LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Superior Court reported Friday that it’s updating its operational protocols in response to state guidance.
As the court transitions its operations, it will continue to limit the number of cases on calendar, encourage physical distancing in court facilities as possible, monitor and apply state, local public health and Cal/OSHA guidance on face coverings as appropriate to court operations and will continue to handle matters via remote means when appropriate.
Under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “Beyond The Blueprint” plan, effective June 15, the physical distancing requirements and capacity restrictions currently in place will be removed.
In association with the plan, on June 9, the California Department of Public Health, or CDPH, issued revised guidance on the requirement of face coverings for indoor events that requires an unvaccinated person to wear a face covering unless specifically exempted.
Also on June 9, the Cal/OSHA Board acted to maintain the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards, pending further review, which require physical distancing and face covering by all employees in the workplace unless specifically excluded.
As a result of the governor’s plan, the court will make the changes outlined below to its operations.
Mandatory in-person court calendars
Beginning June 21, the calendars below will begin — or continue — to require in-person appearances.
Zoom appearances will be allowed for those parties or attorneys that were previously ordered to appear by remote appearance, or those authorized under statute or emergency rule.
Criminal and civil jury trials
Felony settlement conferences, Department 3, Tuesdays
Felony preliminary hearings, Mondays
Felony sentencing hearings, Mondays (remote appearance may be ordered by the judicial officer)
Family and civil court trials and hearings, both short and long cause settings (remote appearances may be ordered by the judicial officer)
Felony law and motion, Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m.
Unlawful detainer, Mondays, Clearlake (remote appearances may be ordered by the judicial officer)
Small claims, Mondays in Clearlake (remote appearances may be ordered by the judicial officer)
Civil and family law mandatory settlement conferences, beginning June 28
In-person or remote court calendars (Zoom)
Beginning June 21, 2021, the calendars below will allow either in-person or Zoom appearances, unless otherwise ordered by a judicial officer.
Felony law and motion, Tuesdays
Misdemeanor, disposition/setting, motions, Mondays
Misdemeanor, arraignment, settlements, Tuesdays
Conservatorship calendar, 1:30 p.m., Mondays
Family law, law & motion, case management conferences, Tuesdays
Domestic violence restraining order calendar, Tuesdays
Juvenile delinquency, Mondays
Juvenile dependency, Mondays
Civil harassment calendar, Tuesdays
Veteran’s Court, Wednesdays (first and third)
Juvenile drug court, Wednesdays
Traffic and infractions, Clearlake, Mondays
Department of Child Support Services Family Law, Clearlake, Tuesdays
In-person or remote court calendars (court call)
These calendars will allow in-person appearance and continue to allow appearances by court call. Compliance with all existing rules of courts for telephonic appearances will be required.
Civil law and motion, Mondays
Civil case management conferences, Mondays
Probate calendar, 2 p.m. Mondays
Calendars to continue by remote appearances (Zoom)
The following calendars will continue to be conducted only by remote appearance.
Trial assignment, Fridays
Daily in-custody arraignments
Jury trials
For a period of time after June 15, the court will continue to conduct jury selection at the
fairgrounds facility in all cases.
After selection, the jury trials will be conducted at the courthouse except for cases specifically set for jury trial at the fairgrounds facility.
Jurors who are unable to serve because they are high-risk for COVID-19 related complications, will be excused before coming to the courthouse.
Additional details about the process and precautions will be provided with the jury summons.
Face covering requirements
At present, and continuing effective June 15, the court will require that all individuals wear a proper face covering when coming into a court facility.
The provisions of the General Order on the Requirement of Wearing Face Coverings will continue in effect until further notice.
The court continues the requirement of face covering due to the uncertainty regarding the scope of the Cal/OSHA ETS directives, including application to jury service and the current requirement that all employees wear a proper face covering in the workplace.
The Cal/OSHA Standards are scheduled to be reviewed and may be subject to revision or further delineation on June 17.
The CDPH requires that unvaccinated persons wear a face covering in indoor settings which would include public buildings and the court facility.
It appears the application of the current guidance under the plan, CDPH and Cal/OSHA will result in classifications of people who are, and those who are not, required to wear a face covering while at court resulting in increased time and effort by the court to monitor compliance by the intermixing of the classifications during normal court operations.
Court officials said they are striving, under the present circumstances, to act to protect the health and safety of those coming to court.
The CDPH authorizes a business or other entity to continue a requirement that all participants wear a face covering.
The court is informed that courts in other counties are acting to retain face covering mandates in
courthouses across the state.
The Lake County Superior Court will monitor the CalOSHA Standards related to face covering requirements, and when they are modified, review and potentially modify the court’s general order on face coverings.
The court will continue to post updates on its website at www.lake.courts.ca.gov.
Lake County Superior Court announces updates to operations after June 15
- Lake County News reports
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