COVID-19 closes Orange Co. courthouse

The Orange County Courthouse in Hillsborough will be closed through Nov. 9 due to COVID-19 exposure, the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts has announced.

“We are working quickly to protect the health of those who work in the building, as well as the people that we serve,” said Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour. “We’re grateful for the quick response by the Orange County Public Health Department and the County’s Environmental Services Department.”

Some court operations will continue, including first appearances for in-custody defendants and emergency domestic violence matters, which will be heard remotely. District court matters in Chapel Hill will occur as scheduled and civil district court matters will be held remotely. Other matters, including traffic court and criminal district court, will be rescheduled automatically.

The Orange County Grand Jury scheduled to convene on Nov. 2 is postponed to the Nov. 30 session.

“We are following best practices to keep everyone who enters the courthouse safe. We will be ready to resume operations Nov. 9, and we ask the public for their patience and understanding until then,” Barbour said.

Staff reports