The Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco continues to closely monitor state and local responses to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and will be following guidance provided by state and local public health agencies and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), available here.

If you have recently traveled from an area with widespread COVID-19 contagion and you have symptoms of the disease (fever, cough, or shortness of breath), please contact your healthcare provider for details on how to proceed with proper medical care.

This page contains changes to court operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  These changes are intended to limit public gatherings as advised by several public health guidances.  Any additional changes or updates will be posted on this website and communicated as appropriate.  All changes in court operations will be based on the guidance provided by public health agencies.

The Court will be drastically reducing operations that entail closing 75 percent of courtrooms, all clerk’s offices, and the ACCESS Center for 30 days.  The Court intends to reduce the number of jurors, parties, and attorneys in the Court for the time period of March 17 through April 15, 2020, as advised by several public health guidelines including Governor Newsom’s Proclamation, guidance from the California Department of Public Health, and guidance and orders from the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Please note the following changes to court operations effective March 17, 2020:

CRIMINAL

  • All jury trials currently set between Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, April 15, 2020, will be continued on a rolling basis for 30 days from the currently scheduled trial date.
  • All preliminary examinations set between Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, April 15, 2020, will be continued on a rolling basis for 30 days.
  • All arraignments will be heard within seven (7) days.
  • The Clerk’s Office will be closed during the period of Tuesday, March 17, through Wednesday, April 15, 2020.  A drop box is available for motions near Room 103 of the Hall of Justice and will be checked throughout each court day.

 

TRAFFIC

  • All traffic matters currently set between Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, April 15, 2020, will be continued on a rolling basis for 30 days.  Notice of new hearing and trial dates will be mailed.
  • Starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020, all traffic “walk-in” appearances will be suspended through Wednesday, April 15, 2020.  Please do not come to court.  Courtesy notices will be mailed with new due dates and further instructions.  Tickets can be paid online at:https://www.ncourt.com/x-press/x-onlinepayments.aspx?juris=5B7E609F-2C24-48A0-9DC1-19A46FD42FCD
  • The Traffic Office will be closed during the period of Tuesday, March 17, through Wednesday, April 15, 2020.  A drop box is available for payments near Room 145 of the Hall of Justice and will be checked throughout each court day.

 

CIVIL

  • All civil trials currently set between Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, April 15, 2020, will be continued on a rolling basis for 90 days from the currently scheduled trial date.
  • Law & Motion: all attorneys are encouraged to appear by telephone.  Telephone appearances must be arranged through Court Call by calling 1-888-88-COURT.  No prior notice or permission is required.
  • All small claims motions, trials, and appeals will be continued to a future date.  Notice of the new date will be mailed to all parties.
  • The Clerk’s Office will be closed during the period of Tuesday, March 17, through Wednesday, April 15, 2020.  A drop box is available for new and subsequent filings in the lobby of the Civic Center Courthouse and will be checked throughout each court day.

 

UNIFIED FAMILY COURT

  • All family law matters, including mediation, but excluding ex parte requests, temporary restraining orders, child abduction due process hearings, and domestic violence restraining orders where visitation or custody is an issue will be continued on a rolling basis for 30 days.
  • Domestic violence restraining orders (DVRO) where visitation or custody is an issue will continue to be heard on Wednesday mornings at 8:30 a.m. in Department 403.
  • All delinquency out-of-custody J-1 hearings, appearance progress reports, out-of-custody matters, sealing calendar, AB 12 review hearings, 827 petitions; and all out-of-custody Reentry Court, Youth and Family Court, and Wellness Court cases will be continued on a rolling basis for 30 days. All other hearings types may be continued on a case-by-case basis at the request of counsel via telephonic appearance.
  • All dependency J-1 hearings, settlement conferences, Family Maintenance Review Hearings, 366.26 Hearings, Post-Permanency Plan Hearings (366.3), and NMD Reviews, and 827 petitions will be continued on a rolling basis for 30 days.  All other hearings types may be continued on a case-by-case basis at the request of counsel via telephonic appearance.
  • Child support hearings will be continued on a rolling basis for at least 30 days.  Any necessary hearings not continued or reset by the Court will be conducted by telephone.  Notice to the parties will be provided by the San Francisco Department of Child Support Services (DCSS).  DCSS may be contacted at (415) 356-2700.
  • The Clerk’s Office in Room 402 of the Civic Center Courthouse will be closed during the period of Tuesday, March 17, through Wednesday, April 15, 2020.  A drop box is available for filings in the lobby of the Civic Center Courthouse and will be checked throughout each court day.
  • The Clerk’s Office in Room 101 of the Juvenile Justice Center will be closed during the period of Tuesday, March 17, through Wednesday, April 15, 2020.  A drop box is available for filings near Room 101 of the Juvenile Justice Center and will be checked throughout each court day.

 

JURY SERVICES

  • Anyone scheduled for jury service during the period of Tuesday, March 17, through Wednesday, April 15, 2020, will be rescheduled.  Notice of rescheduled jury service dates will be mailed.

 

ACCESS CENTER

  • The Court’s ACCESS Center (self-help) will be closed for the period of Tuesday, March 17, through Wednesday, April 15, 2020.  All in-person and telephone services will be suspended during this time.

View the full notice here.

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