Friday, March 20, 2020
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Moratorium Declared on Traffic, Other Infraction Hearings
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Kevin C. Brazile has declared that no traffic or non-traffic infraction matters will be heard between now and April 17, at the earliest, in light of the coronavirus epidemic.
The announcement came in a press release late Wednesday. It was followed by issuance of a general order yesterday which amended Tuesday’s order placing a moratorium on all civil trials and most criminal trials through April 16.
That order specified “emergency and essential matters that would matters continue to be heard, and among them were “Traffic Arraignments” and “Traffic Trials—where there is no consent to continuance.” Yesterday’s order deletes references to those matters.
It adds, as matters that will continue to be heard, these:
•“Emergency Protective Orders.
•“Proceeding under the Lanterman-Petris-Short (‘LPS’) Act.
•“Judicial Commitments for Dangerous Persons based on Menial Health Conditions.
•“Parole and post-release community supervision revocation hearings.
•“Juvenile Arraignment/Detention Hearings: Adjudication and Disposition.
The order issued Tuesday was amended, retroactively, to add:
•“The duration of any emergency protective order that would otherwise expire because the emergency condition requiring all courthouses be closed to the public prevented the party from obtaining a temporary restraining order in a timely manner is extended to March 20, 2020.”
•“Courthouses providing time-sensitive, essential services will be open beginning on March 20, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. All courthouses will be open beginning on March 20, 2020 at 8:30 a.m., except for Beverly Hills and Catalina. This schedule will be amended as circumstances change.
•“In light of Governor Newsom’s Executive Order urging emergency action to promote housing stability and security, the moratoriums on evictions imposed in both the County of Los Angeles and the City of Los Angeles, and the court’s inability to hold unlawful detainer related hearings throughout the emergency period, the court finds good cause to continue all unlawful detainer trials without a determination pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1170.5(c).”
On Monday, Brazile proclaimed that the following day through yesterday would be court holidays.
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In Response to Epidemic:
CourtCall Slashes Its Price for Service
By a METNEWS Staff Writer
CourtCall, has announced a $40 drop in its price for providing access to California courtrooms via the telephone, in light of the current epidemic.
It said in an announcement late Wednesday:
“As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, the Judicial Council of California and CourtCall have entered into an addendum to the existing Master Agreement to allow for the reduction of the telephonic appearance fee in participating California courts to $54.00 for telephonic appearances newly scheduled on and after March 19, 2020 and to occur prior to April 30, 2020. CourtCall and the Judicial Council will further evaluate prior to April 30, 2020. Earlier in March CourtCall had already unilaterally eliminated its allowed late fees through April 30, 2020.”
The usual price is $94.
CourtCall provides access to courtrooms in all of California counties other than Placer, El Dorado, Marin and Nevada.
Copyright 2020, Metropolitan News Company