The United States District Court for the Central District of California announces visitor restrictions to all courthouses and probation and pretrial services offices in the District as a result of the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus) outbreak.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised people to take precautions in light of the coronavirus outbreak and that the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

Therefore, effective immediately, the following persons shall not enter any courthouse or probation and pretrial services office in the Central District of California:

• Persons who have traveled to any countries within the last fourteen days for which the CDC has issued Level Two or Level Three travel health notices, including, as of the date of this order:

China
Italy
Iran
Japan
South Korea
(This list may be updated as further guidance is received.)

• Persons who reside or have had close contact with someone who has traveled to any of those countries within the last fourteen days;
• Persons who have been asked to self-quarantine by any doctor, hospital, or health agency;
• Persons who have been diagnosed with, or have had contact with, anyone who has been diagnosed with the coronavirus;
• Persons with apparent symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, severe cough, or shortness of breath.

All visits by minors or student groups to, and all tours of, the Courthouses of the Central District of California unrelated to a Court proceeding are hereby CANCELLED.

Anyone attempting to enter in violation of these protocols will be denied entry by a Court Security Officer.

If you have a scheduled appointment or you are otherwise required to appear at one of the courthouses or probation office in the Central District of California, and you are unable to appear because of the restrictions listed above, you should proceed as follows:

• If you are represented by an attorney, please contact your attorney;

• If you are an attorney and you are scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge’s courtroom deputy directly;

• If you are scheduled to meet with a Probation or Pretrial Services officer, please visit the Probation and Pretrial Services Office website at https://www.cacp.uscourts.gov/;

• If you are a juror, please contact the Jury Department at (213) 894-3644 or jury@cacd.uscourts.gov(link sends e-mail);

• For Bankruptcy Court matters, please visit the Bankruptcy Court’s website at https://www.cacb.uscourts.gov/;

• For other District Court matters, please visit the District Court’s website at https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/.

These restrictions will remain in place temporarily until it is determined to be safe to remove them. People who think they may have been exposed to the coronavirus should contact their healthcare provider immediately.

*********************

Kiry K. Gray
District Court Executive/Clerk of Court
March 12, 2020