Federal Court in Montgomery forced to close on Fridays because of government shutdown

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama has announced that it will be closed on Fridays until the federal government shutdown ends.

The shutdowns will start Friday, October 24.

The court says the judiciary has entered Phase 2 of shutdown operations, which requires the Middle District of Alabama to reduce operations, performing only those required by the U.S. Constitution and federal law.

• All courthouses in the Middle District (Montgomery, Dothan, Opelika) will close on Fridays to the public and staff. District Court employees will be furloughed on Fridays.
• Criminal and civil case deadlines that fall on a Friday that the courthouse is closed will be automatically extended to the next business day.
• Civil cases involving the United States, its agencies, officers or employees as a named party, or in which the United States Attorney, Assistant United States Attorneys, or Special United States Attorney is counsel of record are stayed (except for §2255 cases).
• Hearings, bench trials, grand jury, and criminal jury trials will continue.
• Civil jury trials not involving the United States will continue on a case-by-case basis.
• Personal leave will not be granted and travel vouchers will not be processed.
• Payroll will not be processed after October 24.