Pierce County Court To Continue Mask Requirements Through June

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — Pierce County Superior Court will continue all visitors to require masks and practice safe social distancing through the end of the month, possibly even longer.

In May, Gov. Jay Inslee rescinded Washington's universal mask mandate, allowing businesses to serve mask-less customers, provided that those customers were fully vaccinated. And while different retailers are reacting differently to the news, so too are different government buildings.

Under the updated guidance, businesses and government buildings have several options for dealing with mask-less customers:

• Use the "honor system" assuming that customers without masks are fully vaccinated.
• Alternatively, they can demand proof of vaccination before allowing mask-less customers to enter.
• Or, continue to require that all customers wear facial coverings at all times.

Pierce County Superior Court is choosing the latter option, requiring masks and social distancing at all Superior Court and Juvenile Court offices and courtrooms, regardless of vaccination status. The court says the requirement will remain in place through at least June 30, but may be extended past that. June 30 is also the deadline for Washington state to lift all of its remaining COVID-19 restrictions.

Interestingly, other county government facilities are making different choices — including the County City building, which is allowing vaccinated visitors to take their masks off. The County City Building actually contains one of Pierce County Superior Court's courtrooms, meaning the full mask mandate will only be in effect in that part of the building.

Pierce County Superior Court also holds court at Remann Hall Juvenile Court in Tacoma, the Lakewood Community Center, and at Western State Hospital.

Jury trials in Pierce County resumed in March.

Related: 'Honor System' For Masks Enough For Compliance