Forsyth County’s Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Todd Burke announced today that the Forsyth County Hall of Justice will reopen to the public on Tuesday, April 28. The Hall of Justice was closed to the public last week due to an employee at the courthouse testing positive for COVID-19. The Court is rescinding its previous order of April 23 closing the Forsyth County Hall of Justice until May 4 as Forsyth County Property Management and General Services took swift and expedient action and facilitated a successful sanitization on Saturday, April 25.

“On behalf of all who work at the Hall of Justice, I would like to thank the Forsyth County Property Manager, Chelsea Swaim, Assistant Director of General Services, Kirby Robinson and the County Manager, Dudley Watt,” said Judge Burke. 

In response to Judge Burke’s order, Clerk of Superior Court Renita Linville announced today that the Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court's Office, located at 200 N. Main Street, Winston-­Salem, North Carolina, 27101, will be open to the public Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The telephone number is 336-779-6300. All visitors are screened before entry is allowed.

In order to limit exposure, attorneys and the public are to use a drop box for filings which is located in Room 203 of the Hall of Justice. The public is encouraged to handle all other business using the Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court's website at forsythcountyclerk.com, NCcourts.gov, telephone, regular mail, and / or email. Upset bids will only be accepted between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Prior to May 4, the Clerk’s Office will only accept business checks, cashier’s check or money orders for payment for court costs. Only emergency and essential filings (e.g., a domestic violence protective order, temporary restraining order, juvenile custody order, time sensitive bond forfeitures, etc.) will be accepted by the Clerk’s Office between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Upon the reopening of the Forsyth County Hall of Justice it is mandated that any employee of any office located in the facility with reason to believe they had contact with the infected employee not return until fourteen (14) days from April 23 and any employee experiencing any symptoms of the coronavirus (COVID-19) not enter the facility.

While the Hall of Justice will remain open, the public is encouraged to avoid visits when possible to maintain public safety. Some court matters can be processed online at www.nccourts.gov/services.