Coronavirus forces emergency operations for Riverside County Superior Court
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Riverside County Superior Court announced Tuesday its judges will continue to hear jailed defendants’ pleas to charges and restraining orders to protect threatened persons, but will delay criminal trials for weeks and civil trials for months under an emergency order forced by the coronavirus pandemic.
Unlike other Southern California court jurisdictions, the Riverside County court did not close any of its courthouses because of the COVID-19 contagion, but instead listed a number of actions that will be deferred — from pending criminal and civil trials to traffic matters, small claims and rent disputes.
Also Tuesday, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office announced it had “suspended normal court operations other than those essential to the criminal justice system” such as in-custody filings. It also reduced its office hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Unaffected by the court’s emergency action are urgent matters such as in-custody criminal arraignments, which must take place two court days after an arrest, as well as restraining orders against domestic violence and elder abuse. Guardianships, juvenile detention hearings, and juvenile restraining orders also will continue to be heard.
The emergency action was retroactive to Monday and granted by California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye at the request of the Riverside County Superior Court Presiding Judge John Vineyard.
“The Riverside Superior Court is taking precautions to maintain a safe environment for all court customers, jurors, and staff. The court recognizes the balance that must be maintained between public health and safety and the constitutional rights of our citizens,” the court said in a statement.
The action is allowed under a law that permits sweeping powers to extend court deadlines and create venues under emergency conditions, including “calamity, epidemic, natural disaster or other substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel or the public.”
A third novel coronavirus patient in Riverside County died from the virus, county Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser said Tuesday. At least 16 county residents have been confirmed to have the coronavirus. Two are cruise ship passengers who were hospitalized in Northern California and two are from western Riverside County; the rest of the cases are in the Coachella Valley. All three patients who died were from the Coachella Valley.
Riverside County Superior Court has 15 courthouses from Riverside in western county to Blythe on the Arizona border, serving 2.4 million county residents. In 2017-18, the court had 365,743 filings of all types, according to Judicial Council statistics.
Among the items that will be delayed by the emergency action:
–All criminal trials are delayed for 14 days, and criminal trials in progress will be individually evaluated for continued hearing.
–Civil trials are suspended until May 25, and civil trials now underway will also each be reviewed to see if litigation should continue during the court emergency.
–All traffic matters are postponed for 30 days. Traffic court trials are postponed for 14 days.Night court traffic matters are suspended for 30 days.
–All small claims matters are postponed for 90 days.
–Unlawful detainers — rent disputes — are postponed for 60 days.
The court’s list is more detailed, and can be viewed on its website at riverside.courts.ca.gov or on this link.
The court said people summoned to jury duty should not report “during this period of time” which was not further specified in its information. Jurors were urged to log on to the court’s juror web portal or use the court’s automated phone system at: 951.275.5076 or 760.342.6264.
On Monday, San Bernardino County Superior Court announced the temporary closure of several of its courthouses starting Tuesday, March 17 through April 2, due to the novel coronavirus contagion.
Courthouses that will remain open in San Bernardino County from 8:30 a.m. to noon Mondays through Fridays for “limited emergency matters only” include the Victorville, Joshua Tree, Juvenile Dependency (San Bernardino), San Bernardino Justice Center, and San Bernardino Family Law courts, with one or two courts open at each facility.
“We are actively communicating with the courts at this time to make sure defendants’ rights are guaranteed under the provisions set forth by the Judicial Council,” Mike Bires, spokesman for San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson, said Tuesday.
“Although we have modified some operations, we continue our normal duties to ensure our part in the criminal justice process proceeds forward,” the office said in statement. No mention was made of shortened office hours or other details.
Unlike other Southern California court jurisdictions, the Riverside County court did not close any of its courthouses because of the COVID-19 contagion, but instead listed a number of actions that will be deferred — from pending criminal and civil trials to traffic matters, small claims and rent disputes.
Also Tuesday, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office announced it had “suspended normal court operations other than those essential to the criminal justice system” such as in-custody filings. It also reduced its office hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Unaffected by the court’s emergency action are urgent matters such as in-custody criminal arraignments, which must take place two court days after an arrest, as well as restraining orders against domestic violence and elder abuse. Guardianships, juvenile detention hearings, and juvenile restraining orders also will continue to be heard.
The emergency action was retroactive to Monday and granted by California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye at the request of the Riverside County Superior Court Presiding Judge John Vineyard.
“The Riverside Superior Court is taking precautions to maintain a safe environment for all court customers, jurors, and staff. The court recognizes the balance that must be maintained between public health and safety and the constitutional rights of our citizens,” the court said in a statement.
The action is allowed under a law that permits sweeping powers to extend court deadlines and create venues under emergency conditions, including “calamity, epidemic, natural disaster or other substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel or the public.”
A third novel coronavirus patient in Riverside County died from the virus, county Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser said Tuesday. At least 16 county residents have been confirmed to have the coronavirus. Two are cruise ship passengers who were hospitalized in Northern California and two are from western Riverside County; the rest of the cases are in the Coachella Valley. All three patients who died were from the Coachella Valley.
Riverside County Superior Court has 15 courthouses from Riverside in western county to Blythe on the Arizona border, serving 2.4 million county residents. In 2017-18, the court had 365,743 filings of all types, according to Judicial Council statistics.
Among the items that will be delayed by the emergency action:
–All criminal trials are delayed for 14 days, and criminal trials in progress will be individually evaluated for continued hearing.
–Civil trials are suspended until May 25, and civil trials now underway will also each be reviewed to see if litigation should continue during the court emergency.
–All traffic matters are postponed for 30 days. Traffic court trials are postponed for 14 days.Night court traffic matters are suspended for 30 days.
–All small claims matters are postponed for 90 days.
–Unlawful detainers — rent disputes — are postponed for 60 days.
The court’s list is more detailed, and can be viewed on its website at riverside.courts.ca.gov or on this link.
The court said people summoned to jury duty should not report “during this period of time” which was not further specified in its information. Jurors were urged to log on to the court’s juror web portal or use the court’s automated phone system at: 951.275.5076 or 760.342.6264.
On Monday, San Bernardino County Superior Court announced the temporary closure of several of its courthouses starting Tuesday, March 17 through April 2, due to the novel coronavirus contagion.
Courthouses that will remain open in San Bernardino County from 8:30 a.m. to noon Mondays through Fridays for “limited emergency matters only” include the Victorville, Joshua Tree, Juvenile Dependency (San Bernardino), San Bernardino Justice Center, and San Bernardino Family Law courts, with one or two courts open at each facility.
“We are actively communicating with the courts at this time to make sure defendants’ rights are guaranteed under the provisions set forth by the Judicial Council,” Mike Bires, spokesman for San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson, said Tuesday.
“Although we have modified some operations, we continue our normal duties to ensure our part in the criminal justice process proceeds forward,” the office said in statement. No mention was made of shortened office hours or other details.
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