Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles T. Canady has ordered all circuit and county courts to cancel or postpone nonessential proceedings in a heightened effort to minimize risk of exposure to COVID-19.

The state Supreme Court has also postponed all oral arguments until June.

Early responses from Broward and Miami-Dade circuits paved the way for the statewide order, which instructed chief judges to prioritize essential and critical matters until at least March 27. These include first appearances, arraignments, bond and juvenile-delinquency hearings, temporary injunctions, and Baker Act and substance abuse hearings.

They also cover anything related to state or public health emergencies, such as violations of quarantine or isolation, orders restricting travel, curfews and the closure of public buildings.

Everything else can wait, the order said, unless it can be done remotely. That's a decision Canady left to the discretion of chief judges, who can opt to label additional proceedings critical or essential.

"Each chief judge shall review cases and court events and the communications technology resources available to the circuit, each county and each judge," the order said.

The new directive took immediate effect, and builds on a prior order suspending jury trials, grand-jury proceedings and jury selection. It could be extended, depending on local developments.

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