BISMARCK — North Dakota district courts can now hold group court hearings as the state continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.
The ban on in-person hearings with multiple people that was set to expire in July was repealed Wednesday, May 20, according to a news release issued Friday. The North Dakota Supreme Court's decision to allow group hearings to proceed comes after the state slowly lifted restrictions on businesses.
Judges will decide whether to hold multi-person hearings, though they can continue to use electronic means, such as teleconferencing and video calls, to hold judicial proceedings, the Supreme Court said.
Criminal and civil hearings have continued in North Dakota during the pandemic, though at a lower volume. Jury trials have been suspended until July 1.
