MEMPHIS, Tenn. — There were no lines, no crowd, and no court at the Criminal Justice Center again Friday.
Donald Walker turned up for a hearing and got a quick turn around.
“I drove in the snow. I been sliding all the way down the street, all the way down Poplar trying to get here and man it is rough out there,” Walker said.
At first he thought he was late and missed court.
“I was like, man, it’s empty down here. I am going to jail,” he said.
The icy roads and snowy weather kept General Sessions Criminal Court and City Court closed, though the City Court Clerk’s office was open and accepting traffic ticket payments.
There was no traffic court, something Breuanna Austin learned after a long drive.
“I don’t like it. I had to come too far. I am coming from Water Valley, Mississippi,” Austin said.
In State Court, on the upper floors of the Criminal Justice Center, it was at the judge’s discretion whether to hold court.
“Four of my ten judges are active on the bench today,” Criminal Court Clerk Richard DeSaussure said. “This is creating a big inconvenience for us. For instance, one of my judges in Division 1 has a murder trial that begins on Monday. She could not afford to have her courts closed for two consecutive days because all those cases are continued day-to-day. So Monday, she would have in essence a triple docket.”
Judges don’t want the overflow and some opt to come in and hold court.
Those who don’t often continue cases until the next day for people in jail and hold over or reset other cases.
If you have a case in state criminal court and the court closes, the clerk has this advice.
“My advice would be they need to contact this office immediately as early as possible the next business day,” DeSaussure said.
On Monday, you can call and find out your new court date.
As for cases in City Court, for things like traffic tickets, the clerk’s office will send you a letter with your new court date.