New law clarifies court deadlines set under first COVID-19 emergency declaration

Gov. Tim Walz’s first COVID-19 emergency declaration in March 2020 set deadlines on judicial proceedings in order to allow district and appellate courts to operate safely during the pandemic.

But there was confusion as to when those deadlines would expire.

A new law, effective Feb. 13, 2021, clarifies those court deadlines by specifying they apply only to deadlines that would otherwise have expired between the beginning of the peacetime emergency and April 15, 2021.

The law is sponsored by Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL-Shoreview) and Sen. Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks).

HF114*/SF303/CH3

HF0114* / SF0303 / CH3