To Modify Pandemic Procedures and Reopen Services

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SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND FOR THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE

The State of California has made significant progress in reducing the transmission of COVID-19. On June 11, 2021, Governor Newsom issued Executive Orders N-07-21 and N-08-21, and the State Public Health Officer issued an order rescinding the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. These measures substantially reduced face covering requirements for fully vaccinated individuals and removed social distancing requirements entirely.

On June 17, 2021, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Cal/OSHA) adopted its revised Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), which establish workplace safety requirements for employers related to COVID-19. As established by these standards, the Court’s return to normal operations is subject to ongoing risk- reduction measures.

As a result of these changes, pursuant to statute and in compliance with federal, state and local guidelines, the Court is issuing orders effective Tuesday, July 6, 2021 as follows:

• Fully vaccinated members of the public, including but not limited to law enforcement, attorneys, parties, and vendors, will not be required to wear a face covering while inside court facilities.
• Members of the public who have not been fully vaccinated, which include the parties listed above, must wear a face covering while inside court facilities (masks will be provided upon request at front entrances). Children under the age of two are exempt from this order.
• Individuals who are not fully vaccinated and decline to wear a face covering will be denied entry to court facilities and courtrooms. Those who are required to wear a face covering who gain entry without wearing one, or who remove it while inside a court facility, will be violating a court order.
• Face coverings must cover a person’s nose, mouth and chin, hooking around the ears or secured behind the head.
• Social distancing of six feet shall no longer be required in any court facility.
• Unvaccinated individuals with a disability who seek an exemption from the court’s order as a reasonable accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (Cal. Rule of Court 1.100), may contact the Court’s ADA Coordinator at: http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/GeneralInfo/ADA/ADA.php.
• The Court will continue to maintain enhanced sanitation and ventilation protocols, as well as provide sanitizer stations.

In addition, in response to the revised workplace regulations by Cal/OSHA, clerk’s offices countywide will reopen to the public on July 6, 2021 for in-person services; however, remote alternatives are still available such as telephone, webchat, submission of documents online via the eSubmit Document Submission Portal, electronic filing for civil documents (effective July 1, 2021), by U.S. mail, or by placement in a drop box. Due to budget reductions over the past year which resulted in a significant reduction in staffing, public hours will remain from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and some courtroom proceedings will remain remote. In addition, proceedings will continue to be livestreamed with the exception of confidential matters.

Please note, the Court is returning the last day video in-custody arraignments from the Banning Justice Center to their respective court locations effective Monday, July 19, 2021.

“We are pleased to take these important and long-awaited steps in restoring services and returning to a more normal court experience”, stated Presiding Judge John M. Monterosso.

The Court remains committed to protecting the health and safety of our community and will continue to monitor federal, state and local health orders and respond accordingly. To that end, all court users are urged to continue to use good judgment to avoid crowding, practice good hygiene, and for those not fully vaccinated to wear a face covering as required by court order.

The public is encouraged to visit the Riverside Superior Court’s website at www.riverside.courts.ca.gov for more information.

The State of California has made significant progress in reducing the transmission of COVID-19. On June 11, 2021, Governor Newsom issued Executive Orders N-07-21 and N-08-21, and the State Public Health Officer issued an order rescinding the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. These measures substantially reduced face covering requirements for fully vaccinated individuals and removed social distancing requirements entirely.

On June 17, 2021, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Cal/OSHA) adopted its revised Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), which establish workplace safety requirements for employers related to COVID-19. As established by these standards, the Court’s return to normal operations is subject to ongoing risk- reduction measures.

As a result of these changes, pursuant to statute and in compliance with federal, state and local guidelines, the Court is issuing orders effective Tuesday, July 6, 2021 as follows:

• Fully vaccinated members of the public, including but not limited to law enforcement, attorneys, parties, and vendors, will not be required to wear a face covering while inside court facilities.
• Members of the public who have not been fully vaccinated, which include the parties listed above, must wear a face covering while inside court facilities (masks will be provided upon request at front entrances). Children under the age of two are exempt from this order.
• Individuals who are not fully vaccinated and decline to wear a face covering will be denied entry to court facilities and courtrooms. Those who are required to wear a face covering who gain entry without wearing one, or who remove it while inside a court facility, will be violating a court order.
• Face coverings must cover a person’s nose, mouth and chin, hooking around the ears or secured behind the head.
• Social distancing of six feet shall no longer be required in any court facility.
• Unvaccinated individuals with a disability who seek an exemption from the court’s order as a reasonable accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (Cal. Rule of Court 1.100), may contact the Court’s ADA Coordinator at: http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/GeneralInfo/ADA/ADA.php.
• The Court will continue to maintain enhanced sanitation and ventilation protocols, as well as provide sanitizer stations.

In addition, in response to the revised workplace regulations by Cal/OSHA, clerk’s offices countywide will reopen to the public on July 6, 2021 for in-person services; however, remote alternatives are still available such as telephone, webchat, submission of documents online via the eSubmit Document Submission Portal, electronic filing for civil documents (effective July 1, 2021), by U.S. mail, or by placement in a drop box. Due to budget reductions over the past year which resulted in a significant reduction in staffing, public hours will remain from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and some courtroom proceedings will remain remote. In addition, proceedings will continue to be livestreamed with the exception of confidential matters.

Please note, the Court is returning the last day video in-custody arraignments from the Banning Justice Center to their respective court locations effective Monday, July 19, 2021.

“We are pleased to take these important and long-awaited steps in restoring services and returning to a more normal court experience”, stated Presiding Judge John M. Monterosso.

The Court remains committed to protecting the health and safety of our community and will continue to monitor federal, state and local health orders and respond accordingly. To that end, all court users are urged to continue to use good judgment to avoid crowding, practice good hygiene, and for those not fully vaccinated to wear a face covering as required by court order.

The public is encouraged to visit the Riverside Superior Court’s website at www.riverside.courts.ca.gov for more information.

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