The United States District Court for the Central District of California announces a temporary suspension of all jury trials for a period of three weeks, effective immediately. There is currently an alarming surge of COVID-19 cases nationwide and in the Central District of California largely due to a new variant of the virus that causes COVID-19—Omicron. There has also recently been an increase of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases within the courthouses of the Central District of California. Given the increased rate of transmission of COVID-19 in the Central District of California due to the Omicron variant, conducting jury trials would place court personnel, attorneys, parties, and prospective jurors at undue risk. Accordingly, a temporary suspension of jury trials is necessary to protect public health and safety, as well as ensure the continuous performance of essential functions and operations of the Court.
Effective immediately:
The temporary suspension of jury trials may be extended as necessary. The Court continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic as it evolves and will provide updates concerning the Court’s operations as adjustments are made.
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