Activation of Continuity of Operations Plan

Chief Judge Virginia A. Phillips announces the United States District Court for the Central District of California has activated its Continuity of Operations Plan (“COOP”), effective March 23, 2020 through and including May 1, 2020. 

The activation of the COOP Plan is necessary to ensure the continuous performance of essential functions and operations of the Court in light of the continuing emergency pandemic caused by the spread of COVID-19, also known as the “Coronavirus.”     

The following are examples of actions that will be taken pursuant to the COOP Plan:

• All of the Courthouses of the Central District of California will be closed to the public except for hearings on criminal duty matters, as discussed below.
• In civil cases, no hearings will go forward except for emergency time-sensitive matters, such as requests for temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, as ordered by the assigned judicial officer.  Any hearings on emergency civil matters will proceed telephonically only. 
• The court’s CM/ECF system is available 24/7 for electronic filing of documents. Pro se litigants who cannot electronically file their documents, and attorneys who are required to manually file documents pursuant to the local rules must mail their filings to the Clerk of Court at 255 E. Temple Street, Suite TS-134, Los Angeles, CA 90012-3332. 
• In criminal cases, criminal duty matters will go forward in the Edward R. Roybal Building and United States Courthouse in Los Angeles only.  All criminal document duty will be handled by each division in the normal course of business.  Telephonic hearings on other criminal matters may proceed as directed by the assigned judicial officer.
• All matters before the Bankruptcy Court will proceed telephonically.  Further guidance will be provided by the Bankruptcy Court to pro se petitioners. 

KIRY K. GRAY
DISTRICT COURT EXECUTIVE / CLERK OF COURT