Placards outside the First District Courthouse in Logan advising mask orders inside the facilities.
LOGAN — Chief Justice Matthew Durrant has rescinded mask mandates for all court facilities in northern Utah. The order goes into effect Monday, March 7 and is based on the current levels of COVID-19 throughout the area.
On September 17, 2021, Justice Durrant, on behalf of the Utah Judicial Council, issued an administrative order which included a mask mandate in all court facilities located in a county designated by the Utah Department of Health as a medium or high transmission index county. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently updated its guidance on mask use and no longer recommends wearing a mask in a county with low or medium community levels of COVID-19, unless an individual is unvaccinated or at higher risk for the illness.
In a press release, Court spokesperson Tania Mashburn said in light of the new CDC guidelines, an amendment was warranted to the part of the Judicial Council’s Administrative Order that mandates the wearing of a mask in court facilities.
The mask mandate is rescinded for any court located in a county that has been designated by the CDC as a low or medium community level of COVID-19, which Cache, Box Elder and Rich counties are currently at. The mandate is still in effect for court facilities located in counties designated as high community levels.
The press release explained, an individual who desires to wear a mask in a court facility shall be permitted to do so, unless a judicial officer determines that there is good cause to require the individual to temporarily remove the mask. The Judicial Council strongly encourages unvaccinated and high-risk individuals to continue to wear a mask in accordance with CDC recommendations.
Each judicial district shall designate an individual to weekly check the CDC designation for the county in which court facilities in that district are located, and adjust the mask requirement for court facilities in accordance with the CDC community levels and the order.
Mashburn said throughout the pandemic the judiciary has consistently focused on the safety of court personnel and patrons. The courts will continue that focus while also recognizing the benefits associated with vaccination. The courts will continue to screen employees and jury trial participants for any COVID symptoms and continue to follow CDC precautions. Many court proceedings will also continue to be held remotely.
will@cvradio.com