Several employees of the Henrico County courthouse are in quarantine. General District Court Clerk Barbara Shaw told VPM News that this comes after two employees tested positive for COVID-19.
As a result, the criminal section of the court clerk’s office is understaffed, leading to some cases being postponed.
All traffic violation hearings that were scheduled from Tuesday, October 20 to Friday, October 30 have continued. Other cases in the building are still being heard. The circuit court is not affected.
Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor said she was informed of the positive tests last Friday. She told VPM News that it’s “significant” for one of the largest players in the criminal justice system to be affected to the degree it was.
The court will update the status of cases on Virginia’s judicial system website. People who are having trouble finding their new court date can call the General District Court Clerk’s Office at (804) 501-4723.
Shaw said, in a statement that the court, working with Virginia Department of Health and Henrico County, responded immediately to disinfect spaces used by the general district court, per the county’s protocols and CDC guidelines.
“The health of all our employees and the public is of utmost importance. We will continue to take steps to comply with all recommendations of the Virginia Department of Health and Henrico County to protect these interests,” she said.
The Henrico County Courthouse was the first Virginia court to hold jury trials, after they were banned statewide in March due to pandemic.
