Update – In a per curiam order issued May 8, 2020, the Arkansas Supreme Court stated that all Arkansas courts were to resume conducting hearings on May 18, while implementing certain measures to combat the spread of COVID-19.

A copy of the order is here.

In its ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on April 23, 2020, the Arkansas Supreme Court issued a per curiam order that extended its previous suspension of in-person proceedings in all appellate, circuit, and district courts in the state through May 15, 2020. Certain emergency proceedings remain excepted from the order, although the Supreme Court reiterated its guidance that such proceedings “only occur in-person if holding the proceeding remotely is not possible or feasible.” For proceedings that must occur in-person, the Court required the following precautions be taken: “(1) no more than 10 persons are gathered in the courtroom or in areas around the courtroom; (2) participants wear face coverings where possible; and (3) participants in the courtroom are separated consistent with social-distancing guidelines and other precautions.”

The full text of the April 23, 2020 per curiam order can be read here.