Superior Court reopens for in-person hearings

Yolo Superior Court reopened for in-person hearings, following California’s reopening this week.

Yolo Superior Court reopened for in-person hearings, following California’s reopening this week.

Yolo Superior Court implemented its first COVID-19 restrictions 15 months ago when the trials were suspended and arraignments were brought online.

Participants are still allowed to appear virtually for most cases and non-evidentiary hearings, but will not require them to do so with the exception of traffic court, which will continue to operate with remote appearances, according to a statement from the Yolo Superior Court.

“Remote appearance allowed the court to stay open and functioning during the pandemic,” stated Presiding Judge Daniel P. Maguire. “The public health crisis is now receding, but we’ve learned how technology can expand access to justice, and we will continue to give all court users the option to appear by video for most non-evidentiary hearings.”

Both jury hardships and orientations will also continue to be conducted virtually, and court hearings will still be streamed via YouTube so that “viewers can watch and listen to public hearings remotely,” the statement explained.

“We’re happy to give court users the option to appear remotely and believe that remote appearance offers many benefits in appropriate cases,” stated Maguire.

Additionally, traffic and collections will continue to be conducted through exterior service windows, and all other case types can be processed through interior service windows.

Local rules require eFiling in most case types and can be done for others.

The Self-Help Center will expand to in-person appointments, or by Zoom. Drop-in offices will be open Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The website currently states that masks will be required inside the courthouse. Yolo Superior Court is located at 1000 Main St. in Woodland.

For more information on court operations, visit yolo.courts.ca.gov.