Cleveland County courthouse, clerk's office require masks

NORMAN — Face coverings are now required inside the Cleveland County courthouse and court clerk' s office to protect employees and patrons.

An order to that effect, signed Monday by Cleveland County Chief Judge Th ad Balk man and Court Clerk Marilyn Williams, is effective immediately and applies to all persons entering any courtroom or judge's office.

Additionally, all persons who intend to file a document or conduct other business with the court clerk must wear a face covering and maintain a distance of at least six feet whenever possible, according to the order.

Cleveland County commissioners have declined to adopt a face mask ordinance for the rest of the courthouse.

Certain exceptions can be made by any judge in his or her courtroom, including one to ensure testimony provided can be heard and understood, the order states.

Face coverings, meanwhile, will not be required for "employees in judges' chambers or offices where physical distancing can be consistently maintained, for those workplace sin the court clerk' s office that are not public service areas where physical distancing can be consistently maintained or for public service areas where plexiglass exists between employees and and other individuals conducting business during hours of operation," the order states.

All individuals who appear at each judge' s office shall sign a list, provided by t he office, with contact information, in case of a need to conduct contract tracing for any positive test results, according to the order.