Humboldt courts and staff should be rewarded with a well deserved month off

I did a post in April about Humboldt Superior Court being recognized and contacted by other other courts in California to see how they could implement similar operations and procedures during the pandemic. 

Even prior to the March stay at home order, Humboldt courts implemented sanitizing and cleaning procedures. The second floor of the courthouse has been closed to the public since March. There has been limited access for some out of custody defendants, victims and in person appearances for those in custody.

Jury trials and services at the clerk's office have been reopened with safety measures and restrictions. I covered an offsite jury trial and saw all the added precautions.

With cases rising , Humboldt in the purple tier, and a new stay at home order, Humboldt has not announced any suspensions of jury trials or court hearings and services. 

I may vent about frustrations with livestream and lack of access to the second floor because this impacts me and others. It impacts my livelihood, it is impacting my very ability to live, rest and be safe right now and it is impacting the livelihood and health of everyone who works in the Courts. 

But I also recognize that despite limited resources, Humboldt Superior Court has done an excellent job with safety and maintaining business. If the rest of Humboldt, especially other government agencies and Sheriff William Honsal, followed the Humboldt Superior Court's lead and implemented the same safety, sanitizing and enforcement of policy, Humboldt would be in a better place now. 

Presiding Judge Joyce Hinrichs is an advisory member on the California Judicial Council. California Chief Justice has said local courts can ask for changes in operations they need due to COVID 19.

There is no reason Humboldt courts cannot suspend operations for 30 days except for arraignment, OR/bail hearings and domestic violence hearings. All other hearings can wait 30 days.

Give the Judges, the court staff, court tech, the bailiffs, the correctional deputies well deserved time off and pay non salaried employees for some of the time off. Have people rotate and work one or two days a week for the essential hearings.

I would rather have the court staff be paid than some government employees collecting a paycheck during the pandemic but having offices closed with no access to the public.

Previous post:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/04/other-courts-in-california-have.html?m=1