On March 17, the Hon. Kimberly Reynolds, Governor of the State of Iowa, issued a public health emergency declaration prohibiting gatherings of 10, closing certain establishments, and directing state agencies to take steps to stem the predicted coronavirus outbreak.

Following the Governor’s declaration, Chief Justice Christensen issued a supplementary order explicitly adding 15 days to the speedy indictment rule, for a total of 60 days from date of initial appearance-- no longer leaving to the imagination the temporary suspension of rules that execute the constitutional speedy indictment guarantee.

The Hon. Sixth Judicial District Chief Judge Patrick Grady issued a supplementary order on March 19, 2020, instructing that there will be no in-person case management conferences, prioritizing speedy trials for those in jail, and noting that there will be a form to waive certain initial appearances, and directing defendants and counsel who seek videoconferencing alternatives to contact court administration.

Because case management conferences, or, CMCs, are no longer held in person, prosecutors, defense counsel, and clients are required to consult ahead of time and inform the court electronically of progress and likelihood of trial.

If you or a loved one have been arrested for a criminal offense in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, or other Iowa community, or you are seeking your best options while searching for Cedar Rapids DUI lawyers, contact David A. Cmelik Law PLC for a free initial consultation. We will guide you through this process while following CDC protocols for social distancing.