“These aren’t victimless crimes by any stretch,” he said. “So they need justice.” The county is among several nationwide grappling with massive case backlogs as courthouses are reopening after months of coronavirus mitigation measures delayed or shifted hearings to be online or by phone. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eric C. Taylor announced this week that deadlines would be extended for criminal trials in an effort to address large pandemic-related backlogs. “Although we are advancing to try cases at a much more regular pace, we are monitoring a COVID bottleneck of back-logged criminal and civil trials building over the last 16 months that our court will control as we work diligently to address each matter,” Judge Taylor said.