Cleveland Municipal Court Restarts Operations Limiting Appearances to the Justice Center

Contact:  Ed Ferenc, Public Information Officer

(Cleveland) -- After curtailing operations due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Cleveland Municipal Court will begin misdemeanor arraignments starting Monday, June 15, 2020.

Arraignments will be held on the third floor of the Justice Center in Courtrooms 3B, 3C and 3D,  all of which can be accessed by the Justice Center escalators, unless physically unable to do so.  In such a case, security will escort by elevator.

Those scheduled for traffic, and misdemeanor arraignments including operating a vehicle under the influence (OVI) are strongly encouraged to send in a Not Guilty waiver to avoid coming down to the Justice Center.  That form can be accessed here: https://clevelandmunicipalcourt.org/clerk-of-courts/criminal-traffic-division/plea-not-guilty

Follow-up hearings will be conducted via Zoom as part of the effort to reduce in-person traffic at the Justice Center.

Face coverings MUST be worn when inside the Justice Center. If a person arrives without face covering, a mask will be provided.

Members of the public can enter the Justice Center only through the Ontario Street doors where they will have their temperature taken and asked a series of COVID-19 questions. Once cleared, they will be given a colored wristband to allow movement within the building. Members of the public will then be directed to lines dedicated to their destinations.

The fourth floor cafeteria and patio remain closed, and restrooms will be limited to one person at a time. Children will not be permitted on the courtroom floors, and it is strongly suggested that children wait outside the Justice Center with another caregiver adult.

See Cleveland Municipal Court will take Online Not-Guilty Pleas in Certain Cases, Hold Hearings via Zoom from cleveland.com to learn more.