Superior Court of
Local Court Rules
RULE 1 SCOPE OF RULES FOR THE
1.1 Effective
Date of Rules............................................................................................ 1
1.2 Citation
of Rules .................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Construction
and Application of Rules..................................................................... 1
RULE 2 COURT ORGANIZATION ............................................................................... 2
2.1 Policy
Making Authority......................................................................................... 2
2.2 Administrative
Authority.......................................................................................... 2
2.3 Administrative
Responsibility................................................................................... 2
2.4 Presiding
Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge......................................................... 2
2.5 Location
and Schedule of Court Sessions................................................................ 3
2.6 Applications
for Ex Parte Orders............................................................................ 3
2.7 “Duty”
Judge.......................................................................................................... 4
2.8 Compensation
of Court Appointed Counsel and Investigators.................................. 4
2.9 Telephonic
Appearances......................................................................................... 5
2.10 Tentative
Ruling System.......................................................................................... 7
2.11 Facsimile
Filing....................................................................................................... 8
2.12 Sealing
of Juror Information.................................................................................... 8
2.13 Courtroom
Security................................................................................................ 8
2.14 Court Reporter Fees............................................................................................... 9
2.15 Court Reporting Services........................................................................................ 9
2.16 Audio and Video Recording and
Transmission......................................................... 9
RULE 3 DOCUMENTS PRESENTED FOR FILING.................................................. 10
3.1 Form
and Filing of Documents, Generally.............................................................. 10
3.2 Use of Judicial Council and
3.3 Proof of Service................................................................................................... 10
3.4 Judgments and Decrees........................................................................................ 10
3.5 Endorsing
Copies................................................................................................. 10
3.6 Prepaid,
Self-Addressed Envelopes Required....................................................... 11
3.7 Time
and Date Must Be Shown............................................................................ 11
3.8 Requests
for Judicial Notice.................................................................................. 11
3.9 Filing
Documents In Matters Set On Shortened Time............................................. 11
3.10 Redaction
of Social Security Numbers.................................................................. 11
RULE 4 CRIMINAL RULES......................................................................................... 12
4.1 Filing
Complaints and Citations............................................................................. 12
4.2 Documents
Necessary for a Hearing..................................................................... 12
4.3 Motions................................................................................................................ 12
4.4 In Limine Motions............................................................................................... 12
4.5 Jury
Instructions and Verdict Forms...................................................................... 12
RULE 5 TRAFFIC INFRACTION TRIALS................................................................. 13
5.1 Trial By Written Declaration.................................................................................. 13
5.2 Traffic and Engineering Surveys............................................................................. 13
RULE 6 CIVIL
RULES................................................................................................... 14
6.1 Case Management Conference............................................................................. 14
6.2 Trial Management Conference.............................................................................. 14
6.3 Short Cause Trials................................................................................................ 14
6.4 Long Cause Trials................................................................................................. 14
6.5 Trial Procedures................................................................................................... 14
6.6 Administration of Civil
Litigation............................................................................ 15
6.6.1 Service of Complaint............................................................................................ 15
6.6.2 Mandatory Settlement Conferences....................................................................... 16
6.6.3 Cases Stayed Under
6.6.4 Dismissal of Action or Entry of Judgment Following Settlement.............................. 17
6.7 Requests
for Continuance to Be Signed by Parties................................................. 17
6.8 Uninsured
Motorist Cases..................................................................................... 17
6.9 Communication
With Court Staff........................................................................... 18
6.10 Hearings Exceeding 15 Minutes............................................................................ 18
6.11 Attorneys’
Fees In Default Proceedings................................................................. 18
RULE 7 FAMILY LAW PROCEEDINGS..................................................................... 19
7.1 Scope.................................................................................................................. 19
7.2 Service and Filing................................................................................................. 19
7.3 Declarations......................................................................................................... 19
7.4 Proof of Service .................................................................................................. 19
7.5 Family Law Case Management
(for Actions Filed by Self-Represented
Party)
................................................................................................................. 19
7.5.1 Firm Dates........................................................................................................... 20
7.5.2 Forms to be Issued by Clerk Upon
Filing of Petition ............................................. 20
7.5.3 Service of Summons and Petition
– Forms to be Served on Other Party ................ 21
7.5.4 Court Hearings Regarding Service
........................................................................ 21
7.5.5 Case Management Conferences............................................................................ 21
7.6 Declarations Required in Ex Parte Requests for
Temporary Restraining
Orders................................................................................................................ 22
7.6.1 Conditions for Issuance of Ex
Parte Orders........................................................... 23
7.6.2 Exceptions to Notice and
Declaration Requirements ............................................. 23
7.6.3 Exclusive Use of a Vehicle.................................................................................... 24
7.6.4 Removal From a Residence.................................................................................. 24
7.6.5 Modified Orders................................................................................................... 24
7.6.6 Setting Aside Ex Parte Orders.............................................................................. 24
7.7 Procedures for Document
Signature...................................................................... 24
7.8 Family Law Calendar............................................................................................ 24
7.8.1 Family Law – Guardianship Law
and Motion Calendar.......................................... 25
7.8.2 Conflict With Other Court
Appearance................................................................. 25
7.9 Setting Matters (Short
Cause/Long Cause)............................................................ 25
7.10 Matters Taken Off Calendar................................................................................. 25
7.11 Continuances........................................................................................................ 26
7.12 Unserved Orders to Show Cause.......................................................................... 26
7.13 Orders Shortening and Extending
Time.................................................................. 26
7.14 Hearings – General............................................................................................... 26
7.15 Preparation of Order After
Hearing....................................................................... 28
7.16 Contempt............................................................................................................. 28
7.17 Settlement Conferences........................................................................................ 29
7.17.1 Settlement Conference: Voluntary........................................................................ 29
7.17.2 Discovery............................................................................................................. 29
7.17.3 Settlement Conference Statements........................................................................ 29
7.18 Trial Exhibits......................................................................................................... 30
7.19 Child Custody and Visitation................................................................................. 30
7.19.1 Ex Parte Orders Changing the
Status Quo Regarding Custody and
Visitation............................................................................................................. 30
7.19.2 Temporary Custody and Visitation
Orders............................................................ 30
7.19.3 Default Judgments................................................................................................. 31
7.19.4 Appointment of Counsel for Child......................................................................... 31
7.20 Family Court Services........................................................................................... 31
7.20.1 Mediation – Custody and Visitation....................................................................... 31
7.20.2 Mediator’s Recommendations............................................................................... 32
7.20.3 Failure to Appear – Contempt.............................................................................. 32
7.21 Child and Spousal Support................................................................................... 32
7.22 Family Law Facilitator.......................................................................................... 32
RULE 8 ADOPTION
PROCEEDINGS......................................................................... 33
8.1 Adoption Hearings................................................................................................ 33
8.2 Access to Adoption Files...................................................................................... 33
RULE 9 PROBATE......................................................................................................... 34
9.1 Probate Days ...................................................................................................... 34
9.2 Preparation of Orders........................................................................................... 34
9.3 Pre-Approved Probate Calendar.......................................................................... 34
9.4 Matters Requiring Appearance.............................................................................. 34
9.5 Filing Objections –
Continuances.......................................................................... 34
9.6 Costs................................................................................................................... 35
9.7 Compensation of Attorneys, Conservators,
Guardians, Trustees, and
Requests
for Extraordinary Fees.......................................................................... 35
9.8 Statutory Fees and Commissions
In Decedents’ Estates......................................... 36
9.9 Preliminary Distributions........................................................................................ 36
RULE 10 JUVENILE COURT RULES............................................................................ 37
10.1 Appointment of Counsel for the
Child.................................................................... 37
10.2 Competency Requirements for
Counsel................................................................. 37
10.3 Minimum Standards of Education
and Training...................................................... 38
10.4 Standards of Representation................................................................................. 39
10.5 Caseload Standards.............................................................................................. 40
10.6 Procedures for Reviewing and
Resolving Complaints............................................. 40
10.7 Procedures for Informing the
Court of the Interests of a Dependent Child............... 42
10.8 Court-Appointed Special
Advocate (CASA)........................................................ 43
10.9 CASA Reports..................................................................................................... 44
RULE 11 APPELLATE DIVISION.................................................................................. 45
11.1 Supervising Judge................................................................................................. 45
11.2 Sessions............................................................................................................... 45
11.3 Briefs................................................................................................................... 45
11.4 Other Rules of Appeal.......................................................................................... 45
LIST OF LOCAL FORMS....................................................................................................... 46
HISTORY TABLE.................................................................................................................... 47