Further Measures Taken in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

The United States District Court for the Central District of California announces the following further measures taken in response to the threat posed by COVID-19, also known as the “Coronavirus.”

1. The Court’s Continuity of Operations Plan (“COOP”) remains activated and is extended through and including June 1, 2020.
2. The Court will not call in jurors for service in civil or criminal jury trials until after June 1, 2020.
3. All filing deadlines will remain in place unless otherwise ordered by the presiding Judge.
4. Pursuant to the COOP, hearings in civil cases will only go forward by video or telephonic conference.
5. Hearings by video and telephonic conference may be held by individual Judges in certain criminal matters.
6. Criminal duty matters before Magistrate Judges, such as initial appearances, arraignments, detention hearings, and the issuance of search warrants, shall continue to take place in the ordinary course, with a preference for appearances made by video or telephonic conference as set forth in Order of the Chief Judge No. 20-043. All signatures on documents including, but not limited to, financial affidavits, statement of the defendant’s constitutional rights, consents to waive preliminary hearing, consents to appear by video or telephonic conference, waivers of the defendant’s presence, Pretrial and Probation reports, and appearance bonds/orders for release shall be performed electronically with the [s/name] format. For the defendant, defense counsel may sign on behalf of the defendant, after receiving consent, and submit the documents electronically to the duty Judge’s criminal duty email address by no later than 2:00 p.m. the day of the criminal duty calendar.
7. In-person meetings of the grand juries shall remain suspended and that period of suspension is extended through and including June 1, 2020.
8. The naturalization ceremonies scheduled in April and May 2020 are cancelled.

KIRY K. GRAY
DISTRICT COURT EXECUTIVE / CLERK OF COURT