Jacksonville Daily Record news partner WJXT Ch. 4 reported Aug. 2 that because of the COVID-19 surge in Northeast Florida, the requirements to wear a face mask and practice social distancing have been put back in place in courthouses in Clay, Duval and Nassau counties.
The change was authorized by the state Supreme Court on July 29.
Chief Justice Charles Canady authorizes chief judges in each circuit to adopt local protocols within their courthouses. It is an amendment to the administrative order governing pandemic public health protocols in courthouses in Florida that went into effect in March 2020.
The amendment states: “If warranted by local health conditions, the Chief Justice or a chief judge may require either or both of the following health and safety protocols:
a. The wearing of face masks by all persons in a courthouse or in any portion thereof. As determined by the Chief Justice or a chief judge, such requirement may apply at all times or during certain periods only.
b. Physical distancing during an in-person court proceeding.
The amendment also states that “additional orders extending or modifying these measures will be issued as warranted to mitigate the effects of the public health emergency on the judicial branch and its participants.”