The Court is gearing up to reconvene jury trials and will be summoning jurors to appear beginning the middle of July."

Humboldt Superior Court has been granted an Emergency Order by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye which allows criminal trials for cases in which the original or previously extended statutory deadline otherwise would expire between June 22, 2020 and August 6, 2020, inclusive, to be extended by not more than 30 days.

In addition to the issuance of the Implementation Order for the 30-day continuance of criminal trials, Presiding Judge Joyce Hinrichs also issued the Administrative Order which reinstated the Humboldt County 2020 Bail Schedule.

“The Court is gearing up to reconvene jury trials and will be summoning jurors to appear beginning the middle of July. Limitations created by the COVID-19 social distancing requirement, will minimize the ability to have spectators in the courtrooms which will require ongoing use of technology to provide access to public court proceedings.”

The Clerk’s office phone hours have now been expanded – 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily.   Documents can continue to be filed in the Court’s drop box on I Street or be sent in the mail.  The Clerk’s office public counter will be opening up in the near future.

Safeguards are being made which limits the number of people that can simultaneously be in the Clerk’s office lobby. Wearing masks still continues to be a requirement.  Social distancing requirements will also be a limiting factor for people to be on the second floor of the courthouse. 

Calendars continue to be posted daily on the Court’s website:  https://www.humboldt.courts.ca.gov/.  If you have a hearing scheduled do not come to the Courthouse.

If you are represented by an attorney, contact your attorney, if you represent yourself, check the daily court calendar to confirm if your case is scheduled.  If your hearing is scheduled, follow the directions on the Court’ s website to access the hearing with your phone or computer. If you receive a Notice to Appear for a criminal arraignment, you will need to contact your attorney if you have one, or appear in person in the arraignment courtroom.

“We know that many folks are wondering what is going on with their cases, and want to assure that hearings will continue to be re-noticed for any missed court dates.  If they have an attorney, they should check with their attorney, and if they do not, they will be getting information in the mail.  If they are unsure if the Court has their most current address, they should provide that to the Court,” Presiding Judge Hinrichs stated.