Suspension Of New Jury Trials To Continue Through January 29th

This is a paid post contributed by a Patch Community Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own, and the information presented has not been verified by Patch.

GENERAL ORDER 2020-75 (EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY)

The COVID-19 virus continues as a life-threatening pandemic throughout the world, country, state, and local jurisdictions. In furtherance of its efforts to protect the health and well-being of litigants, attorneys, jurors, the general public, court staff and judicial officers, the Riverside Superior Court (Court) has implemented protocols designed to help protect against spread of the virus. However, recently there has been unprecedented rise in the number of COVID-19 cases resulting in a dramatic increase in hospitalizations at a rate that threatens to overwhelm the hospital system. In response, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a Regional Stay-At-Home-Order (Order) that is applicable once a designated region falls below 15% of ICU bed capacity, which then subjects the counties within the region to the restrictive terms set forth in the Order, for a minimum of three weeks. The County of Riverside is assigned to the Southern California Region. On December 6, 2020, the Southern California Region fell below the 15% ICU bed capacity threshold, triggering application of the Order to the County of Riverside.

Currently, the ICU bed capacity has fallen to 0% in the County of Riverside, as well as in the Southern California Region.

In response to the Stay-At-Home order, on December 7, 2020, the Court issued General Order 2020-69, which suspends all new jury trials through December 31, 2020. The Court now finds it is necessary to extend the jury trial suspension order. Therefore, pursuant to the authority set forth in General Order 2020-68 and General Order 2020-74, which together extend the time period in Penal Code section 1382 for the holding of a trial, all new jury trials are suspended through January 29, 2021. This order is only applicable to jury trials that have not commenced. This order does not affect jury trials that are in progress, which will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

[This order supersedes and replaces General Order 2020-69.]

This is a paid post contributed by a Community Partner, a local brand partner. To learn more, click here.