SANDPOINT — The Idaho Supreme Court is requiring visitors to the Bonner County Courthouse to wear face masks and practice social distancing due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Those who don’t have masks will be issued one. There is also a hand sanitizing station in the building’s foyer.

Those who refuse to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth or distance themselves will be denied entry to the courthouse, as will people who have been diagnosed with the virus that causes COVID-19 or if they are exhibiting symptoms of the virus. The prohibition also applies to people who have been advised to self-isolate by healthcare providers and regional or state public health officials.

Those who are or may be infected with coronavirus and have legitimate court business to conduct are advised to stay home and contact the county clerk to make arrangements.

The face mask requirement goes into effect today, as courts across the state work to restore dockets and resume court proceedings remotely via videoconferencing and teleconferencing.

However, jury trials in criminal and civil matters are on hold by order of the Idaho Supreme Court.

Jury trials in criminal cases are on hold until Aug. 3, while jury trials in civil cases are being pushed back until Oct. 5, according to the high court’s April 22 order.

The postponements were put in due to the risks that can arise in bringing together a large group of people to form jury pools. Rooms where jurors wait out in-court legal clashes and deliberate are typically not too spacious.

“It’s difficult to do social distancing with a jury,” said 1st District Judge Barbara Buchanan.

Courthouse staff, meanwhile, will be leaning heavily on Zoom Video Communications, especially for civil court proceedings. The cloud-based, peer-to-peer software platform allows the parties, attorneys and judges to see and hear one another while in separate locations.

Some court officials are already well-versed in using the platform because it was already being used for mental hold and other hearings.

“We’re in pretty good shape,” said Buchanan. “We’re familiar with Zoom.”

Magistrate Court Judge Tera Harden said the county’s information technology team and Marcus Robbins have worked wonders to meet the challenge of remotely conducted court hearings.

“He’s made it so we can function,” said Harden.

A secure drop box has also been set up in the foyer to accept payments and hard copy court documents. The Court Assistance Office is operating remotely, as are Focus on Children workshops for couples who are divorcing.

“We’re doing everything we can to accommodate the public,” said Charlene Krames, director of courthouse operations.

Krames added that the public can assist operations at the courthouse by bringing their own masks.

The high court is waiving a state rule which requires defendants to be tried within six months of being charged. The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees a defendant’s right to a speedy trial, but does not specify a time frame.

“Every court in the country will be struggling with that,” said Buchanan.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.