On April 30, 2020, Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice, Tom Parker, issued an Order which extended all previously issued administrative orders related to COVID-19. As a result, the following rules will remain in place through May 15, 2020:
- All in-person court proceedings are suspended.
- Any workers’ compensation settlement hearing in any court may be conducted telephonically or by videoconferencing.
- Any workers’ compensation settlement may be approved by an ombudsman of the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) or by a circuit judge. If a workers’ compensation case pending in a court is settled with written approval of an ombudsman from the ADOL, that settlement shall result in the dismissal of the workers’ compensation claim pending in court.