Some New York Courts Will Close During the Solar Eclipse

In this photo illustration, eclipse glasses from Warby Parker are seen on a table on April 01, 2024 in New York City. Warby Parker announced that it will be offering free glasses certified for safe viewing of the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8. People can visit any store to receive up to two pairs of solar eclipse glasses at no cost. The event will mark the last total solar eclipse that is visible from the United States until 2044. (Photo Illustration by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

(Bloomberg) — About two dozen New York state courts will close or limit proceedings during the solar eclipse, state officials said.

To ensure safety of litigants, jurors and personnel, some courts will be closed starting at noon while other courts will be operating on a more limited basis for emergency proceedings only, the New York State Office of Court Administration announced on its website. Courts in Rochester, Plattsburgh, Syracuse, Utica and Ticonderoga will be closed Monday and reopen Tuesday, court officials said.

New York’s northernmost counties that are in the path of totality include the cities of Jamestown, Buffalo, Rochester, Geneva, Syracuse and Watertown. Tourists with “Eclipsemania” are expected to flock to these areas to see the rare celestial event and bring with them traffic jams, resulting in the court change.

The courts, which remained open during the pandemic but successfully pivoted to online operations, now have a reliable system to conduct virtual court proceedings. Rather than holding in-person proceedings, all arguments will switch to remote video arguments on state court’s platform Monday, officials said.

To see a map list of state courthouses affected by the eclipse and different modes of operation: https://www.nycourts.gov/notice/

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