SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Citizens are now allowed back into the Minnehaha and Lincoln County Courthouses.
Second Circuit Presiding Judge Robin Houwman lifted her Standing Order banning the public and the media from the courts in light of the expiration of Governor Kristi Noem’s executive order regarding people over 65 or with underlying health issues in Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties to shelter at home. The Department of Health’s public health emergency declaration also expired.
However, anyone entering the Lincoln or Minnehaha County Courthouses will have to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Below is Judge Houwman’s notice to lawyers in the Second Circuit about the changes.
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The Department of Health’s Order Declaring Public Health Emergency in Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties expired on May 8, 2020. The Governor has also let the Executive Order directing vulnerable populations to stay at home expire today. As a result, the Standing Order I issued on April 14, 2020 Regarding Declaration of Public Health Emergency has expired. Members of the public will now be permitted regular access to the Minnehaha County Courthouse and to court-related offices and courtrooms in the Lincoln County Courthouse.
Everyone entering the courthouses will still be required to wear a mask and practice social distancing while in the Courthouse. We continue to encourage vulnerable populations, those who are showing signs of illness, or those who have been exposed to someone who is ill make arrangements for a remote appearance. Those who are not in a vulnerable category, are not showing signs of illness, and who have not been exposed to someone who is ill may continue to appear remotely with permission from the Judge presiding. We also continue to urge you to submit paperwork electronically. Court Security will continue to ask screening questions of everyone entering the Courthouses and may deny admittance to anyone based on answers to those screening questions.
The state of a pandemic is a highly fluid situation and the timetable for the resumption of normal court operations will always be conditioned on guidance from local, state, and national public health officials.
Thank you,
Robin J. Houwman
Presiding Judge, Second Judicial Circuit
