The San Diego Superior Court has developed procedures to ensure it is following the recommendations of State and County Public Health officials to ensure a safe environment for employees and Court users and to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The measures include: 

• In order to reduce the need for jurors, the Court is postponing all Civil Court Jury Trials Downtown and in North County which are currently set to commence on or before March 31, 2020. Any questions regarding postponements should be directed to the Trial Department, including whether parties need to appear for scheduled pre-trial hearings Civil Bench Trials, Criminal Trials and ongoing Civil Trials are not affected. The postponement of upcoming Civil Jury Trials begins today and those trials will be reset after March 31, 2020. The postponement does not apply to Unlawful Detainer trials. 
• The Jury Commissioner will ensure no more than 250 jurors will be present in the Jury Lounge at any time to allow space for jurors to practice social distancing.
• Jurors in a high risk health category for COVID-19 or those experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms are asked to contact Jury Services. Do not come to the courthouse. Healthy and non-high risk individuals are not excused from appearing and are asked to do the following:
  • If you are summoned for service at the East County or North County Divisions, please appear as scheduled.
  • If you are summoned for service at the Central Courthouse, please check our website at sdcourt.ca.gov after 5:00 p.m. the day before your scheduled service date to check if your group has been called in to report
    • If your group number is called to serve, please follow the reporting instructions provided on your summons. o If your group number is not called to serve, your service is complete.
    • If you are summoned for telephonic service at the South County Division, please follow the reporting instructions provided on your summons.
  • If you would like to request a postponement from service, you may email your request to [email protected], submit your request online at www.sdcourt.ca.gov, or call the jury office at (619) 844-2800.

“The court is working to follow the recommendations and guidelines set forth by our county and state public health departments while meeting our constitutional responsibilities to a defendant’s right to a jury trial. Going forward, we will continue to monitor the public health departments for the latest information and advice and make changes to court operations and services as necessary,” says Presiding Judge Lorna Alksne.

Other Superior Court actions include:

• The Court’s janitorial service is increasing CDC-recommended cleaning in high trafficked area and has ordered stands in those areas for dispensing sanitizing gel.
• Reminding the public that online services can be accessed at www.SDCourt.ca.gov, including payments and requests for extensions in some case types.
• With the agreement of the parties, and at the discretion of the court, all out-ofcustody misdemeanors (excluding Domestic Violence (DV)) and all non-violent out-of-custody felonies (excluding DV) will be continued 30 days or more;
• All students and other group visitations or programs at the courthouse are suspended through at least the end of the month
• Signage will now be posted at all courthouse entrances and public rooms of the following:

  Do not enter this courthouse or room if you:

  • Have traveled to any foreign country that has received a Level 3 Health Notice by the Centers for Disease Control within the last 14 days (www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html; or
  • Reside or have close contact with anyone who has been in a country with a Level 3 Health Notice within the last 14 days; or
  • Have been directed to quarantine, isolate or self-monitor at home for the COVID-19 by any doctor, hospital or health agency; or
  • Have been diagnosed with, or have close contact with anyone diagnosed with, COVID-19/Coronavirus; or
  • Have flu-like symptoms

For those who have court business but cannot enter a court facility because they fit in the COVID-19 exposure criteria set forth above, the San Diego Superior Court has the following directive:

Those with Criminal and Juvenile Cases should contact their attorney. For the following areas, Court users who have case specific issues, may send inquiries to the following emails. Be aware, non-case specific issues will not be answered:

Traffic: [email protected]

Civil: [email protected]

Jury: [email protected]

Probate: [email protected]

Family: [email protected]

Small Claims:[email protected]

The email should include the name and case number of the inquirer.

• At this time, the Court’s operational hours and drop box availability will remain the same. Monitor the Court’s website for any changes.

The San Diego Superior Court will continue to monitor advice provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency and will update any protocols based on that information.