The Riverside County Superior Court system is delaying the start of new jury trials in a move triggered by the pandemic.
No new jury trials will be heard through the end of the year, and proceedings currently underway will be assessed on a case by case basis, court officials announced Monday, Dec. 7.
The change was implemented after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a regional stay-at-home order for portions of California where the number of available ICU beds falls to below 15 percent of overall capacity.
In general, courts traditionally see fewer jury trials during the holiday season.
Riverside County judges had been granted emergency leeway to suspend new trials for up to 30 days in a court document filed Nov. 30. That’s just three days before the stay-at-home order was announced.
As essential services, there was no indication that courts are required to close under the governor’s order. During the pandemic, the exact operations of the various superior court systems across the state have been set by their respective presiding judges.
In neighboring Orange County, jury trials have been underway for months, and there was no indication on Monday that it would change.
While public access to the Orange County courthouses have been sharply limited, jurors have continued to be seated. The jury trials are set up to adhere to social distancing, with jurors spread around the courtroom rather than kept close together in the jury box.
Most courts have taken increased advantage of technology during the pandemic, allowing parties – including attorneys, witnesses or defendants – to appear remotely or streaming hearings online to provide public access.
Court officials did not specify if those options were considered, or immediately reply to requests for comment. Details regarding which ongoing cases will still be heard this year were not available Monday evening.
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