Los Angeles Superior Court facilities were completely closed today for a three-day period due to the coronavirus pandemic, and court’s presiding jurist announced that most court functions will remain on hold until April 16, except for “time-sensitive, essential” matters.
“This order will allow us to comply with social distancing and to prevent the spread of the virus within our community,” Presiding Judge Kevin
C. Brazile said in a statement. “The court will reopen Friday only for emergency and essential matters to protect the most vulnerable in our
communities.”
The court previously put on hold all new criminal and civil jury trials for 30 days.
Under a revised order issued by Brazile on Tuesday, all courtrooms will remain closed from Friday until April 16 for judicial business, with the
exception of 31 “time-sensitive, essential functions.”
The listing of “essential functions” includes matters such as civil and family court restraining orders; arraignments; search warrants; criminal
preliminary hearings; bail review hearings; mental competency hearings; criminal sentencings; grand jury indictments; juvenile restraining orders;
emergency conservatorship hearings; emergency orders “relating to the health and safety of a child”; traffic arraignments; and emergency guardianship hearings.
The list also includes criminal jury trials in cases in which a defendant has not consented to a delay beyond required time limits, which have
also been adjusted due to the coronavirus concerns.
The order includes an array of legal time-limit extensions as they apply to various legal matters.
