What’s changing in the world of California courts? We’ve reviewed all 58 superior court websites looking for important updates and have gathered them here for your information.
For a full list of all California courts and more information about their known status, visit our California courts updates page on the Support Center.
Please note: All resources shared by One Legal are intended as high-level summaries only. For a full picture of each court’s response to the challenges of COVID-19, please visit the individual court website.
Judicial Council updates
The Judicial Council shared reports on trial court budget allocations for the Fiscal Year 2020-21.
- Trial Court Budget: Allocations from the Trial Court Trust Fund and Trial Court Allocations
- Trial Courts: State Trial Court Improvement and Modernization Fund Allocations
- Trial Court Budget: Allocation of Court-Appointed Juvenile Dependency Counsel Funding
Court updates this week
More often than not, updates posted to the court’s website involve specific process changes for single departments or divisions.
However as coronavirus cases in California grow, some courts are re-implementing court holidays and extending other time period guidelines.
Kern County
A reminder that Kern County Probate cases must be electronically filed as of August 3, 2020. Exempt documents include Original Wills/Codicils, Bonds, Letters related to Probate, Guardianship and Conservatorship, and Affidavits re Real Property of Small Value.
Los Angeles County
Effective July 27, 2020, hearing dates are required for filing Civil Motions in Los Angeles Superior Court. Filers must use the now operational Courtroom Reservation System (CRS) to reserve a hearing date prior to filing the Motion.
Merced County
The Court issued a General Order announcing that judicial officers could hold sessions anywhere in the county from August 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, inclusive. The Order also extended the time period provided to hold a criminal trial by not more than 30 additional days.
Mono County
The Court has released its Grand Jury Report for 2019-2020.
Napa County
The Court expanded its use of remote appearances in court appearances, as per a release from July 24th. Starting the week of July 27th, remote appearances will be mandatory in several calendars.
Placer County
Jury trials will not be held between August 3 and August 28, 2020, and many other hearings and conferences will be postponed.
On July 29th, the Court updated its court operations plan in response to COVID-19, including the continued mandate of eDelivery for filings and requirements for telephonic appearances.
In a July 29th General Order, the Court announced continuance of some misdemeanor hearings and traffic trials and clarified assignments for other trial assignments and other hearings.
The Family Law Court updated a plan on July 29 that included a phased schedule for resumption of services.
Riverside County
The Court has ordered that in cases in which the original statutory deadline otherwise would expire from 8/3/2020 to 9/30/2020, inclusive, any judge may extend the time period provided to hold a criminal trial.
Sacramento County
The Court has updated its information on access to court operations, confirming that filing counters and clerk’s offices remained closed, “in-person” hearings are limited, and more.
San Diego County
Until further notice, the Court has suspended Local Rule 2.5.8, regarding limited civil hearings, and directed parties to visit the court’s COVID-19 page for the process by which remote appearances will be conducted. The rule was also suspended for settlement conferences and informal discovery conferences.
Jury services are dismissed through August 14, 2020.
San Mateo County
All jury trials are suspended until August 17, 2020.
Santa Barbara County
An amended order outlined access to courthouses and court proceedings.
Sonoma County
In a July 29th order, the Court announced that it may hold sessions anywhere in the county through September 30, 2020 and that any judge may extend deadlines for the holding of criminal trials. The order also stated that criminal trials in which the statutory deadline would otherwise expire from August 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020, inclusive, are continued for 30 days.
Ventura County
To mitigate the impact of employee furlough days on court operations, the Court announced that the majority of courtrooms and all clerk’s offices will be closed on specific days for 2020-2021.
On July 28th, the Court updated its COVID-19 related public health safety measures.
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