While schools are closing and public events are being canceled due to coronavirus, the Los Angeles County Superior Court system has remained opened, but the court’s presiding judge Friday called for delays in new civil and criminal jury trials.
Presiding Judge Kevin C. Brazile called for a 30-day delay of all new civil jury trials. He said criminal jury trials should also be pushed back by 30 days, in cases where the defendants have agreed to the delay.
Brazile also called on the court to limit requests for new jurors for the next month, “due to concerns about juror availability.”
Court officials said earlier Friday that anyone who is called for jury duty but feels sick should postpone their service.
“The court is working with justice partners to identify ways to reduce the need for in-person appearances while performing legally mandated functions and respecting litigants’ due-process rights, including expanding video and telephone appearances,” according to the court.
Court officials stressed that anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing, or if “you believe you have been exposed to the virus, please do not come to the courthouse.”
Anyone who has been summoned for jury duty and either feels sick or believes they may have been exposed to the virus can postpone their jury service through the online portal at juryportal.lacourt.org/webportal, by calling 213-972-0970 or calling the Juror Assembly Room number listed on the summons.
Jurors who have already been assigned to a courtroom should contact the courtroom directly.
Attorneys, plaintiffs, defendants or witnesses should also contact the individual courtroom if they feel sick or believe they’ve been exposed to illness.
Court officials noted that some court functions can be completed online at www.lacourt.org without the need of coming to the courthouse.
Concerns about the coronavirus will not prompt any delay in the ongoing murder trial of New York real estate scion Robert Durst. But when testimony resumes Monday, jurors will be seated in a way to ensure an empty seat will separate each of the panelists. That means the jurors will actually spill out of the jury box and into the courtroom gallery.