4.4.20 – We’ve collected the latest from the Alameda County and Contra Costa County Superior Courts for you below.
Alameda County Superior Court
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Thursday, April 2, 2020: The Superior Court of Alameda County extends public closure period and requests extension of emergency relief, enacts emergency bail schedule, and extends stay of unlawful detainer actions. Details here.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Friday, April 3, 2020: The Superior Court of Alameda County receives second Emergency Order from the Chair of Judicial Council, issues order implementing emergency authority, adopts emergency local rule requiring remote appearances and electronic service, and excuses prospective jurors from service. Details here.
The Superior Court of Alameda County has adopted emergency Local Rule 3.29 (Emergency Order Re: Appearances and Service during court emergency). The Court has also slightly amended new emergency Local Rule 4.115 (Emergency Rule Adopting Temporary Emergency Bail Schedule). Both rules are posted on the Court’s COVID-19 web page and the Court’s Local Rules page.
At a later date, Local Rule 3.29 and amended Local Rule 4.115. will be integrated into Titles 3 and 4 of Superior Court of Alameda County’s Local Rules and distributed as set forth in rule 10.613(g)(2).
20-141 Emergency Rules-Complete Rule Set (as adopted April 6 2020)
Criminal Closure FAQ – April 3, 2020
April 06, 2020: Judicial Council Adopts New Rules to Lower Jail Population, Suspend Evictions and Foreclosures
Judicial Council creates some statewide court uniformity:
Emergency rule 9. Toll the statutes of limitations for civil causes of action 12 13 Notwithstanding any other law, the statutes of limitation for civil causes of action are 14 tolled from April 6, 2020, until 90 days after the Governor declares that the state of 15 emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic is lifted. 16 17 18
Emergency rule 10. Extensions of time in which to bring a civil action to trial 19 20 (a) Extension of five years in which to bring a civil action to trial 21 22 Notwithstanding any other law, including Code of Civil Procedure section 583.310, 23 for all civil actions filed on or before April 6, 2020, the time in which to bring the 24 action to trial is extended by six months for a total time of five years and six 25 months. 26 27 (b) Extension of three years in which to bring a new trial 28 29 Notwithstanding any other law, including Code of Civil Procedure section 583.320, 30 for all civil actions filed on or before April 6, 2020, if a new trial is granted in the 31 action, the three years provided in section 583.320 in which the action must again 32 be brought to trial is extended by six months for a total time of three years and six 33 months. Nothing in this subdivision requires that an action must again be brought 34 to trial before expiration of the time prescribed in (a). 35 36 37
Emergency rule 11. Depositions through remote electronic means 38 39 (a) Deponents appearing remotely 40 41 Notwithstanding any other law, including Code of Civil Procedure section 42 2025.310(a) and (b), and rule 3.1010(c) and (d), a party or nonparty deponent, at 30 Revised April 6, 2020 1 their election or the election of the deposing party, is not required to be present 2 with the deposition officer at the time of the deposition.
4.2.20: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Please be advised that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has consolidated and relocated all essential court proceedings to the San Francisco Courthouse at 450 Golden Gate Avenue, until May 1, 2020. The San Jose, Oakland, and Eureka-McKinleyville courthouses are entirely closed to the general public until May 1, 2020.
Please see General Order 73, Temporary Restrictions on Courthouse Access due to COVID-19 Public Health Emergency; Consolidation and Relocation of All Essential Operations to the San Francisco Courthouse, amended April 2, 2020. Please see the court’s public website for more information.
4.7.20: Superior Court for San Benito County
Two emergency orders recently issued by the Superior Court for San Benito County and in connection with the COVID-19 outbreak.
4.8.20: Contra Costa County Superior Court
The Contra Costa Superior Court has issued new emergency local rules:
- Emergency Local Rules – Video Technology in Criminal Cases
- Supplemental Emergency Local Rules – Civil (NOTE: The Supplemental Civil Emergency Rules require the parties to provide notice in specific circumstances in Civil cases. Please review these Rules carefully, as they may require Civil litigants to review the Court website and notice other parties of new hearing dates.)
These rules are available here: http://www.cc-courts.org/local-rules/local-rules.aspx.