Home / General Information / COVID-19 Court Operations
COVID-19 Information & Court Operations
Click Here to View the Master Plan to Restore Court Services ...
Quick Links
News Releases
- Sep 22, 2020 – Benchmark Criminal Jury Trials (pdf )
- Sep 1, 2020 – Civil Grand Jury Appt. (pdf )
- Aug 31, 2020 – New Judge (pdf )
- Aug 25, 2020 – Civil Grand Jury Sel. 2020 (pdf )
- Aug 07, 2020 – Extension of Some Court Closures(pdf )
- July 24, 2020 – Extension of Some Court Closures(pdf )
- July 07, 2020 – Extension of Some Court Closures(pdf )
- July 06, 2020 – Restoration of Traffic Services (pdf )
- June 26, 2020 – Extension of Some Court Closures(pdf )
- June 19, 2020 – Livestreaming of Court Proceedings (pdf )
- June 11, 2020 – Extension of Some Court Closures(pdf )
- June 2, 2020 – Restoration of Civil Service Matters
(pdf )
- June 2, 2020 – Restoration of Criminal Service Matters
(pdf )
- May 28, 2020 – New Court Closure Dates (pdf )
- May 28, 2020 – Return of Jurors for Criminal Trials (pdf )
- May 19, 2020 – Restoration of Juvenile Law Services (pdf )
- May 15, 2020 – Restoration of Family Law Services
(pdf )
- May 14, 2020 – Closure Extended (pdf )
- May 08, 2020 – Restoration of Probate Services (pdf )
- April 29, 2020 – Closure Extended (pdf )
- April 23, 2020 – Important Civil Info - Riverside County (pdf )
- April 23, 2020 – Temporarily Closed Riverside Juvenile Court Reopens (pdf )
- April 15, 2020 – Closure Extended (pdf )
- April 13, 2020 – Riverside Juvenile Court Closed Temporarily (pdf )
- April 08, 2020 – Grand Jury Extension (pdf )
- April 06, 2020 – Judicial Council Adopts New Rules to Lower Jail Population, Suspend Evictions and Foreclosures
(external site )
- April 01, 2020 – Closure Extended (pdf )
- March 27, 2020 – Updates
(pdf )
- March 19, 2020 – Courthouse Closures (pdf )
- March 17, 2020 – Reduced Services (pdf )
Resources
COVID-19 Information & Updates on Court Operations
Last Updated: 09/22/2020 at 12:45 pm
Attention: Do Not Come to the Courthouse If You Are Not Feeling Well:
Those who are feeling ill or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms as described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including but not limited to fever or chills, cough,
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle body ache, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea,
or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 are prohibited from entering any court facility or courthouse (General Order 2020-42) (pdf )
.
Update: Face Coverings Now Required to Enter County Courthouses:
Effective immediately: The Presiding Judge has ordered all persons
to wear a face covering and maintain six feet of physical distance from other persons while in court facilities
(General Order 2020-21 (pdf )).
The Sherriff’s Department will turn away any person not wearing a face covering prior to security screening.
Important:
Governor Newsom’s closure on July 13, 2020 of business operations, both statewide and at the county level, will not affect current court operations.
In recent months, the court has implemented multiple protocols and procedures related to mask wearing, social distancing, remote and staggered court hearings,
and increased sanitation in an effort to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19, while at the same time continuing to provide access to justice
for the citizens of this county. Our business practices will continue to be reevaluated on a daily basis to ensure we comply with all federal,
state and local health orders.
The Riverside Superior Court is committed to protecting the health and safety of our community while performing our constitutional duties.
Following guidelines provided by Governor Newsom’s executive orders and the County of Riverside’s orders by the Public Health Officer,
the court has restored most court functions and has resumed hearings in certain case types. Some courthouses are closed until further notice.
Clerk’s offices are only open to the public for specific limited emergency matters and have limited public hours.
Customers may submit documents for filing either online via the eSubmit Document Submission Portal, by U.S. Mail,
or by placement in a drop box at one of our court facilities (See charts below for details).
The Riverside Superior Court may be frequently changing the services available to the public. Given the fluid nature of this COVID-19 crisis,
and the ever-changing availability of resources, you are encouraged to check this website frequently.
Jurors
Due to constitutional requirements the Court will begin to summon jurors for appearance
dates beginning in mid-June 2020 and anticipates that a limited number of trials will
start at that time.
The Court remains committed to keeping jurors, attorneys, staff and all other court
users safe and has worked with the Riverside County Public Health Officer to develop
protocols designed to protect the health and safety of jurors.
If you receive a summons in the mail, please do not discard it. If you are summoned
on or after June 15, 2020, you may check your status or request a postponement through
one of the following options:
If you are sick or are experiencing flu-like symptoms (such as fever, cough, shortness of breath),
please request a postponement of up to 90 days.
Court Appearances (Hearings)
The court is beginning to resume hearings in certain case types. When your case is set for a hearing, the court will send you either a
Notice of Hearing or Notice of Telephonic Hearing. Review this notice carefully, as it will indicate whether the hearing will be conducted live,
in-person or telephonically (by phone).
Note: if your notice instructs you to attend a hearing in-person, you must appear at the courthouse; if your notice instructs to appear telephonically,
you must attend by phone. If you are not sure, please contact the court or your attorney, if you have one, for assistance.
You may also check the status of your case online.
Notice of Hearing (In-Person Appearances)
You are required to attend the hearing in-person. The notice you received contains information about the hearing, including the courthouse location,
department (courtroom), and date and time.
Notice of Telephonic Hearing (Telephonic Appearances)
You are required to appear by telephone. The notice you received contains information you will need to attend the hearing by telephone, including the courthouse location,
department (courtroom), and date and time.
Please click here for important information and instructions for Telephonic Courtroom Appearances via WebEx.
Telephone Services
A very limited number of court staff are available to answer telephones and monitor email accounts. You can contact the Riverside Superior Court at:
951-777-3147 (phone) to speak to a clerk.
Please anticipate lengthy wait times for telephone service, and please understand that email responses will be delayed.
Phone hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., except court holidays. The traffic call center has expanded public service hours and is available 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Electronic Document Submission
Customers may file documents online via the eSubmit Document Submission Portal. The eSubmit program allows court customers
to electronically deliver documents to the court securely via the internet. Please note that the eSubmit fee of $1.85 is being suspended through December 31st, 2020.
Alternatively, documents can also be mailed to the court for processing. See the court locations & parking page for courthouse addresses.
Courthouse Closures and Limited Public Service Hours
Click here for information about court locations and addresses.
| Court Location / Division |
Limited Public Hours (Until Further Notice) |
| Banning Justice Center | Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Corona Court | Closed |
| Hemet Courthouse | Closed |
| Riverside Historic Courthouse | Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Moreno Valley Courthouse | Closed |
| Palm Springs Courthouse | Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Riverside Family Law | Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Temecula Courthouse | Closed |
| Blythe Courthouse | Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Riverside Hall of Justice | Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Larson Justice Center | Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Riverside Juvenile |
Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Southwest Justice Center | Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Southwest Juvenile |
Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Records Center | Closed |
| Riverside Centre (ECD) | Closed |
| Self Help Center | Closed |
Appeals and Exhibits | Closed |
| Court's Executive Office |
Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Available by phone only
|
Limited Emergency Matters (by Case Type)
Criminal
- The court continues to hear in-custody arraignments via video for both misdemeanor and felony cases, preliminary hearings where time has not been waived,
bail motions, priority sentencing hearings and is accepting bail motions, 977 waivers, OR Release Agreements, stipulations, and ex parte gun violence restraining orders.
- All criminal jury trials are being continued for a period of 60 days from the date the trial was set or extended.
- For Law Enforcement:
- A Daytime Duty Judge is available at open court locations.
- Search Warrants are being accepted electronically.
- Night and Weekend Magistrate services are still available.
- Daytime Emergency Protective Order (EPO) requests can be made.
- Court Clerk’s Office staff are only processing criminal filings (documents) related to the limited emergency matters being heard by the Court.
- For more information about criminal matters, please see the Criminal Cases Frequently Asked Questions (pdf ).
- For Program Enrollments and Completion Dates, click here (pdf ).
Civil
- The court continues to accept temporary civil harassment restraining orders, other types of temporary civil restraining orders,
requests to renew restraining orders, ex parte applications, stipulations, and inspection and abatement warrants.
These documents can be filed at one of the open justice centers.
- Unlimited and complex civil court and jury trials will be scheduled at Trial Setting Conference (TSC) hearings only. Litigants that would like to seek priority on a trial date may either stipulate or file an ex parte to shorten the time on the TSC.
The court will not accept stipulations to set trial dates.
- The court has issued a General Order Re: Civil Division Reorganization (pdf ) pertaining to Unlimited and Complex Civil cases. For more information,
please see the Unlimited Civil Division Emergency Reorganization Order Frequently Asked Questions (pdf ).
- The court has established guidelines for Informal Discovery Conferences (IDC) and Voluntary Settlement Conferences (VSC)(pdf ) in Unlimited Civil Proceedings to assist in facilitating settlements.
- You can check the status of your case online.
- Certain ADR services may be offered remotely. Parties ordered to court-ordered mediation or arbitration are encouraged to inquire directly with mediation and arbitration
panel members regarding availability of remote services.
- Effective June 1, 2020, the court will rescind the court holiday provision as to civil filings, except for Small Claims and Unlawful Detainers.
Customers may file documents online via the eSubmit Document Submission Portal,
Mail or by depositing in the drop box located at one of the open justice centers.
Family Law
- The court continues to accept ex parte domestic violence restraining order requests, requests to renew restraining orders, request to dismiss restraining orders, ex parte applications. stipulations, and surrogacy petitions wherein birth is imminent in-person at the Blythe Courthouse, Hall of Justice, Larson Justice Center and Southwest Justice Center.
- Effective May 18, 2020, the court will rescind the court holiday provision as to family law filings and DCSS documents. Customers may file documents online via the eSubmit Document Submission Portal,
Mail or by placement in the drop box.
- On May 18, 2020, the court resume in-person hearings on permanent restraining orders at the Blythe Courthouse, the Hall of Justice, Southwest Justice Center, and Larson Justice Center.
- On May 18, 2020, the court will conduct mediations via videoconference or telephonically. (Telephonic appearances for mediations will need prior approval).
- On June 8, 2020, Requests for Orders (RFOs) proceedings will be heard telephonically.
- On June 15, 2020, the family law clerk’s office will resume accepting of all Adoption and Termination of Parental Rights filings and rescind the court holiday provision.
Customers may file documents online via the eSubmit Document Submission Portal, Mail or by placement in the drop box.
Parties may stipulate to a judicial officer ruling on a contested matter without a hearing by submitting a Stipulation and Order Re: Ruling on Request for Order without Hearing. Parties submitting the Stipulation and Order form will receive a written ruling from the judicial officer.
Parties may submit the Stipulation and Order form via the eSubmit Document Submission Portal, Mail or by placement in the drop box.
You can access the “Family Law Orders During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency” and new local forms by clicking the links below:
Child Custody Recommending Counseling (CCRC)
- Until further notice, Child Custody Recommending Counseling (CCRC) appointments will be conducted via videoconference.
If you received an Order to Attend Child Custody Recommending Counseling Appointment (videoconference), you are required
to complete a CCRC Intake Questionnaire and attend Parent Orientation prior to your appointment. Your questionnaire and
certificate of completion of parent orientation should be sent a minimum of two days prior to your scheduled CCRC
appointment. You can access the local forms by clicking the links below:
Supervised Visitation
Emergency Protective Order (EPO)
- For Law Enforcement:
- Daytime Emergency Protective Order (EPO) calls will still be accepted.
Case Information
Probate
- The following essential matters continue to be heard telephonically: temporary guardianship and temporary conservatorship cases, LPS conservatorships, and accept ex parte elder abuse restraining orders, requests to renew restraining orders,
ex parte applications, stipulations, guardianship status reports and petitions for compromise of disputed claims of minors and persons with disabilities.
- Effective 5/11/2020, all probate documents will be accepted for filing and are to be submitted by eSubmit, U.S. Mail or dropped off in a drop box located at Riverside Historic Courthouse, Temecula Courthouse or Palm Springs Court house.
Only those documents related to the essential matters (above) can be delivered in-person to the Hall of Justice, Larson Justice Center or Southwest Justice Center.
- Effective 5/18/2020, in-person hearings will be permitted for Elder Abuse Restraining Orders at the temporary location at Riverside Historic Courthouse or Larson Justice Center.
- Effective 8/3/2020, the temporary location at Southwest Justice Center is being added to permit in-person hearings for Elder Abuse Restraining Orders.
- You can also check the status of your case online.
- Probate Investigator interviews will be conducted telephonically or by other remote means.
- Telephonic appearances information and instructions:
- List of Matters on Calendar:
Juvenile Delinquency
- On June 15, 2020, the court resumed hearing all juvenile delinquency matters and court Clerk’s Office staff resumed processing all types of juvenile delinquency filings.
- Remote appearances are available for juvenile delinquency hearings.
- Juvenile Non-Traffic Infraction calendars are scheduled to resume the week of September 1, 2020.
Juvenile Dependency
- On June 15, 2020, the court resumed hearing all juvenile dependency matters and court Clerk’s Office staff resumed processing all types of juvenile dependency filings.
- Remote appearances are available for juvenile delinquency hearings.
- For the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS):
- A daytime magistrate is available for processing Protective Custody Warrants electronically.
- Protective Custody Warrants are being accepted electronically.
- Night and Weekend Magistrate services are still available.
Traffic
- Effective July 6, 2020, the Court will resume processing traffic tickets, except for traffic matters that require a hearing.
- Traffic Night Court is not being held at this time.
- Beginning July 27, 2020, the court began vacating all Arraignments and Arraignment and Court Trial proceedings set during the months of March, April, May, June, July,
or August 2020 and mailing notices of election to all the defendants. Additionally, the court included a Notice of Consent for Remote Proceedings
(RI-TR019-INFO and RI-TR019) forms.
Through the Notice of Election re Traffic Proceedings (TR024) form, defendants may tell the Court how they would like their cases to proceed in the interim.
If a defendant elects to proceed with the hearing, he or she may consent to have the hearing heard remotely.
Notices of the vacated hearing were also mailed to the law enforcement agencies.
- Beginning July 29, 2020, the court began vacating all traffic court trials and mailing notices of vacated hearing to all the defendants and law enforcement
agencies alerting the parties that the hearing will be rescheduled once the court resumes traffic court trials. Defendants may also elect to have these hearings
heard remotely once the Court resumes traffic court trials.
Paying a Traffic Ticket
- Most traffic-related matters can be handled online, including options for paying a traffic fine.
You can also call our Traffic IVR at 951-222-0384 (phone),
or utilize ePay-It (external site ) to handle your traffic ticket.
Small Claims
- All small claims hearings, including those scheduled for night court, are postponed for 90 days. Notice of your new hearing will be mailed by the Court.
You can also check the status of your case online.
- The Court Clerk’s Offices for small claims matters are closed.
Unlawful Detainers
- All unlawful detainer matters are postponed for 60 days, except for ex parte applications and stipulations.
- The Court Clerk’s Offices for unlawful detainer matters are closed. Court Clerk’s Office staff are
only processing unlawful detainer filings (documents) related to the limited emergency matters being heard by the Court.
Other
- The court continues to hear Riese matters.
- The court is accepting Emergency writs challenging COVID-19 measures.
- The court is accepting Writs of Habeas Corpus challenging medical quarantines.
Court Orders
