LOS ANGELES (CNS) - All traffic and non-traffic infraction hearings in Los Angeles County Superior Court scheduled between Tuesday and April 16 will be delayed for at least 30 days, Presiding Judge Kevin C. Brazile announced today.
“It is imperative that we, the nation's largest trial court, continue to prioritize time-sensitive and essential functions to serve our most vulnerable as we reorganize and reduce our trial court operations and focus on ways we can slow the spread of COVID-19,” Brazile said.
On Tuesday, Brazile ordered a three-day closure of all courts through Thursday, and a separate closure through April 16 with the exception of 31 “time-sensitive, essential functions,” including 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”; and emergency guardianship hearings.
“We will continue to operate our court and reorganize our responsibilities based upon balancing public health directives and meeting our statutory and constitutional due process requirements,” Brazile said.
“I do not make these decisions lightly. In this national public health crisis, we must prioritize emergency services and access to justice for the most vulnerable people in our communities while implementing social distancing measures in our courthouses.”
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