SACRAMENTO (AP) — In an unprecedented order, California's chief justice on Monday suspended all superior court jury trials for 60 days because of the coronavirus outbreak.
"The world, country, and state face a life-threatening pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus," Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye said in her order, which impacts all 58 superior courts.
Local courts can, however, choose to conduct some business — just not jury trials.
The courts are considered essential services that are exempt from Gov. Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home order that shut many government offices as well as most commercial businesses.
But the social distancing procedures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus — such as limiting gatherings — are difficult under usual court conditions, Cantil
