CLEVELAND — On Monday, a representative for the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court General Division confirmed to 3News that the judges have voted to require all employees to be fully vaccinated by COVID-19.
According to officials, the vote was done by a majority and all employees, excluding those with medical or religious exemptions, will be required to get the shot.
This vote was taken with a collaborative effort by the Administrative Judges of the Court of Appeals and the four divisions of the Common Pleas Court: General Court, Probate Court, Domestic Relations Court, and Juvenile Court.
The judges of each division said that as public servants, they have an obligation to protect the health and safety of those who have to come into their courtroom, especially as the delta variant spreads rapidly in the U.S.
“We are public servants. When people come to the Justice Center, many of them do so because they are required to appear in our buildings. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have followed CDC guidance and guidance from the state and county Boards of Health. On this issue, it is no different. We can protect our employees and the community we serve by being vaccinated,” adds Judge Sheehan, who resides over the General Division.
Additionally, the courts plan to provide vaccination clinics for employees to get their shot, as well as a $100 incentive to all employees.
Each of the four presiding judges released a statement following the decision.
“We believe in the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and that this decision protects the health of our employees and the community we serve," says Probate Court Presiding Judge Anthony J. Russo.
“We serve some of the most vulnerable people in the criminal justice system, kids. We are doing this for the good of the Courts and the community.”
“Access to vaccination is something that we took in to account,” says Judge Sheehan. “We appreciate Executive Budish and his administration working with MetroHealth to make getting vaccinated as easy as possible.”
MORE CORONAVIRUS NEWS: