (July 16, 2021)

2021-04 District Court Eviction Protocols (June 21, 2021)

2021-03 Criminal Effective July 1, 2021 (June 9, 2021)

2020-07 Amendment to the District Court Eviction Protocol (April 1, 2021) (Amending Order dated November 3, 2020)

2021-02 Protocol for Civil Matters (March 8, 2021)

2021-01 Protocol on Criminal Calendars Effective March 15, 2021 (March 3, 2021)

2020-07 Amendment to the District Court Eviction Protocol (Relative Only to Eviction Matters for Non-payment of Rent) (February 19, 2021) (Amending Order dated November 3, 2020)

2020-07 Amendment to the District Court Eviction Protocol (January 29, 2021) (Amending Order dated November 3, 2020)

2020-05 Protocol on Criminal Calendars Effective September 8, 2020 to December 30, 2020 (January 5, 2021) (Amending Order dated September 2, 2020)

2020-07 Amendment to the District Court Eviction Protocol (December 30, 2020) (Amending Order dated November 3, 2020)

2020-05 Protocol on Criminal Calendars Effective September 8, 2020 to December 30, 2020 (November 18, 2020) (Amending Order dated September 2, 2020)

2020-07 Amendment to the District Court Eviction Protocol (November 3, 2020)

2020-06 Eviction Protocol Effective September 8, 2020 to December 31, 2020 (September 3, 2020)

2020-05 Protocol on Criminal Calendars Effective September 8, 2020 to December 30, 2020 (September 2, 2020) (See Amended Order dated November 18, 2020)

2020-04 Protocol on Criminal Calendars, Pending Cases – Pretrial/Trial/Disposition Calendars (May 29, 2020)

2020-03 Supplemental District Court Eviction Protocol (May 22, 2020)

2020-02 District Court Eviction Calendar (May 20, 2020)

2020-01 COVID-19 Emergency Measures - Phase I – Protocol for Civil Matters (May 15, 2020)

District Court Omnibus Order – Reduction in Sentence for Prison Census Control in response to COVID-19 (April 3, 2020)

Workers' Compensation Court

2020-09 – Appellate Arguments (September 1, 2020)

2020-08 – Continuity of Business Operations (May 18, 2020)

2020-07 - Suspension of Court Impartial Medical Exams is Rescinded (May 11, 2020)

2020-05 - Actions During Pandemic Event Through May 17, 2020 (April 14, 2020)

2020-02 - Actions During Pandemic Event Through April 17, 2020 (March 18, 2020)

Traffic Tribunal

Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal Administrative Order 2020-01, Scheduling Matters (March 19, 2020)

PRESS RELEASES

Two County Courthouses to Reopen After Labor Day (September 4, 2020)

Family Court Opens Virtual Clerk's Office (September 1, 2020)

District Court Seeks Volunteer Lawyers for Eviction Cases (August 6, 2020)

Family Court to Introduce Evening Sessions Using Remote Technology (August 4, 2020)

Remote Technology Keeps Courts Going as Gradual Expansion of In-Person Hearings Begins (May 31, 2020)

R.I. Bar exam for July postponed (April 10, 2020)

Emergency court measures extended to May 17 (April 8, 2020)

2 more courthouses to close temporarily (April 5, 2020)

Supreme Court orders expedited hearings to reduce inmate count at state prison (April 3, 2020)

Superior Court initiates recovery program to protect viable businesses hit by COVID-19 (March 31, 2020)

Two county courthouses to close temporarily (March 31, 2020)

State courts to cancel sessions next week (March 13, 2020)

PUBLIC RESOURCES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Domestic Violence or Sexual Assault – (401) 458-3372; 24-hour Hotline (800) 494-8100

Executive Orders of the Governor of Rhode Island

Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Rhode Island Department of Health

Unemployment Insurance (UI) Claim Status Letter Request for an eviction proceeding in the District Court