The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Local
    • Palmdale
    • Lancaster
    • Los Angeles County
    • Littlerock
    • Lake Los Angeles
    • Rosamond
    • Edwards AFB
    • Acton
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Advertise
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Show Search

LA County courthouses set to gradually expand court operations

by The AV Times Staff • June 12, 2020

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County’s court system — which substantially scaled back the number of cases being heard as a result of the coronavirus pandemic — will gradually begin expanding operations when more courtrooms reopen June 22, the presiding judge announced Friday.

“As we go deeper into the phased recovery allowed by state and county public health officials, the court has a gradual approach to assure safe access to justice in the nation’s largest trial court,” Presiding Judge Kevin C. Brazile said in a statement released by the court.

“We are going to take this COVID-19 recovery slowly and carefully with the help of remote courtroom technology, mandatory use of masks/facial coverings, social distancing protocols and barriers, enhanced cleaning, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, and signs to direct visitors where to stand. We are doing all we can to re-open our doors safely to restore access to justice in Los Angeles County.”

The court is set to resume full operations June 22 in its Mental Health, Juvenile Dependency, Juvenile Delinquency, Writs and Receivers and Complex Civil and Personal Injury courtrooms and settlement courts, with remote appearances being done via WebEx or CourtCall, which allow attorneys to appear through audio or video sessions.

Probate courtrooms, civil courtrooms and family law courtrooms are also set to resume expanded operations the same day.

The court’s appellate division will resume full operations and hear oral arguments starting June 25, with unlawful detainer courtrooms set to resume law and motion and ex-parte applications June 29.

The criminal division will begin a “phased expansion of operations” on July 6 and increase the use of remote proceedings via Webex, according to the judge’s order.

Judicial officers have the discretion to require the use of remote appearances while the order is in effect, and parties and their attorneys are being strongly urged to make use of technology for remote appearances.

Earlier this month, officials said technology was being expanded to allow attorneys and self-represented litigants to appear remotely through audio or video appearances in certain cases starting later this month, officials announced Friday.

The program, called LACourtConnect, will be available first to cases involving civil settlements and probate matters on calendar starting the week of June 22.

Throughout the rest of the summer, the program will launch in phases for all limited civil, unlimited civil and complex, family law and traffic courtrooms, according to the court.

The court’s other remote courtroom appearance technology — court- hosted video Webex — will be expanded to new litigation areas and added to more criminal courtrooms, with remote appearance technology expected in 580 courtrooms by the end of August, according to the court.

The presiding judge ordered the courts to substantially scale back operations in mid-March to comply with state and county public health directives to try to stop the spread of coronavirus.

–

Filed Under: Health, Home, Los Angeles County

Recent Comments

  • Off Duty on L.A. County sheriff’s deputy pleads not Guilty in off-duty rape case: “This guy sounds like another quality hire.” Jan 16, 00:47
  • BAE SYTEMS on Antelope Valley Hospital administering COVID-19 vaccines to frontline workers: “of course money and political personnel always get away with everything age and priority doesn’t count for them” Jan 15, 21:47
  • Beecee on New report finds coronavirus reduced life expectancy for Blacks and Latinos: “Dave’s already tying one on, And it was only a touch after 5. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere huh buddy” Jan 15, 20:46
  • Beecee on Lancaster man killed in crash involving big rig: “Another unfortunate covid death” Jan 15, 20:43
  • Tim Scott on Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy reported being at Capitol on day of insurrection: “Well, in the long history of crimes committed by LACSD deputies sedition would be new, but hardly surprising.” Jan 15, 19:44

© 2021 · The Antelope Valley Times. All rights reserved. Terms of Use