With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
New Look This Week For LA's Courts: Masks Are Now Mandatory For Court Officials
L.A. Superior Court Judge Miguel Espinoza, wearing a mask, holds arraignments in his downtown L.A. courtroom via video on April 21. (Myung J. Chun / POOL / AFP)
()
Judges and other staff in L.A. County Superior Court will now wear face coverings in the courtroom and other public areas inside courthouses.
The order was issued Saturday by Presiding Judge Kevin C. Brazile. In a statement Brazile said:
“The Court is committed to protecting the health and safety of the public, attorneys, justice partners, judicial officers and employees. Most medical and healthcare experts recommend the use of face coverings during this pandemic. Paired with the protocols for social distancing, we can help to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our courthouses and communities.”
Among the safety measures in place to provide alternatives to going to courthouses: remote appearance technology and customer service call centers.
Support for LAist comes from
The announcement of the change said that even though the court system was exempt from the county orders requiring masks be worn in public places, court officials have been strongly encouraging the public to use them, including by handing out paper masks at courthouse entrances.
Brazile he believes his order will “decrease the chances of an asymptomatic Judge or Commissioner spreading the virus to others.”
Jails and prisons are among hard hit institutions in this pandemic.
- Nearly 70% of inmates of the 1,042 prisoners held at Terminal Island, a low-security federal prison in San Pedro, have tested positive for COVID-19. Seven have died.
- The rate at the low-security federal prison in Lompoc is even higher, with 851 positive cases among its 1,162 inmates.
- The nearby medium-security prison in Lompoc has another 32 cases and two inmate deaths.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist