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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2020
PRESIDING JUDGE KEVIN C. BRAZILE WILL CLOSE ALL NON-ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS IN NATION’S LARGEST TRIAL COURT FOR 3 DAYS AND EXTEND TIME AND FILING DEADLINES IN CASES PURSUANT TO AN EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION FROM THE CHIEF JUSTICE
Chief Justice Grants Presiding Judge’s Request for Emergency Order
The Court Declares March 17-19 Court Statutory Holidays to Toll Time and Deadlines
In response to the substantial need to control and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Los Angeles County, Presiding Judge Kevin C. Brazile announced that starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020, every Los Angeles Superior Court courthouse and courtroom will be closed to the public from March 17-19, 2020, for a total of 3 court days. The Los Angeles Superior Court will reopen on Friday, March 20, 2020, for the limited purpose of hearing or handing essential or emergency matters, in Criminal, Civil, Probate, Family Law and Dependency/Juvenile cases.
Judge Brazile stated: “The Superior Court of Los Angeles County is committed to providing equal access to justice through the fair, timely and efficient resolution of all cases. However, it is imperative that we continue aligning our Court with the most recent directives and guidelines issued by our national, state and local public health officials. Let me be clear: we will continue to serve the needs of the most vulnerable people in Los Angeles County—our children, the elderly, domestic violence victims, people whose life and liberty interests are at stake, and in many other emergent cases as is possible and safe.”
The emergency order issued by the Chief Justice allows Judge Brazile to toll statutory dates and deadlines for case filings and case proceedings, and to make March 17—19, 2020 a statutory court holiday for that purpose. The order is authorized under California Government Code section 68115.
The Chief Justice’s order also allows Judge Brazile to authorize extensions of time for Criminal arraignments, preliminary hearings and trials. In addition, it allows Judge Brazile to extend the filing and hearing deadlines in Civil, Small Claims, Unlawful Detainer, and Dependency cases. Judge Brazile is very grateful to the Chief Justice for granting his request.
Over the next few days, there will be additional news releases explaining in further detail the extent to which the Los Angeles Superior Court is reducing and scaling back judicial and court resources in response to the current public health crisis.
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