Glendale Pandemic Orders

Like other communities throughout the Los Angeles area, courts in Glendale have had to make adjustments in light of the coronavirus and COVID19 pandemic. The City of Glendale, in addition to having a branch of the California Superior Court, contains a city jail, located in the police department complex just across the street from the Glendale Superior Courthouse. Glendale is in a division of the Los Angeles court system that groups the Glendale Courthouse together with the criminal systems of Burbank, Pasadena, and Alhambra. This is significant because it can affect the location of a criminal case. It can also affect which agency prosecutes a criminal case. While the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office handles felonies in all four division courthouses, they only handle misdemeanors in Glendale and Alhambra.

Burbank and Pasadena both have City Attorney offices that handle all misdemeanors committed in each city. These two City Attorney prosecution units are not affiliated with one another, nor do they have any organizational connection to the Los Angeles District Attorney Office. To make matters worse, Glendale also has a City Attorney’s Office, but they only do criminal cases involving Glendale Municipal Codes. This may sound complicated, but that is not the only thing to watch. Once a case is nearing trial, cases from each of these courtrooms are sent to a master calendar court in Pasadena. Jury Trial may then occur back in Glendale, or in Burbank, Pasadena, or Alhambra, or even further away is scheduling requires.

The Justice System can be confusing. And the Glendale court system has grown even more complicated since the coronavirus measures have taken effect. Speedy trial rights that have never before been altered, as they are constitutionally protected, have been subject to extensions during the pandemic. Glendale is attempting to enforce rules that are right for its own citizens, while complying with Los Angeles County, California, and national guidelines. Some individuals have a scheduled first court date or intermediate hearing when the Glendale court is closed. The Glendale court is much smaller than some other courthouses in Los Angeles, and cannot do all the large scale reorganizing that some of the larger courts can. Glendale does have a well-developed remote arraignment center that has long been used for custody cases. Glendale is using some of its local strengths as a courthouse to deal with the quarantine rules

The attorneys at Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers have continued to monitor our client’s cases throughout the quarantine. This includes being aware of what local rules each courtroom has implemented. While following all social distancing guidelines, we have made several appearances at Glendale Courthouse since the pandemic began. This includes visiting the jail and conducting arraignments remotely.

Even though we made almost weekly appearances at the Glendale courthouse before COVID-19, and even though we have been there since, that does not mean we aren’t met with new surprises each time we go. The nature of the pandemic is change. Change, both from our former routine, and from the quarantine rules that we become accustomed to. Glendale is no exception to this principle. The plan to open up safely means that the quarantine will change bit by bit until things approach fully open courts in Glendale. The Attorneys at Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers have daily contact with the people that make the court system work and the people that oversee the COVID-19 changes. We work hard to make sure we are always up to date of developments at the Glendale Courthouse.

If you or a loved one has a Glendale criminal case during this pandemic, it is critical that you speak with a Glendale Criminal Defense Lawyer as soon as possible. As a former Deputy District Attorney with over 14 years of prosecutorial experience, Glendale Defense Attorney Michael Kraut is highly capable of representing you in these volatile times. Mr. Kraut works each day to not only understand the latest orders, but to talk to policymakers about upcoming schedules and anticipated changes.

For more information about Glendale COVID-19 Criminal Procedures, contact Glendale Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Kraut at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers located at 6255 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 1520, Los Angeles, CA 90028. Mr. Kraut can be reached 24/7 at 888-334-6344 or 323-464-6453.