Pending the approval of California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the Humboldt County Superior Court has announced it will suspend operations for the rest of the week in the face of the state of emergency spurred by the COVID-19 virus.

Then, beginning March 20 and extending at least 30 days, the court will look to conduct limited hearings and limited operations. The court's announcement comes after Humboldt County District Attorney Maggie Fleming reportedly told the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors she will not be filing new charges against defendants who are not in custody, a policy that will likely extend some months as her office is understaffed amid COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

See the full press release from the Humboldt County Superior Court copied below and we'll update this post with more information as we can.

COURT CLOSURE DUE TO CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

Due to the public health crisis related to the coronavirus (COVID-19), and state of emergency declared by the State of California and the County of Humboldt, pending approval of the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the Humboldt Superior Court will be closed from Tuesday, March 17, 2020, through Friday, March, 20, 2020. Beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, and continuing for at least thirty (30) days thereafter, and possibly until the end of the state of emergency, the Court will conduct limited hearings and limited Court operations.

Additional information will follow in the next few days, but please be advised that the Humboldt Superior Court is not planning on being open to the public tomorrow,
March 17, 2020, through Friday, March 20, 2020.