UPDATE: 2:38 p.m. - Oct. 23
MISSOULA - The Missoula Municipal Court is closed indefinitely because of possible exposures to COVID-19 among the court staff.
The closure extends to personal court appearances and counter service. Municipal Court employees will be working remotely.
Judge Kathleen Jenks says this is the first time the court has fully shut down, so they are establishing new procedures and building on remote procedures already in place.
Court staff will contact people representing themselves with new court dates. People represented by attorneys should contact their attorneys with questions and hearings that are scheduled before Nov. 6 will be rescheduled.
Jenks says one staff member is waiting on test results for COVID-19, and in the meantime almost her entire staff has been told to self isolate at home.
"It’s big. We’re a big court, we see a lot of people, and a lot of cases every day, a lot of attorneys, so it’s a big adjustment, a lot of moving parts," Jenks told MTN News. I’ve got a great staff, and we will be able to get through it.”
People owing payments can pay online, by mail or with cash through the drop box at the entrance to City Hall.
(first report: 11:48 a.m. - Oct. 23, 2020)
The Missoula Municipal Court has been closed down to possible staff exposures to COVID-19.
The court is "closed to all personal appearances and counter service because of possible exposures to COVID-19 among the Court staff," according to a statement.
Municipal Court employees will be working remotely and will return phone messages. Additional updates and information will be posted here.
Additional information is listed below:
Scheduled Hearings
Hearings currently scheduled prior to November 6, 2020 will be rescheduled. If you are represented by an attorney please contact them with questions regarding you appearance requirements. If you are representing yourself the court will contact you or mail you your new court date.
Initial Appearance
If you need to make an initial appearance on a new charge please be aware of the option to handle many cases through CitePay USA. (more details about CitePay are discussed below) If you are required to appear personally on your charge or desire to do so, the appearance date on your citation will be extended for two weeks.
Making a Payment
If you need to make a payment owed to the Court, your payment due date will be extended two weeks. However, remember that you can always make payments on CitePay USA, by mail or pay cash through the drop box at the entry to City Hall.