Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Chief Justice of California. Credit: Diego M. Radzinschi / ALM

California's chief justice has halted a Judicial Council vote to end a freeze on eviction proceedings, citing talks with the governor and state lawmakers.

The council was scheduled to submit votes Wednesday on an order that would have allowed courts to begin processing evictions and judicial foreclosures again after Aug. 3.

"After discussions with the governor, legislative leaders, and Judicial Council members—as well as hearing from residents with many different viewpoints—I have suspended for the time being the vote on the emergency rules dealing with evictions and judicial foreclosures," Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said in a statement. "I believe the executive and legislative branches will need more time to sort through various policy proposals."

The decision is an about-face for judiciary leaders who said just days ago that eviction proceedings could resume as soon as courthouses restart operations halted due to COVID-19.

"The judicial branch cannot usurp the responsibility of the other two branches to deal with the myriad impacts of the pandemic," Cantil-Sakauye said. "We will work with the governor and legislative leaders on an updated time frame for amending, sunsetting, or repealing the Judicial Council's rules, orders, or other actions taken under the authority assigned to us under the governor's executive order."

The governor's press office had no immediate comment.

The halt on processing evictions was one of 13 emergency rules adopted by the council in April to deal with courthouse closures. The rule stops eviction proceedings until 90 days after Gov. Gavin Newsom lifts the pandemic-related state of emergency.

The rule—and what had been its impending repeal—was hotly debated among landlords, renters and policymakers. The California Apartment Association called the rule "disheartening" and an unfair denial of property owners' access to local courts.

"Without the ability to legally and peacefully regain possession of property, rental housing providers are powerless to combat many of the biggest problems they face at a time when it is more important than ever for Californians to have a safe place to call home," the association's chief executive officer, Thomas Bannon, wrote in a May 11 letter to the Judicial Council.

Many legislative Democrats, however, criticized the repeal vote, saying that the economic impacts of the pandemic continue.

"We are very grateful that the chief justice considered feedback and stopped the vote," Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, said in an email. "This allows the Legislature time to agree upon and pass a solution to avoid a wave of evictions in the wake of COVID-19."

Chiu on Wednesday introduced legislation that would block the eviction of renters during the COVID-19 emergency.

The council's vote on a circulating order to rescind the $0 bail schedule June 20 was expected to be announced later on Wednesday.