Oak Ridge City Court was scheduled to resume in-person court proceedings today (Monday, May 11), with some changes because of COVID-19.
The changes, made for health and safety reasons, include:
- One person will be allowed in the courtroom at a time, in addition to the judge and other courtroom staff.
- You may bring an attorney and witnesses with you for contested citations. However, other non-essential people will not be permitted inside the building with you.
- The Oak Ridge Fire Department will screen and temperature-check everyone before entry.
- Everyone will remain six feet apart, even while waiting in line to enter the courtroom.
- People are advised to wear gloves in addition to masks or face coverings.
There are some instances where you may be able to handle a citation over the phone. Therefore, it is important that only those who need to physically appear before the judge show up at court, a press release said.
You can call the Court Clerk’s Office at (865) 425-3536 before your scheduled hearing for guidance on the following:
- if you’d like to pay a ticket in advance,
- if you have a physical disability that would prevent you from being able to walk up steps or you have a compromised immune system and don’t want to risk exposure to the virus,
- if you’d like to sign up for a driver’s training class to avoid points on your license from a speeding ticket, or
- if you’re unsure if or when you need appear in court.
All cases scheduled during the time court was closed due to COVID-19 have been reset by the City Court Clerk’s Office, the press release said. Notifications of new court dates were sent by mail to the addresses listed on citations. If you did not receive notification of a new court date by April 1, call the City Court Clerk’s Office at (865) 425-3536.
