Social isolation and maintaining a six foot distance from each other is critical to flattening the curve. It’s entirely irresponsible to require in-person appearances of anyone when social isolation cannot be maintained. Any court requiring people to appear is issuing the equivalent of a death sentence for some and a sickness sentence for others.
That’s about as depraved, cruel and unusual as it gets.
NO PROSPECTIVE JUROR SHOULD SHOW UP in crowded rooms waiting to be called upon for trial consideration for the same reasons.
So I’m more than amazed that Orange county is setting up courtrooms in the county jail while closing courtrooms around the county.
“Branch courts will remain closed, but each will get a courtroom at the central jail to handle essential hearings, including items on the calendar for March 19 through March 27.
Essential hearings include misdemeanor hearings with no future date, felony hearings with no future date, criminal preliminary hearings and criminal jury trials.”
If these hearings are so critically important, they should be held via webex. Under no circumstances should anyone be appearing in a super vulnerable facility to carry the coronavirus in or out of that facility.
Judicial Council Watcher 
Patricia Dowling
March 19, 2020
The National Court Reporters Association has two Zoom meetings tonight. We will all be instructed how to make a good record remotely. I took a ballet class on Zoom this morning with ten participants. I could hear and see everyone clearly. For criminal cases, there would still need to be a Bailiff present. That is a problem. The Clerks would have to be given access to the Court’s computer system from home. This is doable. The Court Reporters will learn more about this tonight, but we need to move on this now. Thank you.
widgeen@aol.com
March 19, 2020
Amen ! well said.
amcri
March 19, 2020
Agreed.
Here’s the thing though…if those complaining about the virus are the same ones voting to let all persons here and keep them here, it’s dishonest. Which is it going to be. If immigration laws don’t change, expect situations like this to become normal until everything is wiped out.
SiteAdmin
March 20, 2020
You’re implying that immigration is the reason for coronavirus spread or putting us at risk for pandemic and that we’re simply not being honest with ourselves? It came in via ships and airplanes. It came in under legal travel visas and tourism. It did not walk across the border. Moreover, California courts don’t hear immigration cases. They hear arraignments and conduct speedy trials and these are the reasons they’re trying to be accomodating to defendants. Our position is that it can and should be done without risking anyone’s health.
Michelle
March 22, 2020
Many of the defendants are illegal immigrants. The courts also hear defendants’ motions trying to dismiss or reduce the criminal charges for purposes of avoiding deportation. The previous poster was not implying anything but the idea that maybe this state and its voters, who love to invite entire illegal populations in, should reconsider their future “position,” in light of this health crisis. It trickles into the courts, probation, the jails, DCFS, social services, the schools, etc. That’s a point of mitigation that can be managed but is not.
Wendy Dsrling
March 20, 2020
What JCW said.