Commissioners recount conflicting legal guidance on Juneteenth courthouse closures

Morgan County commissioners spent part of their June 18 meeting discussing conflicting legal guidance about observance of Juneteenth and which county offices must remain open on that date.

Several commissioners said the county had received differing opinions from the state attorney general’s office, the legal office of the Supreme Court of Appeals and a statewide prosecutors’ association about whether courts and certain county offices must remain open when Juneteenth falls on a scheduled county holiday. That mix of guidance left clerks’ offices, courts and payroll staff uncertain whether to close, remain open, or treat the day as paid leave.

Why it matters: The legal advice affects whether essential offices such as the circuit court clerk and magistrate clerk must be open to accept filings and whether the county must count the day as paid holiday time for payroll. Commissioners said payroll deadlines and public access to court services make the question time-sensitive.

Commissioners referenced an opinion they received that, as phrased to the commission, said Juneteenth “is not a legal holiday” under current state law and that, unless courts are lawfully closed, clerk’s offices and court proceedings must be accessible to the public. At the same time, the county received other opinions advising closure for courts. Several speakers noted that counties across the state had handled the day differently.

Commission staff said payroll deadlines were imminent, and recommended the commission confirm what the county payroll office should code as holiday or regular time before running payroll. One official said the county could choose to maintain Juneteenth on its local holiday schedule for the current year as a paid day off, but that the attorney general’s later opinions complicated that choice.

Next steps: Commissioners asked staff to coordinate with the county prosecuting attorney, the clerk’s office and the circuit court to determine which offices must be open and how payroll should be coded. The transcript records discussion of differing opinions but does not show a formal resolution or vote.