Vt. Memo to the Bar, Jan. 15, 2021

SUPREME COURT OF VERMONT

OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR

PATRICIA GABEL, ESQ. Mailing Address

State Court Administrator Office of the Court Administrator

patricia.gabel@vermont.gov 109 State Street

Montpelier, VT 05609-0701

Telephone (802) 828-3278

FAX: 802 828-3457

www.vermontjudiciary.org

TO: Members of the Vermont Bar

FROM: Patricia Gabel, Esq., State Court Administrator

RE: Cancellation of Nonemergency In-Person Hearings on January 19 and 20

DATE: January 15, 2021

The Judiciary is taking precautionary action to ensure continuity of operations and safety in light

of reports that public gatherings during the federal inaugural week carry a risk of vandalism or

violence in some parts of the country. The Judiciary will not conduct any in-person hearings or

convene any in-person meetings on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, and Wednesday, January 20,

2021. The courts will review the in-person schedule for those dates and decide whether it is

appropriate to delay hearings or to conduct any of these hearings by remote video or telephone.

These decisions will be communicated to litigants as soon as possible.

Courts may still conduct in-person hearings for proceedings that are emergency matters or that

require in-person participation.

The Judiciary will continue to monitor information as it becomes available to determine if other

steps are called for and will be in touch as soon as we know of those changes.