Mask-Wearing Requirements

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Pursuant to General Order 21-08, individuals seeking entry to, or occupying, the United States Courthouses, including while in the courtroom for in-court proceedings, and Probation and Pretrial Services Offices in the Central District of California must follow the most recent guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding face coverings or masks. Current CDC guidance provides that individuals in counties with a high COVID-19 community level, as defined by the CDC, should wear masks indoors in public. If the COVID-19 community level is low or medium, CDC guidance provides that individuals may choose to mask based on personal preference or if they are at high risk for severe disease. Based on data released by the CDC yesterday, the COVID-19 community level in Los Angeles and Orange Counties is high and the COVID-19 community level in Riverside County is medium.

Accordingly, per General Order 21-08, given the current COVID-19 community levels and CDC guidance, the following mask policies should be followed in the respective courthouses:
• Eastern Division (Riverside County): Individuals seeking entry to, or occupying, the courthouse and in the courtroom for all in-court proceedings may wear masks. Masks are not required, unless the presiding judge determines that masks are required in chambers or the courtroom.
• Southern Division (Orange County): Everyone seeking entry to, or occupying, the courthouse and in the courtroom for all in-court proceedings must wear a mask.
• Western Division (Los Angeles County): Everyone seeking entry to, or occupying, the courthouse and in the courtroom for all in-court proceedings must wear a mask.
 
These mask policies are subject to change depending on the COVID-19 community level of the county where the courthouse is located or further order of the Court.

 

Kiry K. Gray
District Court Executive/Clerk of Court
July 15, 2022

 

 

Documents: 
PDF icon Notice from the Clerk - Mask-Wearing Requirements (2022.7.15).pdf