PRESIDING JUDGE ERIC C. TAYLOR EXTENDS GENERAL ORDER FOR CERTAIN CRIMINAL MATTERS AN ADDITIONAL TWO WEEKS AS COVID CASES REMAIN HIGH IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Presiding Judge Eric C. Taylor today announced an amended General Order extending deadlines for certain Criminal matters by an additional two (2) weeks under the authority previously granted earlier this month by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye. The amended General Order extends deadlines for applicable cases – set to expire on August 27, 2021 – until September 11, 2021, as transmission of the Delta variant remains high in Los Angeles County.

“The Court continues its cautious restoration of court operations to pre-pandemic levels,” Presiding Judge Taylor said. “After careful deliberation, I have issued this amended General Order to make use of the relief provided by the Chief Justice to ensure the Court continues to balance its obligation to maintain access to justice with its commitment to the safety of court users, court employees, judicial officers, and justice partners in the midst of the continued COVID-19 public health crisis. We continue to use this relief extremely sparingly as a failsafe amidst competing requests from stakeholders and justice partners to contract and expand services.”

On August 13, 2021, Presiding Judge Taylor issued a General Order that partially implemented the relief the Chief Justice granted the Court under Government Code section 68115 and Penal Code section 1382. However, given the continued dramatic increase in the reported COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County as well as in the County jail in the last two weeks, the Court finds good cause to extend General Order No. 2021- GEN-028-00 as follows:

Criminal:

(i) The time provided by section 859b of the Penal Code for the holding of a preliminary examination and the defendant’s right to release from 10 court days to not more than 30 court days.

(ii) The time period provided in section 1382 of the Penal Code for the holding of a Criminal trial by not more than 30 days, applicable only to cases in which the original or previously extended statutory deadline otherwise would expire from August 14, 2021, to September 11, 2021, inclusive.

(iii) By 90 calendar days post-conviction progress reports set on August 14, 2021, to September 11, 2021, inclusive.

(iv) By 90 calendar days, unless statutorily required to be held sooner and the defendant does not consent to a continuance, out-of-custody misdemeanor pretrial hearings set on August 14, 2021, to September 11, 2021, inclusive.

Juvenile Dependency:

(i) The time periods provided in section 313 of the Welfare and Institutions Code within which a minor taken into custody pending Dependency proceedings must be released from custody to not more than seven (7) days, applicable only to minors for whom the statutory deadline would otherwise expire from August 14, 2021, to September 11, 2021, inclusive; and

(ii) The time periods provided in section 315 of the Welfare and Institutions Code within which a minor taken into custody pending Dependency proceedings must be given a detention hearing to not more than seven (7) days, applicable only to minors for whom the statutory deadline would otherwise expire from August 14, 2021, to September 11, 2021, inclusive.

The amended General Order is attached. The Court also orders:

Face Coverings:

In accordance with General Order 2021-GEN-023-00, all persons – regardless of vaccination status – are required to wear face coverings over their nose and mouth while in a courthouse. Persons whose disabilities preclude them from wearing face coverings compliant with the guidance are urged to seek an accommodation under Rule 1.100 of the California Rules of Court in advance of their court appearance or appointment. A list of ADA liaisons is available at http://www.lacourt.org/ada/adahome.aspx.

Clerk’s Office and Self-Help Center Appointments:

In the interest of safeguarding the well-being of court users, persons seeking services from the Clerk’s Office, court support services, and/or the Self-Help Centers are encouraged to schedule appointments. For telephone or video assistance, or to schedule an appointment, the telephone number for each courthouse is listed at the courthouse entry and posted on the Court’s website, www.lacourt.org. For more information, follow the Court on Twitter (@LASuperiorCourt) and the Court’s website (LACourt.org).

View the full notice here.

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