The Carbon County court has continued most criminal cases scheduled for December in an order signed on Friday. The continued matters include scheduled days for guilty pleas and sentencings.

President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II issued an administrative order announcing the changes. He states in the order, the changes are the result of a meeting the three county judges held with the district attorney.

According to the order, District Attorney Michael Greek expressed difficulties his office was encountering due to COVID-19 related staffing shortages. He requested the court continue certain selected criminal events. The order said the impact has also affected the adult probation office and the public defender’s office.

The court proceedings that will be moved to new dates in January 2021:

• Dec. 11, all bench trials for that day continued, except commonwealth v. Giacoa Solera, which will be held. It is a DUI case.

• Dec. 14, all guilty pleas continued; formal arraignments will be held; ARDs moved to Dec. 21 at times to be determined.

• Dec. 15, all sentencings continued.

• Dec. 17, all sentencings continued.

• Dec. 18, all guilty pleas continued.

• Dec. 21, all guilty pleas and sentencings continued; ARDs and formal arraignments will be held at times to be set.

• Dec. 22, all guilty pleas continued.

The above court proceedings will be rescheduled for dates in January to be determined by court administration.

Also continued was the scheduled call of the trial list for Jan. 4, 2021. That has been moved to Jan. 25. Jury trials for cases on the list will be held during the week of Feb. 1, 2021.

The order also states that criminal status conferences scheduled for the mornings of Jan. 18, 19 and 20, 2021, will be continued and rescheduled for the mornings of March 15, 16 and 18, 2021.

The order overrides Rule 600, which requires a defendant be brought to trial within 180 days if in custody or 365 days if not in custody. Those times can change due to approved continuances made by defendants or their counsels or by prosecutors.

In a prior order Nanovic said court matters that can’t be continued due to court/scheduling restraints will be held. Those type of matters include probation/parole hearings and bail hearings.