JC votes to end emergency Covid rules

The Judicial Council voted to end remaining temporary emergency rules it approved to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On June 30, the council will sunset emergency rules still in effect, which include rules relating to:

• Remote appearances and personal appearance waivers by criminal defendants
• Priority for certain juvenile proceedings
• Temporary restraining or protective order renewals
• Deadlines to file a civil action or bring a civil case to trial
• Changes to support orders

The decision to sunset the remaining emergency rules comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent rollback of executive orders related to the state’s pandemic response and in response to the courts’ increasing ability to accommodate the changes resulting from the pandemic.

In addition, Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye also rescinded, effective April 30, her remaining statewide emergency measures established to address pandemic-related challenges to court operations.