Due to safety concerns around COVID-19, our county court system is scaling back this month and rescheduling most cases, with exceptions for emergency hearings. Reporter Heather Clisby has the details …
In response to state and local health mandates around COVID-19, the San Bernardino County Court is rescheduling non-emergency cases scheduled through April. All courtrooms, except for limited courtrooms in San Bernardino Justice Center, Victorville, Joshua Tree, San Bernardino Historic and Juvenile Court, will be closed.
However, emergency matters will still be heard this month during the court’s limited hours, now 8:30 am to noon. Such matters may include restraining orders involving violence, emergency petitions for guardianship and anything regarding the safety of a minor. New hearing dates will be rescheduled.
The court is revisiting safety and legal priorities daily and will adjust accordingly; thus the April 30 end date of this policy may change.
The court is also looking to enable remote appearances via technology. Interested parties should arrange with the court in advance. Payment due dates for fines and fees between March 17-April 30, 2020 have also been extended.
Cases to be rescheduled include:
• Civil and criminal jury trials
• Civil and probate matters except for same day emergency harassment orders, elder or adult dependent abuse orders, emergency guardianship/conservatorship petitions, and LPS matters
• Small claims motions, trials and appeals
• Criminal and traffic matters except for in-custody matters, including, but not limited to, arraignments and time critical pre-preliminary and preliminary hearings
• Family law hearings except for same-day emergency restraining orders and other emergency requests
• Juvenile delinquency and dependency hearings except for detention hearings, emergency orders related to health and safety and emergency restraining orders
• Adoption proceedings
For more info, visit the Court’s home page, https://www.sb-court.org/.
