Courthouse to limit courtroom use through January due to COVID-19 surge
The Ventura County Courthouse began limiting in-person court services Tuesday through the end of the month due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
The closure will limit the number of courtrooms and clerk's offices in use to those for time-sensitive functions and emergency matters, according to an announcement issued by Executive Officer Brenda McCormick on Monday evening.
Ventura County has recorded over 12,000 COVID-19-positive cases in the past two weeks, with a testing positivity rate over 25%, reflecting a larger trend spurred by the omicron variant.
Other courthouses throughout the state, such as those in Sonoma and Riverside counties, have also limited courthouse activity during the recent spike.
“The decision here is between access to justice and public safety,” said David A. Carrillo, executive director of the California Constitution Center.
Criminal courtrooms in Ventura County will only host hearings for in-custody matters. All other hearings will be continued until after the closure ends, which is currently set for Feb. 1.
One family law courtroom will remain open for emergency restraining orders and other emergency orders, as well as hearings for permanent restraining orders currently scheduled for courtroom 34, according to the announcement.
For cases involving juveniles, there will be one juvenile delinquency courtroom, one juvenile dependency courtroom and one courtroom open at the Juvenile Courthouse on Fridays for probate, conservatorship and guardianship emergency matters.
One civil courtroom will be open on Tuesdays and Fridays only for emergency hearings such as temporary restraining orders. Other courtrooms remaining open include the off-site courtrooms for mental health hearings.
Anyone who seeks an emergency order for family, civil or probate cases must reserve an emergency hearing by contacting the judicial secretary in charge of each department.
Drop boxes for case filings will be unavailable, and e-delivery for civil, family, probate and small claims cases will be suspended for the duration of the closure.
Walk-up windows will remain open for traffic and collection payments at both the east county courthouse in Simi Valley and the Hall of Justice at the Ventura County Government Center. No other services will be available at the walk-up windows.
More information about the closure can be found by reading the amended administrative order at ventura.courts.ca.gov.
CalMatters contributed to this report.
Jeremy Childs is a breaking news and public safety reporter covering the night shift for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached by calling 805-437-0208 or emailing jeremy.childs@vcstar.com. You can also find him on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura County courthouse to implement limited closure through January
