{"id":"MT-055","kind":"order","level":"court","jurisdiction":"Montana (statewide judiciary)","state":"MT","metro":"","industry":"","agency":"","eco":"","issuer":"Chief Justice Mike McGrath, Supreme Court of Montana","authority":"Supervisory authority of the Supreme Court over courts of limited jurisdiction (Mont. Const. art. VII, sec. 2)","instrument":"Letter from the Chief Justice to Montana Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Judges (release of jail populations; remote hearings)","title":"Letter of March 20, 2020 to Montana Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Judges","dateIssued":"2020-03-20","effective":"2020-03-20","end":"Superseded by the Mar. 27, 2020 Order (MT-056)","startDate":"2020-03-20","endDate":"2020-03-27","quarters":["2020Q2"],"types":["CRT"],"addressees":["courts of limited jurisdiction (justice, city and municipal courts)"],"clause":"Because of the high risk of transmittal of COVID-19, not only to prisoners within correctional facilities but staff and defense attorneys as well, we ask that you review your jail rosters and release, without bond, as many prisoners as you are able, especially those being held for non-violent offenses.... We ask that you follow the provisions of the Memorandum sent out March 17. Conducting as many hearings as you can using video and other remote technology will curtail the risk of exposure and transmission of the virus.","enforcement":"Supervisory direction.","functions":["CT courts (remote hearings; jail releases)"],"notes":"","sourceUrl":"https://courts.mt.gov/External/virus/Ltr%20to%20COLJ%20Judges%20re%20COVID-19%20032020.pdf","snapshot":"","fileExists":true,"fileBytes":362802,"grade":"primary","character":"","description":"","collection":"MT","url":"/library/MT-055","exhibitUrl":"/exhibit/MT-055","citation":"Chief Justice Mike McGrath, Supreme Court of Montana, Letter from the Chief Justice to Montana Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Judges (release of jail populations; remote hearings) (Mar. 20, 2020) (Ex. MT-055)","stateName":"Montana","related":["MT-056","MT-057","MT-058","MT-059"]}