The front entrance of the Justice Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in Martinez, Calif., on Monday, March 14, 2016. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
MARTINEZ — The Contra Costa County Superior Court system has enacted a partial shutdown in response to rising rates of COVID-19, officials announced Friday afternoon.
The partial shutdown is effective Monday and will last “until further notice,” according to a news release issued by the county. It includes an indefinite suspension of all jury trials, and the courthouses will be shut down to the public, except for attorneys, parties to cases, and court employees.
This means that anyone who was called for jury service between now and January 11 is off the hook.
“Jurors summonsed to report on or before January 11, 2021: Your service has been completed,” the news release says. “You do not need to call or report for jury duty.”
Though trials are suspended, criminal cases will continue in a limited capacity. This includes arraignments, preliminary hearings, and other pretrial court dates where only a judge and the relevant parties are required. Earlier this year, a state appeals court ruled that criminal defendants still have a right to a speedy preliminary hearing even when a partial court shutdown is enacted.
Records offices will also be shut down, but court records can be filed in drop boxes available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. outside the count’s various courthouses.
