Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Friday, February 26, 2021

 

Page 1

 

Taylor Points to Positive Outgrowth of Pandemic Response

Says Court Now Recognizes Need to Rely More Heavily on Technology in the Future

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Eric C. Taylor has remarked that the pandemic forced the court to turn to technology in order to continue its operations, and that the experience has had the positive effect of illuminating the need to rely on technology increasingly in the future.

“We had tons of bad news for about a year,” Taylor reflected, but had good news to share Wednesday night in remarks to the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Board of Trustees at its monthly meeting, conducted via Zoom.

 His messages included not only that there has been a boost in efficiency attributable to increased reliance on technology but that there will be a prioritization of bench officers and others who work in the courthouses being eligible for COVID-19 immunizations, and that increased funding, as provided for in the latest proposed budget, will contribute to an upswing for the court

Remote Access

“Remote access is the way of the future,” he observed, adding:

“We’re at a new frontier.”

He predicted that “pods” with electronic communication equipment will be set up at points throughout the county enabling members of the public to participate in court proceedings without having to travel far from their homes.

Taylor said it’s now been learned that “we don’t need a courtroom for every judge.”

There have been multiple problems with the electronic access service LACourtConnect, he acknowledged—such as lack of connectivity and dropped calls—but added that the system is “improving dramatically.”

As a money-saving measure, he noted, certain operations (such as probate hearings) were centralized. Technology, Taylor said, “makes it easier to spread out again,” commenting:

“Going back to neighborhood courts is a good thing.”

Coronavirus Shots

Taylor said he was informed earlier that day that court personnel will have COVID-19 inoculations made available to them shortly.

“That should come some time after the first of March,” he advised.

“We’re essential workers—and dedicated essential workers,” he said.

On Jan. 26, Taylor wrote to Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer urging prioritization of shots for those who work in courthouses, saying:

“The Court has worked tirelessly to keep the doors of justice open in furtherance of our commitment and duty to uphold constitutional, statutory, and legislative mandates as the third branch of government in our democracy. We have been fortunate to work with you and our County’s Department of Public Health to ensure that we conduct court proceedings and business safely.”

He continued:

“To that end, we have drastically reduced foot traffic in our courthouses, moved court operations and proceedings to remote formats where lawful and permissible, issued Emergency Orders to delay many proceedings and jury trials, implemented social distancing, mandatory use of face masks and other safety protocols, retrofitted our facilities with plexiglass and hand sanitizer stations, and greatly enhanced our facilities’ sanitization services. Nonetheless, the hardworking essential workers of our Court must continue to carry out many of their duties in-person.”

Taylor said at the trustees’ meeting that the Governor’s Office has provided the needed authorization to the county to arrange for courthouse personnel being inoculated.

Court Funding

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2021-22 budget, released last month, includes $381.1 million in new funding for the courts and an expenditure of $2.1 billion over the next five years on courthouse construction.  

Taylor said that with the budget situation improving markedly, it is anticipated that his court will fill three commissioner vacancies on July 1, which he has held off doing. The presiding judge related that he has been in contact with the Governor’s Office and said “I expect appointments” to judgeships “in March.”

Taylor said he anticipates the construction of a facility in Santa Clarita will proceed, and mentioned that a site in West Los Angeles is being scouted. The Judicial Council has proclaimed an “immediate need” for a replacement of the existing courthouses there.

Despite determined efforts by Taylor’s predecessor as presiding judge, Kevin Brazile, to have the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles placed in that same category, the Judicial Council has recognized only a “critical need” for a replacement. Taylor asserted that “seismologically, it’s a danger,” and warned that if an earthquake occurs and the Mosk Courthouse is condemned, that would “not only impact Los Angeles in a dire way,” but also adjoining counties which would have to share its facilities.

Los Angeles County’s total need for courthouse construction, Taylor noted, has an estimated cost of $6 billion and, he alerted the local bar leaders, he might be calling on them in the future for lobbying efforts to help gain funding.

 

 

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