The Connecticut Judicial Branch has announced the reopening on a limited basis of four more courthouses in the state.

The announcement that the Superior Court buildings in Danbury, Milford, Stamford and Danielson will reopen June 29 will bring the number of open courthouses in the Superior Court system to 13.

The judicial branch had earlier announced a partial reopening of Superior Court courthouses in Middletown, Torrington and Rockville, beginning June 8.

In a statement, Chief Court Administrator Patrick Carroll III said safety is the top priority during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We continue to plan for increasing expansion of the branch's physical footprint and all business operations in a way that places personal safety of the public, the bar and employees at the forefront, while also balancing the requirement to continue to provide expanded access." Carroll wrote.

In addition to the June 29 reopening of the four courthouses, Carroll said the courts are also planning to expand their hours and days of operations, after reductions during the pandemic.

Starting June 15, all open courthouse locations will be open each day, Monday through Friday. The hours for the public will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

The courts will further expand their hours, beginning July 6, when they are set to open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"In addition to expanding the courthouse locations, business operations have rapidly expanded across all divisions by the use of remote technology," Carroll said in the statement. "In just a few weeks' time, family court has held over 600 remote status or settlements conferences, and disposed of more than 300 divorce cases remotely."

Carroll continued: "Civil court had conducted close to 1,000 remote events and has ruled on more than 7,000 short calendar matters. Juvenile court is holding remote detention hearings each day of operation and reviewing permanency plans remotely."

Carroll also said the branch will expand the handling of criminal matters beginning June 8.. On that day, he said, judges will begin to conduct remote pretrial conferences in criminal cases.

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