LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT ESSENTIAL JUVENILE DEPENDENCY HEARINGS ARE NOW HELD REMOTELY FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING

PRESIDING JUDGE KEVIN C. BRAZILE ANNOUNCES ALL ESSENTIAL JUVENILE DEPENDENCY HEARINGS ARE NOW HELD REMOTELY FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING DURING COVID-19 HEALTH CRISIS

Remote Appearances Also Launched in Delinquency, Mental Health

As part of the Court’s extensive work to implement remote appearance technology throughout the nation’s largest trial court, all essential Dependency hearings are being conducted via WebEx, Presiding Judge Kevin C. Brazile announced today.

“Remote technology is a solution for social distancing in our courthouses and supports the Court’s General Orders to prioritize time-sensitive, essential services and hearings during this public health crisis,” Presiding Judge Brazile said. “The Court’s extensive focus in recent years to leverage technology in all of our operations laid the foundation for this quick transition.”

Presiding Judge Brazile added, “The Court’s collaboration with County justice partners has facilitated the transition to remote courtrooms at the same time we have undertaken a vastly scaled-down operation. I want to express my gratitude to all justice partners for working closely and swiftly with the Court on these remote solutions to keep as many people out of our courthouses as possible.”

Since Presiding Judge Brazile’s March 17 General Order to scale back operations, more than 75 percent of the Court’s 600 courtrooms have closed. A combination of audio and video appearances is available in many of these courtrooms, and that capacity continues to expand weekly.

Attorneys and parties are appearing remotely via WebEx video or audio in all Dependency courtrooms in the Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Courthouse and Alfred J. McCourtney Juvenile Justice Center Courthouse.

Delinquency hearings – to the extent permitted by law – are being held remotely in all locations: Michael D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse, Pomona South Courthouse, Sylmar Juvenile Courthouse, Eastlake Juvenile Courthouse, Inglewood Juvenile Courthouse, Compton  Courthouse, and the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse.

Another remote technology pilot is planned for LPS Conservatorships in the Hollywood Courthouse.

Since last year, the Mental Health courts have used video from the California Department of State Hospitals to allow for remote testimony by treating physicians. Remote technology also is used for Competency proceedings.

For the latest updates on Coronavirus/COVID-19-related impacts to Court operations, please consult the Court’s COVID-19 News Center located at the top of our homepage (www.lacourt.org), and follow us on Twitter (@LASuperiorCourt).

View the full notice here.

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