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LASC Reports Nearly Total Compliance by Employees With Inoculation Mandate
By a MetNews Staff Writer
The Los Angeles Superior Court has reported that about 93 percent of its roughly 4,600 employees have provided proof of having been inoculated against COVID-19 and nearly seven percent have sought exemptions.
Court employees—excluding judges, who are state constitutional officeholders—were under a mandate to be vaccinated by Oct. 7, unless exempted, or risk being fired. Elaborating on a press release issued earlier in the day, a court spokesperson said Thursday night:
“Approximately 300 employees out of 4,600 have requested a medical or religious exemption. Court management is evaluating these requests pursuant to state and federal employment laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“Approximately 19 employees (less than .5% of the Court’s workforce) have not communicated with the Court regarding their COVID vaccination status and may be subject to termination following all due process requirements. This is not a step the Court takes lightly. Court management remains hopeful that any remaining employees will respond positively and is committed to working with all remaining employees who make a good faith effort to comply.”
Presiding Judge Eric C. Taylor related that most judges are voluntarily disclosing whether they have been inoculated.
He said in a statement that from the outset of the pandemic, the court has “strictly followed” guidelines of the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health agencies “to protect those who enter its courthouses” and has provided information on its requirements on the court website.
“The Court continued to require face coverings in all public and private spaces even when other agencies and businesses stopped doing so,” he noted, remarking:
“The summer Delta surge demonstrated the prudence of the Court’s protective approach.”
Copyright 2021, Metropolitan News Company