1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish the procedure regarding schedule abbreviations and
closures of the offices of the Eleventh Judicial District Court (McKinley & San Juan Counties), herein referred to as the Court, when inclement weather causes hazardous road/travel conditions. If no notice of abbreviation or closure is issued, the Court is open for business during regular business hours, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
2. POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
Serving the public is a priority for the Court, as is the safety of employees and jurors. When there is inclement weather, the Court will, to the extent possible, remain open and accessible to the public during normal business hours. When inclement weather causes hazardous road/travel conditions, the Court will either delay opening until 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. or close for the entire day.
3. DEFINITIONS
A. Inclement Weather Causing Hazardous Road/Travel Conditions means weather and /or road conditions in the area where the Court is located that result in a reasonable probability that travel to and from the Court would be dangerous.
4. ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE
When it is determined that opening the Court should be delayed or that the Court should be closed because of inclement weather causing hazardous road/travel conditions, employees are granted administrative leave during the period of closure.
5. ABBREVIATED AND CLOSURE SCHEDULE
A. Schools delay opening - Courts delay opening. When the local schools delay opening until 10:00 a.m. the Court will also delay opening until 10:00 a.m. The decision of the school district where the Court is located shall determine whether a two-hour delay is in effect, not the school district where an employee may reside. Farmington will follow the Farmington Public Schools, Aztec the Aztec Public Schools and Gallup the Gallup Public Schools. (For example, if an employee lives in Aztec but works in Farmington, it will be the Farmington Public School’s decision that determines if there is a two-hour delay at the Farmington Courts, not the decision of the Aztec Public Schools.)
B. If a school district decides to close the local schools for the entire day the Chief District Judge, Court Executive Officer or designee(s) will determine the Court schedule from among the following choices in this order.
Schools close - Court schedule to be determined
   1) Open at 10:00 a.m. Employees are to report to work at 10:00 a.m. unless notified that the Court is to open at 1:00 p.m. or is closed for the day.
   2) Open at 1:00 p.m.
   3) Court closure.
Employees who have school age children are also expected to report at 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. when an abbreviated schedule is instituted. If those employees do not have adequate childcare and are unable to work, those employees will be required to take annual leave or leave without pay. Taking sick leave due to the school closure is not permitted unless the children are sick.
Employees who live at residences where extra time is needed for snow removal will be required to take annual leave or leave without pay for any time taken beyond the 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. report time.
C. The Court schedule during school closures will be based on the following considerations:
   1) local weather reports and conditions;
   2) local school district and other public office delays or closures;
   3) information from the Department of Transportation and/or local law
enforcement regarding road/travel conditions;
   4) coordination with county personnel for building safety issues.
D. Employees are not to report to work during a delay or closure. Employees who report to work during a delay or closure shall not accrue comp time for their work.
E. Employees on annual leave or who are otherwise not scheduled to work on a day when inclement weather occurs do not accrue administrative leave as a result of a delayed opening or court closure.
6. COMMUNICATION OF ABBREVIATED SCHEDULE OR CLOSURE
A Two hour delay. Communication from the applicable school district about a two-hour delay at the schools will be the means of communication about a two-hour delay at the Court.
B. Court schedule during school closure. If the Chief District Judge, Court Executive Officer or designee(s) determines that the Court should delay opening until 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. or be closed for the entire day, sufficient and proper notification via television, radio and the Court’s website (www.11thjdc.com) will be made no later than 9:30 a.m. If an announcement is not made by 9:30 a.m., all employees are expected to report to work at 10:00 a.m.
C. When schools are not in session. The Chief District Judge, Court Executive Officer or designee(s) will determine whether a delay or closure is necessary and sufficient notification will be made as quickly as possible.
7. HEARING SCHEDULE DURING AN ABBREVIATED SCHEDULE OR CLOSURE
A. Two hour delay. When the Court is on a two-hour delay and opens at 10:00 a.m., attorneys, jurors, parties and the public with proceedings scheduled prior to 10:00 a.m. should appear at 10:00 a.m in front of the applicable Judicial Division to determine when their matters will be heard. All other matters set for that day will proceed as scheduled.
B. Opening at 1:00 p.m. If the Court delays opening until 1:00 p.m.:
   1) Attorneys, parties and the public with proceedings (except jury trials) scheduled prior to 1:00 p.m. should appear at 1:00 p.m in front of the applicable Judicial Division to determine when their matters will be heard. All other matters set for that day will proceed as scheduled.
   2) Jurors should call the code-a-phone or the jury clerk for further instructions and information.
C. Court closure. If the Court is closed:
   1) Attorneys, parties and the public should contact the applicable Judicial Division the next business day to determine when the proceeding will be rescheduled.
   2) Jurors should call the code-a-phone or the jury clerk for further instructions and information.
Approved on November 10, 2010 by all of the Eleventh Judicial District Court Judges and Weldon J. Neff, Court Executive Officer