Sonoma — Further Court orders and clarification of Rules of Entry for Sonoma County Courthouses

Source: https://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/system/files/furthercourtordersandclarificationofrulesofentrytosonomacountycourthouses.pdf

I HONORABLE BRADFORD J. DEMEO PRESIDING JUDGE 2 FILED SONOMA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUN 2 6 2020 3 600 Administration Drive Santa Rosa, CA 95403 of of Califomia, 4

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SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

8 COUNTY OF SONOMA 9

l0 IN RE: FURTHER COURT ORDERS ANDll CLARIFICATION OF RULES OF ENTRY t2 FOR SONOMA COUNTY COURTHOUSES

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l5 In light of the most recent order from the Govemor of the State of Califomia for all

l6 persons to wear a mask or cloth facial covering in buildings where business is conducted, the

t7 following is to clarify and reiterate the rules of entry for all Sonoma County Superior

18 Courthouses and Courtrooms :

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20 and at all times in a l. All persons must wear a cloth facial covering or mask upon entry to Sonoma County courthouse and courtroom. Upon request a judicial officer may grant2t permission to temporarily remove the facial covering or mask for no longer than 22 necessary to accomplish or complete a task that requires removal. Masks and facial 23 coverings may not be removed for any purpose anywhere else in the building. Plastic face shields do not qualify as a facial covering or mask for purposes of these rules. 24 25 2. All persons shall maintain no less than 6 feet social distancing from any other person while in a Sonoma County courthouse. A judicial officer may grant permission upon 26 request of a lawyer to approach a client, witness or court personnel temporarily and for 27 no longer than necessary to complete the task requested.

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I a witness stand is equipped with clear synthetic barriers on three sides between the 2 3. If witness, court reporter, Judicial officer and jury, the judicial officer may permit removal 3 of the mask for facial covering on a witness temporarily while testifying. However, the 4 witness must wear the mask or facial covering at all times when not sitting in the witness stand. ) 6 4. A judicial officer may permit a prospective juror to remove a facial covering or mask temporarily to accomplish proper voir dire of the juror, but must also make certain that no 7 other person in the area of the juror is put at any increased risk to health. This may 8 require distancing the prospective juror at a distance of more than 6 feet from other prospective jurors during the voir dire of that juror. 9

l0 5. All Sonoma County Superior Court judicial officers shall have the authority to determine ll whether or not a person has a valid exemption from wearing a facial covering or mask in the courtroom and may exercise their discretion to recognize the exemption so long as it t2 complies with all requirements, conditions and orders of the Governor of the State of l3 California and the Sonoma County Health Officer.

t4 6. No person may enter a courtroom without permission of designated court personnel who l5 will first verify that courtroom capacities adjusted during the COVID-l9 pandemic are not exceeded by the entry of additional persons into the courffoom.l6

t7 7. Attorneys will be given an "Attorney Pass" after a wellness check conducted by courtl8 personnel for the sole purpose of advancing to the front of the weapon screening queue. l9 Attomeys must still comply with item 6 herinabove at all times.

20 It is so ORDERED2l

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23 Dated: t.t4 Q- 24 BRADFORD J. DEMEO 25 PRESIDING JUDGE SONOMA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 26

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