The North Carolina Chief Justice,  The Honorable Cheri Beasley, has postponed all court proceedings statewide until June 1.

She said that any hearings that must be held can be conducted by remote audio and video.

Judicial officials and court personnel statewide are going above and beyond to serve the public during this health emergency, Beasley said. My No. 1 priority is to protect them and the public by limiting gatherings and foot traffic in our county courthouses while making sure our courts stay available to serve the public. 

Her order will allow the use of a sworn statement under penalty of perjury rather than notarization for court filings and oaths, allows the service of court documents by email and extends the deadlines for payment of most fines and fees by 90 days, telling clerks of the court not to report failures to pay court debt to the state Division of Motor Vehicles for possible license suspensions.