PUBLIC NOTICE
POSTED AND FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEA A A Contact: Court Executive Office May 7, 2020A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A (916) 408-6186
THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PLACER COUNTY ANNOUNCES UPDATED ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 VIRUS UPDATED: MAY 7, 2020
On March 19, 2020, the Governor of California issued Executive Order N-33-20 (Governora s Order) and ordered a all individuals living in the State of California to stay home or at their place of residence except as neededa |a .
The Court initiated changes to its operations on March 9 and modified those changes on March 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, and April 8, 2020.A As part of the Statea s critical infrastructure, the Superior Court of Placer County continues to remain open. However, in light of the ongoing State of Emergency regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the Governora s Order, the Court continues to operate with reduced operations.
Beginning MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020, the court will begin to increase its operations. These increases in operations will be done in a staged approach that balances the need to provide access to justice for the community while mitigating potential risks presented by COVID-19. This notice provides information about the courta s operational status as of MAY 11, 2020.
For information on the courta s plans for future weeks, the court is providing informational materials on its website titled COVID-19 Court Services Plan. A separate plan will be provided for Criminal, Family Law, and Civil case types. The COVID-19 Court Services Plans are intended to provide the public with the courta s planned roadmap as it returns services. The changes outlined in the COVID19 Court Services Plans are not official until and unless they are formally announced through updates to this Public Notice (Updated Actions in Response to COVID-19 Virus). The court anticipates updating this Public Notice frequently. Please watch the courta s website or follow the court on Twitter for updates.
Superior Court of California, County of Placer PUBLIC NOTICE RE: UPDATED ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 VIRUS UPDATED: 5/7/2020 PAGE 2
Effective MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020, the Placer County Superior Court will continue to operate with reduced services and functions. The Courta s operations will be limited to the following:
i Felony and misdemeanor in-custody matters. i Felony out-of-custody matters where time has not been waived. i Felony out-of-custody arraignments, preliminary hearings, trial assignment and trials.A A i Felony and misdemeanor mental health cases on the mental health treatment calendars. i Felony and misdemeanor sex offense cases. i Misdemeanor arraignments, including domestic violence and driving under the influence but excluding all other traffic related offenses will remain as set. i Search and arrest warrants and petitions related to bail. i Juvenile justice and juvenile dependency matters. i Civil law and motion, case management conferences, ex parte hearings, probate hearings, guardianships and conservatorship hearings, and similar matters will be heard (resuming May 11). Telephone appearances are mandatory.A o NOTE: Civil and probate trials, civil trial conferences, and settlement conferences through May 15 will not be heard unless specially set or ordered by the judicial officer. i Temporary Guardianships, Temporary Conservatorships, civil restraining orders including but not limited to Civil Harassment and Elder Abuse Restraining orders, petitions related to firearms, requests for unlawful detainer stays, and all requests for emergency relief will be heard. Remote appearance is available, subject to judicial approval, and can be requested through the courta s website.A i Family law requests for order, return from child custody mediation, and related hearings (resuming May 11).A Telephone appearances are mandatory. o NOTE: Family law long cause evidentiary hearings and trials, trial confirming conferences, and settlement conferences through May 15 will not be heard unless specially set or ordered by the judicial officer. i Family Law domestic violence restraining orders, adoptions, petitions for freedom from custody and control, and termination of parental rights will remain as set. Remote appearance is available, subject to judicial approval, and can be requested through the courta s website.
The following matters will not be heard the week of May 11. They will be handled as follows:
Superior Court of California, County of Placer PUBLIC NOTICE RE: UPDATED ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 VIRUS UPDATED: 5/7/2020 PAGE 3
i All felony out-of-custody hearings not specifically noted above that are set through May 15, 2020 are postponed four weeks. Defendants are ordered to appear on a date four weeks from their scheduled hearing. The court will provide notice. Defendants and sentenced individuals must comply with all existing orders related to their release, probation, parole, post-release community supervision, or mandatory supervision including any criminal protective orders. The court encourages defendants to contact their attorney with questions.A i All driving under the influence and domestic violence misdemeanor hearings not specifically noted above that are set through May 22, 2020 are postponed eight weeks. Defendants are ordered to appear on a date eight weeks from their scheduled hearing. The court will provide notice. Defendants and sentenced individuals must comply with all existing orders related to their release, probation, parole, post-release community supervision, or mandatory supervision including any criminal protective orders.A A i All misdemeanor hearings, excluding driving under the influence, domestic violence, and traffic cases, not specifically noted above that are set through June 5, 2020 are postponed eight weeks. Defendants are ordered to appear on a date eight weeks from their scheduled hearing. The court will provide notice. Defendants and sentenced individuals must comply with all existing orders related to their release, probation, parole, post-release community supervision, or mandatory supervision including any criminal protective orders.A A i All non-traffic infraction and traffic infraction and misdemeanor hearings and trials (all cases beginning with a 41-a ) set through June 12, 2020 will be postponed to a new hearing date. This does not include hearings related to driving under the influence cases. i New citation appearance dates in traffic matters are being reviewed to ensure they have been set for hearing no less than 75 days from the date the citation was issued. If the timeline was less than 75 days, the court will set a new date. The court will provide notice to impacted parties of their new date in these situations. i Civil and probate trials through May 31, 2020 will be reset eight weeks and all civil and probate trial conferences, and settlement conferences set through May 15, 2020 will be reset eight weeks. The court will provide notice of new dates. This does not apply to Temporary Guardianships, Temporary Conservatorships, civil restraining orders including but not limited to Civil Harassment and Elder Abuse Restraining orders, and firearms petitions, or matters specifically ordered to be heard by a judicial officer. i All family law trials and long cause evidentiary hearings set through May 31, 2020 will be reset eight weeks and all family law trial confirming conferences and settlement conferences through May 15, 2020 will be reset to June 12, 2020. The court will provide notice of new dates. This does not apply to Family Law domestic violence restraining orders, adoptions, petitions for freedom from custody and control, and termination of parental rights, or matters specifically ordered to be heard by a judicial officer.
Superior Court of California, County of Placer PUBLIC NOTICE RE: UPDATED ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 VIRUS UPDATED: 5/7/2020 PAGE 4
i All small claims and unlawful detainer hearings, except for unlawful detainer stays or other requests for emergency relief, will be postponed eight weeks. The court will provide notice.A i The court acknowledges that it remains in the publica s interest to minimize the number of jurors summoned to the court during the current State of Emergency. As such, there are currently no jurors summoned through May 29, 2020.
i Per Emergency Local Rule 10.28, telephonic appearance is mandatory for most civil and family law short cause matters.A Video appearance is mandatory for Civil Habeas Corpus (Cirby Hills), civil default prove up, and family law default judgment hearings. Instructions for how to appear can be found at: http://www.placer.courts.ca.gov/RAS.shtml. Parties may request a personal appearance for good cause. i Video appearances are available for other case types upon request, including criminal hearings. Instructions for how to request a video appearance can be found at: http://www.placer.courts.ca.gov/RAS.shtml
The Court Clerka s Office remains open at the Howard G. Gibson Courthouse (Roseville) and the Tahoe City Courthouse. The Courta s Juvenile Courthouse is open only when matters are set on calendar and will not otherwise be open for filings. The Courta s Historic Courthouse is closed.
Effective May 11, 2020, use of the courta s eDelivery solution is mandatory in family law and civil cases for attorneys and represented parties. Unrepresented parties are encouraged to use the eDelivery system. For more information on eDelivery and how to use the eDelivery system, please visit http://www.placer.courts.ca.gov/online-edelivery-access.shtml.
The court declared March 17 through May 8, 2020 court holidays for the purposes of computing time under Code of Civil Procedure section 12 and 12(a). The court is not seeking an emergency order from the Chief Justice to extend the court holidays, at this time.
The Courta s Self-Help Center has discontinued all in-person services. Please visit the Self-Help Center page on our website to schedule a telephone or video appointment. Self-Help will only assist with matters currently being heard by the court.
The court reminds members of the public that they should only come to the courthouse for official court business or to observe a court hearing. If you are not a party to an action and are not filing papers with the court, the court reminds you of the Governora s Order for Californians to remain at their residences. The court continues to strongly discourage individuals who do not have an active role in court hearings from attending court at this time. Court proceedings will remain open to the media.
Those who do attend court must follow physical distancing guidelines and follow all instructions provided by court staff and court security related to enforcement of these guidelines.
Superior Court of California, County of Placer PUBLIC NOTICE RE: UPDATED ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 VIRUS UPDATED: 5/7/2020 PAGE 5
If you believe you are sick, or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or any other communicable disease, please contact the Court Clerka s Office at 916-408-6000 for further information. If you have an attorney, contact your attorney before calling the Court. Defendants who have posted bail are encouraged to discuss the bail issues with their attorney and the bail bonding company.
The court will continue to monitor the situation and update this notice as circumstances warrant.