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Bainbridge Island Municipal Court has postponed all currently scheduled court matters starting Monday, March 16.

Municipal Court Judge Sara McCulloch approved an emergency administrative order Monday to limit operations at the municipal court, located in Rolling Bay, due to public health concerns related to the coronavirus outbreak.

“In order to promote the public health goals identified by public officials, and promote the health and safety of users and staff at the court, it is necessary to modify operations and reduce in-person attendance,” McCulloch wrote in the order.

Court matters will be rescheduled by the court clerks, with the following exceptions:

• Traffic infractions and parking mitigation cases by mail will be reviewed as scheduled. All infraction and parking hearings that require the appearance of any party will be rescheduled to a later date.

• Criminal cases where a defendant is detained in custody on that particular criminal case will proceed as currently scheduled. New criminal cases where a defendant is detained on that case will continue to be scheduled for hearing per the usual rules and practice of the court.

• Protection order hearings will proceed as currently scheduled, including domestic violence, anti-harassment, sexual assault, stalking or extreme risk order. New petitions for such orders will also be scheduled per the usual rules and practice of the court.

• Review hearings set to determine compliance with any order issued to surrender weapons, install ignition interlock, and comply with pre-trial drug and alcohol monitoring, will continue as normally scheduled even if an underlying criminal case is being rescheduled to a later date.

Court officials said matters may be scheduled if a written request to the judge is presented explaining the emergent need for a hearing, or upon a judicial determination of an emergent need.

The matter may be scheduled for telephonic, video, or in-person hearing, depending on the circumstances of the case.

The court also said that civil motions may be noted and heard without oral argument.

Bench warrant quash requests by a defendant via email or telephone will be reviewed ex parte, provided that the defendant provides an updated address to the clerk. Ex parte matters will continue to be processed.

Court officials also noted that passport processing services by court staff is being suspended at least until April 30.

Requests for exceptions may be made by email to the court with proof of upcoming out-of-the-country travel or other emergency need for passport processing.

Bainbridge city officials said the courthouse will remain open, but the public is encouraged to contact the court by phone (206-842-5641) and email (court@bainbridgewa.gov), rather than in-person, to the maximum extent possible.