Los Angeles County Superior Court judicial officers will now be required to wear face masks on the bench and in the common areas of the courthouse during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although many courts around the country have asked members of the public to don masks while entering the court, Los Angeles County Superior Court appears to be among the first to require bench officers to wear a face covering.

Presiding Judge Kevin Brazile said the safety protocol, which extends to all court employees, will help to slow the spread of coronavirus in the superior courthouses and Los Angeles County.

"By mandating that bench officers wear face coverings, we will also decrease the chances of an asymptomatic judge or commissioner spreading the virus to others," Brazile said in a statement.

The court handed out two masks each to all judicial officers and employees, expanding its policy of handing out paper masks to members of the public who enter the court without a face covering.

The guidance allows exemptions for those with medical conditions, disabilities or "recognized good faith reasons, such as religious beliefs."

The requirement follows a handful of administrative orders from the court pushing back civil trials until June 22 and prioritizing more time-sensitive proceedings. In addition to pivoting to remote hearings, the court has also set up a customer service call center to limit the number of people entering the court.