Judicial Department Employees Told to Keep Log on Contact With Others.

S: 3.28.20 JB ALERT  – Judges, Employees and Public Defenders – COVID 19 OCCA Message

Dear Judges, Judicial Branch employees, and Public Defender Staff

In light of the need for us to do our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19, I am issuing the following directives immediately:

1. DO NOT COME TO WORK IF YOU ARE SICK OR HAVE ANY COVID-19 SYMPTOMS.

2. Do not come to work if anyone in your household is under quarantine, is sick or has COVID-19 symptoms.

3. If you are healthy and come to work, please remain in your confined, limited workspace only.  

4. Complete your work in a way that will limit physical and interpersonal interaction with others in the courthouse, as much as possible.  For instance: deliver reports, evaluations and risk assessments by email or telephone report.

5. MAINTAIN A DAILY LOG TO IDENTIFY EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL WITH WHOM YOU HAVE HAD CONTACT FOR A PERIOD OF GREATER THAN 15 MINUTES AND AT A DISTANCE OF LESS THAN 6 FEET.

6. MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE SOCIAL DISTANCING (REMAIN 6 FEET APART FROM PEOPLE) TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE

7. WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN AND FOR AT LEAST 20 SECONDS

8. MAINTAIN AWARENESS OF THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS NATURE OF COVID-19

In the interest of your own health and safety, it is critically important that every Judge and every Judicial Branch employee who is reporting to work maintain a daily log to identify every single individual with whom you have contact for a period of greater than 15 minutes and at a distance of less than 6 feet.  Please have access to this log at all times, so that you will be able to report this information, if necessary. (Emphasis added.)

Please note that judicial marshals will be receiving additional, separate, guidance on Monday.

Thank you for the incredible work that you do, even during this unprecedented health crisis. We will continue to keep you posted.

Judge Patrick L. Carroll III