Protecting Our Community: How BASF is Responding to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

April 2, 2020, San Francisco—UPDATE: In accordance with the updated March 31 Shelter-in-Place Order of the Health Officer, the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) and the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) will continue to operate remotely through at least May 3. Our offices remain closed. The Health Officer will continue to carefully monitor the evolving situation and could change that date.

BASF and JDC staff will continue to serve your needs while working from home. See our Business Continuity Statement for details.

The updated order extends and further restricts activities within San Francisco. Here is how the new health order applies:

• Physical distancing requirements are mandatory (stay at least six feet from anyone who doesn’t live with you).
• Fenced dog parks are closed. Open spaces that allow dogs, such as Crissy Field, are open.
• Shared recreational facilities, such as golf courses, tennis courts, basketball courts, and climbing walls or closed
• Playing sports with shared equipment, such as frisbee, basketball, or soccer is prohibited, with anyone who doesn’t live with you.
• Businesses that supply products that people need to work from home are no longer essential businesses. They must close their storefronts. Direct delivery to homes or businesses may continue.
• Essential businesses such as grocery stores, banks, and pharmacies can remain open, but must stop running the parts of their operations that are not essential.
• Essential businesses must follow cleaning rules, and put in place rules to keep people a safe distance from each other.
• Most construction must stop. Projects to help keep people safe and housed are exceptions.

 

March 26, 2020, San Francisco—UPDATE: The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has consolidated and relocated all essential court proceedings to the San Francisco Courthouse at 450 Golden Gate Avenue, effective March 26, 2020 until April 7, 2020.

The San Jose, Oakland, and Eureka-McKinleyville courthouses are entirely closed to the general public from Thursday, March 26, 2020 until April 7, 2020.

See General Order 73, Temporary Restrictions on Courthouse Access due to COVID-19 Public Health Emergency; Consolidation and Relocation of All Essential Operations to the San Francisco Courthouse, amended March 25, 2020.

Please see the court's website for more information.

 

March 24, 2020, San Francisco—UPDATE: California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye on Monday issued a statewide order suspending all jury trials in California's superior courts for 60 days and allowing courts to immediately adopt new rules to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The order includes the following directives:

• All jury trials are suspended and continued for 60 days. Courts may conduct a trial at an earlier date upon finding of good cause shown or through use of remote technology when appropriate.
• Time periods to begin criminal and civil trials is extended for 60 days, though courts may conduct trials earlier upon finding of good cause or through remote technology when appropriate.
• Superior courts are authorized to adopt any proposed rules or rule amendment intended to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to take effect immediately, without advance circulation for public comment. A court adopting any such rule change must immediately distribute it, and no litigant’s substantive rights shall be prejudiced for failing to comply with the requirements of a new or amended rule until at least 20 days after its distribution.

Read the full order here.

 

March 19, 2020, San Francisco—UPDATE: The Judicial Council of California issued a supplemental order which authorizes the San Francisco Superior Court to declare that March 18 to April 15 be deemed holidays for purposes of computing the time for filing papers with the court. Read the full order.

 

March 16, 2020, San Francisco—UPDATE: In alignment with the San Francisco Public Health Order issued today, requiring people to stay at home for all but essential needs, the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) and the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) announce the following operational changes, in effect immediately until April 7 or further notice:

Our staff will continue to serve your needs while working from home. Our offices are closed for the next three weeks to limit employee, member, and visitor exposure to COVID-19. You can continue to reach us by email or by phone. Visit our Contacts page for email addresses, or call and our receptionist can assist you.

While our offices are closed, all events and Continuing Legal Education seminars will be rescheduled or moved online. If you are registered for an upcoming event, you will receive more information shortly. The CLE & Events page of the website contains up-to-date information on BASF and JDC programs.

We ask for your patience and understanding as we respond to the sweeping new restrictions designed to keep us all safe. While our offices are closed, we may have to limit or prioritize the services our staff is able to provide while working from home. We will continue to keep you updated.

The San Francisco Superior Court announced it will be drastically reducing operations. This includes closing 75 percent of courtrooms, all clerk's offices, and the ACCESS Center for 30 days. For more information, please visit the Coronavirus and Court Operations page.

 

March 12, 2020, San Francisco—UPDATE: As our city leaders and agencies respond to the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation, we want to share with you the latest updates from the San Francisco Superior Court as well as city resources for employees and businesses.

At this time, there are no changes to normal court operations within the San Francisco Superior Court. If you or your clients are required to appear in court, please refer to the Coronavirus in the Court page for more information about jury service, as well as court contact information.

The San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development published Assistance & Guidance for Businesses and Workers Impacted by COVID-19. This resource page offers information on measures to support small businesses, nonprofits, and workers during this time.

 

March 9, 2020, San Francisco—The Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) is following the developments related to the coronavirus situation in order to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our staff, members, guests, and the community at large. We share the public’s concerns about protecting against the spread of COVID-19.

We encourage everyone to take the necessary steps to protect your health. If you are not feeling well, we encourage you to stay home and reach out to us to reschedule planned visits or meetings. As a networking hub and provider of Continuing Legal Education seminars, we host numerous events every week. We would like to inform you that most of our events are proceeding as scheduled. 

You are welcome to attend in-person events. Those who cannot or do not wish to attend in-person events receive the option to join a webcast instead, where available. All event registration confirmation emails will include information on this option until further notice.

Your safety and health is our top priority. We are evaluating the situation in accordance with the latest recommendations from the Mayor’s Office. We are committed to high standards of cleanliness and will provide hand sanitizers and tissues in high-traffic areas and event spaces. 

We encourage all to adhere to the standard precautions provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with state and local public health authorities. 

We will update you with any changes.