HOUGHTON ­– Local courts are making accommodations for public health in an attempt to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

A Michigan Supreme Court administrative order Sunday enabled courts to take a range of emergency actions to reduce the chance of transmission. They include adjourning any civil or criminal cases where the defendant is not in custody, and using videoconference for those who are. Other suggestions are reducing the size of a docket to minimize the number of people gathered in court, and waiving time requirements for hearings.

The measures are effective through April 3.

Houghton County Circuit Court was already in the midst of a quiet period, with only one hearing scheduled in the past two weeks. That hearing was postponed for 30 days, court personnel said.

Other hearings will also be postponed, aside from cases where the defendant is incarcerated.

The court is also taking precautions with members of the public coming into the court, making hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes.

For incarcerated defendants, the court will use videoconference whenever possible, court personnel said.

In the 32nd Circuit Court, which includes Gogebic and Ontonagon counties, the court is adjourning jury trials and holding all hearings with incarcerated defendants by videoconference, said court administrator Susan Mitchem.

“Right now, as of this moment, as long as parties are healthy, we are proceeding as normal – with extra hand sanitizer, obviously,” she said at about 12:30 p.m. Monday. “We’re trying to find the balance.”

The 98th District Court in Ontonagon has not made any formal changes as of Monday afternoon. For people in court on nonviolent issues, the court is trying to have them give notice and then provide a substantial amount of time before their next hearing.