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COVID-19 Information & Court Operations
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News Releases
- Jan 22, 2021 – Suspension of Jury Trials (pdf )
- Dec 29, 2020 – Suspension of Jury Trials (pdf )
- Dec 07, 2020 – Suspension of Jury Trials (pdf )
- 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: 1/22/2021 at 5:00 pm
Regional Stay at Home Order:
While Riverside County is under the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) (Regional Stay at Home Order) (external site pdf ), the Riverside Superior Court is exempt from the order.
California Courts are part of the Essential Workforce (Government Operations and other community-based essential functions). If you have a scheduled hearing (either in-person or telephonic) you should still appear.
In order to help protect against spread of the virus, the Riverside Superior Court has issued an order
(General Order 2020-69) (pdf ) to immediately suspend jury trials that have not commenced.
If you have been summoned for jury service, please check your status before reporting.
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 2020-67) (pdf ).
The Sherriff’s Department will turn away any person not wearing a face covering prior to security screening.
Important:
Governor Newsom’s regional stay-at-home order may affect your jury reporting instructions. Please check your status before reporting for jury service. You may check your status through one of the following options:
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 has summoned jurors for a limited number of jury trials. Cases with constitutional and statutory timeframes approaching will have priority.
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. 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 March 31st, 2021.
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) |
Closure Day - Emergency Matters Only
(Every 3rd Friday Until Jun 2021) |
| Banning Justice Center | Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
Criminal IC Arraignments Countywide
OTC Restraining Orders
Ex parte Applications
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Blythe Courthouse | Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
OTC Restraining Orders
Ex parte Applications
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Corona Court | Closed | Closed |
| Hemet Courthouse | Closed | Closed |
| Larson Justice Center | Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
OTC Restraining Orders
OTC Temporary Guardianship and
Temporary Conservatorship
Ex parte Applications
Juvenile Detentions
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Moreno Valley Courthouse | Closed | Closed |
| Palm Springs Courthouse | Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Closed |
| Riverside Family Law | Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
OTC Restraining Orders
OTC Temporary Guardianship and
Temporary Conservatorship
Ex parte Applications
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Riverside Hall of Justice | Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Closed |
| Riverside Historic Courthouse | Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Closed |
| Riverside Juvenile |
Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Juvenile Detentions
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Southwest Justice Center | Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
OTC Restraining Orders
OTC Temporary Guardianship and
Temporary Conservatorship
Ex parte Applications
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Southwest Juvenile |
Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Juvenile Detentions
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Temecula Courthouse | Closed | Closed |
| Appeals | Available by phone only | Closed |
| Exhibits | Available by phone & email | Closed |
| Records Center | Closed | Closed |
| Riverside Centre (ECD) | Available by phone only | Closed |
| Self Help Center | Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Available by phone only | Closed |
| Court's Executive Office |
Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Available by phone only | Closed |
Limited Emergency Matters (by Case Type)
Criminal
- The court continues to hear in-custody arraignments via video for both misdemeanor and felony cases in addition to in person preliminary hearings,
bail motions, sentencing hearings, etc. Additionally, the court continues to accept bail motions, 977 waivers, OR Release Agreements, stipulations,
and ex parte gun violence restraining orders via eSubmit.
- Pursuant to the Presiding Judge’s General Order No. 2020-69 (pdf ), all new criminal jury trials (not currently in progress) are suspended through December 31, 2020.
- 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 processing all criminal filings (documents)
- 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 Clerk’s Offices for civil matters are closed for in-person filings except for 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 the Banning Justice Center, Blythe Courthouse, Palm Springs Courthouse, Riverside Historic Courthouse and Southwest Justice Center.
- Customers may file civil documents online via the eSubmit Document Submission Portal, by U.S. Mail or by placement in a drop box at one of the following court facilities:
- Banning Courthouse
- Blythe Courthouse
- Corona Courthouse
- Moreno Valley Courthouse
- Palm Springs Courthouse
- Riverside Historic Courthouse
- Southwest Justice Center (Murrieta)
- All civil hearings are being heard remotely via telephonic appearance, except civil jury trials. On December 7, 2020, the Riverside Superior Court issued
General Order 2020-69 (pdf ) suspending all new remote civil jury trials through December 31, 2020.
- The court is conducting in-person hearings on civil harassment restraining orders.
- 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 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.
Family Law
- The court continues to accept filings for ex parte domestic violence restraining order requests, requests to renew restraining orders, request to dismiss restraining orders and ex parte applications in-person at the Blythe Courthouse, Larson Justice Center, Riverside Family Law Courthouse and Southwest Justice Center.
- Customers may file documents online via the eSubmit Document Submission Portal, Mail or by placement in the drop box.
- The court is conducting in-person hearings on permanent restraining orders at the Blythe Courthouse, Riverside Family Law Courthouse, Southwest Justice Center, and Larson Justice Center.
- The court is conducting mediations via videoconference or telephonically. (Telephonic appearances for mediations will need prior approval).
- Requests for Orders (RFOs) proceedings are being heard telephonically. Adoptions are being heard via videoconference.
- Freedom for Parental Custody and Control hearings are being conducted in-person at the Riverside Family Law Courthouse, Southwest Justice Center and Larson Justice Center.
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
- All probate matters will be heard remote (telephonically), with the exception of Reports of Sale and Petition to Confirm Sale of Real Property (in Departments 8 and 11) as well as Elder Abuse Restraining Orders, which will be heard in-person.
- Elder Abuse Restraining Orders are being heard in-person at the Riverside Historic Courthouse, Larson Justice Center and Southwest Justice Center.
- Probate Trials (non-jury) will be heard in-person at the Riverside Historic Courthouse for Department 8 and Department 11 only.
- Effective 5/11/2020, all probate documents will be accepted for filing. Documents may be submitted by eSubmit, U.S. Mail or placed in the drop box located at Riverside Historic Courthouse, Temecula Courthouse or Palm Springs Courthouse between the hours of 7:30a.m. to 4:00p.m.
- Only documents related to essential matters (i.e., temporary guardianship and temporary conservatorship cases, LPS conservatorships, 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) can be delivered in-person to the Riverside Historic Courthouse, Larson Justice Center or Southwest Justice Center.
- 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. Please contact your attorney for further instructions regarding your court appearance.
- Effective December 8, 2020, the court is suspending all out of custody detention filings. Out of custody detention hearings already on the court’s calendar will be continued. Parties will receive notification by mail.
- Effective December 8, 2020, Juvenile Non-Traffic Infraction calendars are suspended. Parties will receive notification by mail.
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 dependency hearings. Please contact your attorney for further instructions regarding your court appearance.
- 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 resumed processing traffic tickets, and on November 2, 2020, the Court resumed hearing all traffic matters that require a hearing either in person or remotely.
- Traffic Night Court is not being held at this time.
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
- The Court Clerk’s Offices for small claims matters are closed for in-person filings.
- Customers may submit traffic documents online via the eSubmit Document Submission Portal, by U.S. Mail or by placement in a drop box at one of the following court facilities:
- Banning Courthouse
- Blythe Courthouse
- Corona Courthouse
- Moreno Valley Courthouse
- Palm Springs Courthouse
- Southwest Justice Center (Murrieta)
- All small claims hearings are being heard remotely via telephonic appearance.
- Small claims hearings are currently not being scheduled for night court.
- You can check the status of your case online.
Unlawful Detainers
- Emergency Rule 1 (external site pdf ) sunset at midnight on September 1, 2020. This rule previously prohibited, after April 6, 2020, the issuance of a summons on any unlawful
detainer complaint or a default judgment on any pending unlawful detainer action, except on a showing that the action was needed to address public health and safety issues.
- Governor Newsom signed the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act of 2020 (AB 3088 (external site )) as urgency legislation. The COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act of 2020 went into effect on August 31, 2020.
AB 3088 was adopted to protect tenants and small landlords from the financial distress caused by COVID-19 pandemic effects. Under AB 3088, landlords may begin filing certain
eviction actions for failure to pay rent or other charges as of October 5, 2020, but cannot evict tenants who have filed a specific declaration of financial distress within
the required timeframe - 15-days after being served with a notice to quit by the landlord.
- On September 1, 2020, the Riverside Superior Court issued General Order 2020-53 (pdf ) rescinding certain days as court holidays for the purpose of computing time for filing papers under CCP §§ 12 and 12a.
- Effective October 5, 2020, the Judicial Council of California adopted new forms for unlawful detainer matters. The new forms can be found at: www.courts.ca.gov/1290.htm (external site )
- The Court Clerk’s Offices for unlawful detainer matters are closed for in-person filings unless it is an ex parte application or other application for emergency relief.
- Customers may submit unlawful detainer documents online via the eSubmit Document Submission Portal, by U.S. Mail or by placement in a drop box at one of the following court facilities:
- Banning Courthouse
- Blythe Courthouse
- Corona Courthouse
- Moreno Valley Courthouse
- Palm Springs Courthouse
- Southwest Justice Center (Murrieta)
- All unlawful detainer hearings are being heard remotely via telephonic appearance. Notice of your hearing will be mailed by the Court.
- Self Help information about new eviction laws can be found on the California Courts website at www.courts.ca.gov/44660.htm (external site )
- Additional Eviction Resources: Department of Real Estate: “Housing is Key (external site )” provides resources for landlords and tenants to understand their rights and responsibilities – particularly in light of COVID-19 protections.
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
