With last week's order extending the statewide judicial emergency for a fourth time, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton also partly opened the taps on litigation that's largely been shut down since his first declaration in March.

The most recent order continues the prohibition of jury trials and grand jury proceedings, but it reimposed deadlines effective July 14 on litigants that were previously tolled. The order also reimposes statute of limitations deadlines that were tolled for the 122 days between March 14 and July 14.

Citing the "substantial backlog of pending cases," the order also continued to freeze deadlines on the courts, urging that they "nevertheless work diligently to clear the backlog and to comply with usual deadlines and timetables to the extent safe and practicable."