The Commission, in consultation with the Chief Judge of the Thirteenth Circuit, Charles E. King, Jr., establishes the following policy for access to the Kanawha County Courthouse at 409 Virginia Street, the Judicial Annex, the W. Kent Carper Public Safety Complex and the Voter’s Registration office.

General Rules:

1. Hours of Operation: The public access hours of the Kanawha County Courthouse at 409 Virginia Street, the Judicial Annex Building, the W. Kent Carper
   Public Safety Complex, and the Voter’s Registration office shall temporarily be set as 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, effective July 27, 2020. Notwithstanding, each elected official shall have discretion in setting individual office hours and staffing levels as is required to perform essential functions and services.
2. The Judicial Annex: Public Access to the Judicial Annex Building and the offices of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, including the Circuit Clerk’s Office and the Magistrate Clerk’s office, shall be from 11 :00 am to 4:00 pm, and shall follow the regulations established by the Court in the Administrative Order Adopting Judicial Building Operating Procedures COVID-19 entered by the Chief Judge on May 11., 2020, and any subsequent orders entered by the Chief Judge. Facial Coverings are and remain required for entrance to the Judicial Annex building and shall be worn by all those while in the building under previously established procedures.
3. It is further ordered by the Chief Judge that the reduction of hours stated herein shall not limit public access for trials, convening of a grand jury, or for emergency procedures or hearings, including any that require the assistance of the Kanawha County Circuit Clerk’s Office or the Magistrate Court Office, or that are required to protect the immediate health or safety of a party or the community; specifically: domestic violence; child abuse and neglect only upon the initial removal or where there is an imminent threat to the health or safety of a child; infant guardianship; physical custody cases involving an
   imminent threat to health or safety of a child; juvenile detention or placement in state custody; posting of criminal bonds, search warrants; mental hygiene; and matters initiated by public health officials to enforce orders related to the COVID-19 crisis. It is further ordered that the Circuit Clerk’s office remain staffed during its currently set operating hours of 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday. Magistrate Court shall continue to operate as currently scheduled, with any adjustments to be addressed by the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court by separate administrative order.
4. For all offices located at the Kanawha County Courthouse at 409 Virginia Street, the W. Kent Carper Public Safety Complex, and Voter’s Registration office – facial coverings must be worn in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order 50-20. The order requires all West Virginians age nine and older to wear a face-covering at all indoor public places where six feet of social distancing cannot be maintained. The requirement does not apply to anyone who for medical reasons has trouble breathing or anyone who is otherwise unable to remove their face covering without assistance. The temporary change in hours for the Courthouse Buildings will remain in effect until modified by a subsequent order of the Commission and the Court.
5. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send an attested copy of this Order to the Administrative Office of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and the Circuit Judges, Family Court Judges, Court Administrator’s Office, Magistrates, Magistrate Court Clerk, Chief Probation Officers (s), Clerk of the County Commission and President of the County Commission of Kanawha County.