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Tag Archives: O.C. Superior Court

O.C. traffic citation extensions granted

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Orange County, Santa Ana, Traffic Leave a comment

Orange County Superior Court is announcing that as the Court only has limited services available to the public at this time, we are granting
extensions and expanding our online services to provide enhanced case information. Our goal is simple, ensure that the public we serve is not burdened by court appearances, paying fines or having to show proof of compliance with court ordered programs during these very challenging
times.

In this vein, cases between the above-referenced dates have been granted extensions or had their hearings rescheduled to dates in June and July. Members of the public can view the new due dates for their specific citation on the Court’s Public Case Access page by clicking here.

Compliance dates that were extended include the following:

• Citation Pay or Appear By Date
• Proof of Correction / Community Service
• Monthly Installment Payments
• Traffic School Completion

The Court also discontinued reporting Failure to Appear (FTA) abstracts to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and removed any FTA holds that were previously sent to the DMV during the Court’s initial closure period.

Traffic Citations – Filed by Law Enforcement

Upon the filing of a new citation, the Court is automatically adding 60 days to the due date submitted by law enforcement. A Violation Information Notice is mailed to the defendant from the court displaying the extended due date.

Traffic Hearings

The Court deactivated the self-service “Reserve A Court Date” function for the foreseeable future, thus no new hearings can be added to the traffic calendars by the public at this time.

The Court is in the process of rescheduling all traffic hearings set for March 17, 2020 through May 31, 2020 to dates in June and July. Notices are being printed and mailed to defendants to advise them of their new hearing date. Rescheduled hearings include Arraignments, Court Trials and Night Court hearings. Thank you for your patience during this difficult time.

An O.C. Superior Court Judge is demanding that attorneys and their clients show up in court tomorrow

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Lawyers, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Judge Kimberly Menninger, at the Orange County Central Justice Center, has apparently ordered three days-worth of court appearances and all the defendants and lawyers in one crowded place in one day in violation of her presiding judge’s requested order to close the courts which was signed by the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.

Judge Kimberly Menninger

The O.C. Superior Court’s last Tweet, seen above, actually states that the Court will be closed at all locations for the next two weeks, through March 27.

While it is true that the O.C. Health Department has modified their Health Order today indicating that most businesses do not have to shutter it is also true that every organization should be doing everything possible to maintain as much social distancing as possible.

In Riverside County, for example, they are allowing counsel to call the courtroom clerk who then emails the new court date to the DA and counsel. As long as you have authority to waive time from your client you can call in.

Here is the latest press release from the O.C. Superior Court regarding how they are managing during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Superior Court of California
County of Orange
News Release
Public Information Office
Contact: Kostas Kalaitzidis, (657) 622-7097, PIO@occourts.org

March 12, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Coronavirus (COVID 19) Information

Santa Ana, CA – Recognizing the severity of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak nationally and internationally, the Orange County Superior Court is taking active steps to control its spread within the community.

The Court is expanding sanitation efforts in public areas with additional personnel cleaning doors, elevators, stair rails, and other frequently-touched surfaces.

If you were called for jury service and you are ill, please contact the Office of the Jury Commissioner to request a postponement prior to reporting for service, by visiting www.occourts.org/ejuror/ or by calling 657-622-7000. We will make every effort possible to grant the postponement.

The Court is working to reduce the necessity of in-person courthouse appearances where it is legally and practicably possible.

We encourage the public to minimize in-person visits to the Court, by using the available online services on the Court’s website http://www.occourts.org/onlineservices/

Such online services include:

• The payment of traffic tickets (http://www.occourts.org/directory/traffic/paymentsextensions.html)
• Contact with Self-Help (http://www.occourts.org/self-help/)
• Accessing case information (http://www.occourts.org/online-services/caseaccess/)
• Accessing forms and information on eFiling documents with the Court
(http://www.occourts.org/online-services/efiling/ )
• Establishing online payment plans, (https://cupportal.occourts.org/home )
• and many others.

The public is encouraged to refer to the OC Healthcare Agency website for up-to-date information about COVID-19 symptoms: http://www.ochealthinfo.com/phs/about/epidasmt/epi/dip/prevention/novel_coronavirus

Members of the public who come to Court without presenting symptoms should still follow best personal hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing, avoiding touching the face, and coughing or sneezing into the elbow.

The Court’s services and business hours otherwise remain unchanged. More information will be released as it becomes available, please visit our Court News on the web to find updates.