Keeping Courthouses Clear of COVID-19

LOS ANGELES — On Aug. 4, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors called for stronger health and safety measures in Los Angeles County courthouses to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus. 

When the courts reopened, July 6, after weeks of closure prompted by COVID-19, the presiding judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, began implementing a range of health and safety measures recommended by the Los Angeles County public defender and endorsed by the Board of Supervisors. Additional measures may be necessary given the recent surge in infections.

Supervisor Ridley-Thomas and Sheila Kuehl’s motion instructed the county CEO, in collaboration with the public defender, sheriff, and the directors of the Department of Public Health, the Correctional Health Services within the department of health services, the Internal Services Department and the alternate public defender to report back to the board in 14 days with recommendations on:

A pre-screening process, including temperature checks and symptom and exposure questions, for entering courthouses;

Hourly patrols to ensure compliance with masking and social distancing protocols;

Public health inspections of lockup spaces in every courthouse

Whether and when incarcerated individuals should be tested before a court appearance;

The feasibility of rapid testing for incarcerated individuals;

The feasibility of testing jurors;

Expanding video conferencing technology to allow incarcerated individuals access to attorneys, clinicians, and the courts; and

Recommending protocols for responding when there is a known positive COVID-19 test from any individual who has been in a courthouse, including how to issue notifications and whether to impose a quarantine.