Sonoma — Order to Cease Transport of Inmates to Any Sonoma County Superior Courtroom

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

I HONORABLE BRADFORD J. DEMEO FILED

2 PRESIDING JUDGE JUN - 3 2n0 SONOMA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT Clerk of Court California, 3 600 Administration Drive Santa Rosa, CA 95403 4

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7 SUPEzuOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 8 COUNTY OF SONOMA 9

l0 IN RE: Order to Cease Transport of Inmates toll Any Sonoma County Superior Courtroom

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l5 Pursuant to emergency authority and to protect the health and safety of all persons in l6 Sonoma County Courthouses, the Presiding Judge of Sonoma County Superior Court finds and t7 orders as follows: l8 On March 16,2020, and in consideration of the public health crisis currently affecting l9 our state, local, national, and international communities, the Sonoma County Superior Court

20 issued an order limiting access to the Hall of Justice, Civil and Family Courthouse, the Juvenile 2l Justice Center and the Empire Annex.

22 On March 16,2020, this Court issued an emergency implementing order under the

23 authority of the March 16,2020 Order of Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, Chair of the

24 Judicial Council of Califomia, issued in response to the March 16,2020 request for an

25 emergency order made by the Superior Court of Sonoma County pursuant to Government Code

26 68115.

27 On March 17 ,2020, the County of Sonoma Public Health Officer issued an order 28 directing all individuals living in Sonoma County to shelter at their place of residence except

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I they may leave to provide or receive certain essential services or engage in certain essential

2 activities and work for essential businesses and governmental services to mitigate the spread of

J COVID-19.

4 On March 19,2020, the Governor of California issued an order directing all Californians

5 to shelter in place at their place of residence except as needed to maintain continuity of

6 operations of the federal critical infrastructure sectors to protect public health and ensure the

7 healthcare delivery system is capable of serving all and prioritizing those at the highest risk and

8 vulnerability.

9 On March 23,2020, Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, Chair of the Judicial Council

l0 of California, issued a statewide order addressing additional issues raised by the ongoing ll pandemic.

t2 On March 27,2020, this Court issued a supplemental emergency implementing order

l3 under the authority of the March 27,2020 Order of Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, Chair

t4 of the Judicial Council of California, pursuant to Government Code $ 68115. On March 28,

15 2020, the Judicial Council of California unanimously approved recommendations which have

l6 been enacted statewide by Order of the Chief Justice on March30,2020.

t7 On April 1,2020 this Court issued a General Order Re: Implementation of Emergency

l8 Relief Authorized by Chair of Judicial Council.

l9 On April 6, 2020, the Judicial Council adopted Emergency Rules I , 2, 3 , 4, 5, 6, 7 , 8, 9,

20 10, and 11 of the California Rules of Court. On April 17,2020, the Judicial Council adopted

2l Emergency Rule 12, and on April 20, 2020 adopted Emergency Rule 13 of the California Rules

22 of Court. A full set of the Emergency Rules to date are attached hereto as Exhibit A - I .

23 On April 16,2020 the Court issued Omnibus General Order of the Presiding Judge re

24 Court Operations.

25 On April 27,2020 the Court issued a First Amended Omnibus General Order re Court

26 Operations.

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I Essential functions of the Superior Court at this time are limited to proceedings that are

2 required to comply with defendants' constitutional rights, protect the health and safety of parties J and address jail population concems.

4 Protection of public health and safety in connection with the COVID-19 threat has

5 resulted or is expected to result in significant interference with Superior Court services and

6 proceedings.

7 The Court has confirmed that an inmate in the Sonoma County Jail has tested positive for

8 the COVID-19 virus, and was personally present in Courtroom 15 of the Sonoma County

9 Superior Court on May 27 ,2020, at approximately 1:30 p.m. l0 Accordingly, and for the foregoing reasons, under the authority granted to me by the It Chief Justice in her orders pursuant to Government Code, section 68115 dated March 16,2020

t2 and March 30,2020, and her statewide orders dated March 23,2020 and March 30,2020,andfor

l3 good cause shown, this court HEREBY FINDS AND ORDERS AS FOLLOWS:

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15 Until further notice, the Sonoma County Jail shall cease transport of any inmate to

l6 any Sonoma County Superior Courtroom. All court calendars shall be called with remote

t7 appearance by all inmates until further notice.

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20 It is so ORDERED

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Dated:23 Jr^"^e-j, )ba.o
BRADFORD J. DEMEO

24 PRESIDING JUDGE 25 SONOMA COLINTY SUPERIOR COURT

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