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Third Appellate District (Circuit 3) · official circuit site ✓
Preview of 25 instruments. All 49 county-scoped rules → search all three layers.
General Order 2026-10, signed by Hon. Mark R. Nareau, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court: under Code of Civil Procedure sections 367.10 and 367.75 and California Rules of Court, rule 10.635(e)(2), judicial officers temporarily assigned to the Court - Lassen County being a geographically large and rural county with limited locally available judicial resources - approved and authorized to preside remotely from a location outside a court facility in civil matters subject to section 367.75 when the assigned judicial officer is available to timely hear the matter remotely and requiring the judicial officer’s physical presence would result in a significant delay that would substantially prejudice the litigants, the order constituting the Presiding Judge’s approval required by rule 10.635(e); the factors considered (the availability of local judicial officers, the circumstances requiring assignment or reassignment, time constraints, the assigned officer’s availability and location, the delay and the resulting prejudice), judicial assignment, disqualification, travel distance, or scheduling conflict alone not establishing the requirements of rule 10.635(e)(2); in effect until rescinded, modified, or superseded.
General Order 2026-09, signed by Mark R. Nareau, Presiding Judge: the Lassen County Probation Department to have the probation officer who authored the probation report pertaining to a Defendant subject to a sentencing hearing present for the hearing; if the author is not available, any Lassen County probation officer familiar with and able to articulate the reasons and opinions in the report may appear in their stead; the probation officer may appear in person in court or via zoom.
General Order 2026-07, adopted effective July 10, 2026: a party requesting postponement of a Traffic Court Trial to use local form LSC-TR-100 – Request for Postponement of Traffic Court Trial, filed at least fifteen (15) days prior to the scheduled trial date and served on the opposing party with the Declaration of Service by Mail; good cause and supporting documents, the requesting party identifying unavailable dates and waiving time for trial; the request considered as an ex parte application at the expiration of seven (7) days following completion of service; an objection on local form LSC-TR-101 – Objection to Postponement of Traffic Court Trial (or its eDelivery version) filed within five (5) days from the date of service of the request and served on the requesting party, the same form usable to give dates of unavailability within the following two (2) months; Forms LSC-TR-100 and LSC-TR-101 adopted for mandatory use (www.Lassen.Courts.CA.gov, Local Forms); and the order intended to be incorporated into the Local Rules of Court as Local Rule 2(M)(2) – Postponement of Traffic Court Trials, effective January 1, 2027, then deemed rescinded and superseded.
Rule 9 (subdivision A): a petition for court approval of a compromise or covenant not to sue under Probate Code section 2504 or 3500, verified by the petitioner and to comply with California Rules of Court, Rule 3.1384, Rules 7.950 – 7.955, and to include the name, birth date, age, and sex of the minor or incompetent person, the nature and extent of the injury, a doctor’s report, the facts and circumstances, full disclosure of the reasonableness of the compromise, the present cash value of a structured settlement, a summary of medical expenses, the name and address of the depository, and the amount of attorneys’ fees requested (a reasonable fee standard, expenses of litigation separately itemized and not included in the “amount recovered”) (9(A)); and a petition for withdrawal of funds verified by the guardian, conservator, or trustee and by a competent minor at least 12 years of age, to contain the current age of the minor, the current amount on deposit and the amount and purpose of the withdrawal (9(A)).
Rule 8 (subdivisions A to H): jury service, unless excused by law, a responsibility of citizenship (8(A)); the court’s criteria for excuses for undue hardship under Code of Civil Procedure section 204 (Division 1, Section 4.5 of the Standards of Judicial Administration) - no class or category of persons automatically excluded except as provided by law, a statutory exemption granted only when the eligible person claims it, deferral preferred to excuse, inconvenience not an adequate reason to be excused (8(B)); requests to be excused in writing or placed on the court’s record, with facts specifying the hardship (8(C)); the grounds of undue hardship - no reasonably available transportation, travel exceeding 1 and ½ hours, an extreme financial burden, an undue risk to property, a physical or mental disability or impairment (verification required except where the person is aged 70 years or older), services needed for the protection of public health and safety, and the care of another (8(D)); a prospective juror who served on a grand or trial jury during the immediately preceding 12 months excused on request for one (1) year (8(E)); the jury commissioner empowered to excuse persons for undue hardship (8(F)); and to postpone service for a period not to exceed 180 days for a temporary illness, a scheduled vacation with prepaid commitments, a nonrecurring business demand, a work hardship, child care responsibilities, a full time student’s academic program or any other legitimate temporary hardship (8(G)); and a prospective juror who fails to respond to a summons (Code of Civil Procedure § 209) issued a Failure to Appear/Respond to a Jury Summons notice, with monetary sanctions up to $1,500 or contempt of court punishable by fine (up to $1,000), incarceration (5 days), or both (8(H)).
Rule 7 (subdivisions A to M): the Lassen Superior Court Delay Reduction Program under the Trial Court Delay Reduction Act of 1986 (Government Code section 68600, et seq.) - of unlimited civil cases 75% disposed of within 12 months, 85% within 18 months and 100% within 24 months, of limited civil cases 90%, 98% and 100% - each case set for trial as soon as appropriate consistent with Rule 3.729 (7(A)); all civil cases subject to the Program except probate, guardianship, conservatorship, family law, adoptions, small claims, unlawful detainer, small claims appeals, writs, civil petitions, sister state judgments, water rights and juvenile court proceedings (7(B)); other law and motion matters set in the appropriate law and motion department (7(C)); the clerk to provide LSC-CIV-025, Delay Reduction Program Notice, at the filing of the initial paper, a copy served with the Summons (7(D)); the Complaint served and proofs of service filed within 60 days, an added Defendant or new parties to a Cross-Complaint within 30 days, the parties may stipulate to one 15-day extension of the 30-day response time without leave of court, an application to extend time filed before the time has elapsed, a Request for Entry of Default within 10 days and a Default Judgment within 45 days after entry of default (7(E)); the court’s review no later than 180 days after the initial complaint, notice of the case management conference no later than 45 days before it, the subjects to be considered, the parties to meet and confer no later than 30 days before it, each party to file the mandatory CM-110, Case Management Statement no later than 15 calendar days before it with specific damages and discovery dates (“nature and amount of damages to be determined” and “pursuant to code” insufficient), an ADR stipulation under California Rules of Court 3.221, and the case management order (7(F)); further case management conferences with the same duties (7(G)); no At-Issue Memorandum filed, requests for trial made on the case management statement (7(H)); the case management judge’s responsibility for active management of each case (7(I)); no stipulation that purports to relieve any or all parties from these rules, relief on noticed motion to the law and motion calendar judge (7(J)); the Plaintiff/Cross-Complainant to file a dismissal within 45 days of settlement (Rule of Court 3.1385(b)) (7(K)); an order to show cause why sanctions should not be imposed for failure to follow these rules or a case management order (Rule of Court 2.30, Code of Civil Procedure section 177.5) (7(L)); and dismissal under California Rules of Court 3.1340 or less severe sanctions if the action has not been brought to trial or conditional settlement within two years (7(M)).
Rule 6 (Rules 6.1 and 6.2): the CourtCall Telephonic Appearance Program, fully voluntary and available at a fixed fee or on a fee waiver in certain civil, unlawful detainer, probate, and Title IV-D family support cases, the appearance scheduled by serving the parties and delivering to CourtCall, not less than 5 court days before the hearing, LSC-MIS-025, Request for CourtCall Telephonic Appearance, with the fee or a copy of the fee waiver, the parties to understand that there may be waiting periods of up to an hour (6.1(A)); the conferences, hearings, and proceedings at which a party may appear by telephone in general civil cases (law and motion matters except motions in limine, case management and trial setting conferences, discovery motions, arbitration or mediation status, dismissal review, Title IV-D family support matters), the court’s authority to require a personal appearance or to reject a request, and attorneys and self-represented litigants to place the phrase “CourtCall Telephone Appearance” below the title of the moving or opposing papers (6.1(B)); a call to the courts designated toll-free teleconference line approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled hearing time to check in with the clerk, an attorney or self-represented litigant calling after the check-in period sanctioned as if personally late, the person appearing telephonically to state his or her name for the record each time he or she speaks and not to utilize the “hold” button (6.1(C)); remote appearances via Zoom under Code of Civil Procedure §§ 367.75 and 367.76, California Rules of Court, Rule 3.672, Penal Code §§ 977, 977.3, 1043.5, and 1428.5, and Welfare and Institutions Code § 679.5 - contested hearings by video only, no recording without permission (Rule 1.150(c) & (d)), no technical support from the court, conduct as if in person, and a personal appearance required where the judicial officer determines that it is necessary or where technology or audibility issues cannot be resolved (6.2(A)); the Court generally allows remote appearances in Traffic Infraction cases without judicial approval, a remote arraignment on the electronic Traffic Calendar Add-On Request form no later than the Friday before the appearance date, an officer’s remote appearance on Judicial Council form RA-010 (the Defendant’s consent required), which a defendant may oppose on form RA-015 (6.2(B)); in criminal cases defendants may appear remotely in all misdemeanor proceedings except jury and court trials and in all felony proceedings except trials and sentencing, attorneys if the court finds it appropriate and practicable, and witnesses (except for felony trials) only with the consent of both parties and the court (6.2(C)); in juvenile dependency cases requests on forms RA-025, RA-030, and RA-015, a witness’s request made by filing form RA-025 no later than three (3) court days before the hearing, and a remote appearance without notice on good cause (6.2(D)); in adoption, civil, small claims, family law, and probate proceedings requests on forms RA-010 and RA-015, the court to presume that parties will be appearing in person unless a party requests or notifies the court of an intention to appear remotely, no remote appearance where the tentative ruling or probate notes require a personal appearance, and an expert witness allowed to appear remotely absent good cause to compel in-person testimony (6.2(E)); remote appearances permitted at a hearing on a petition for a domestic violence restraining order (Family Code § 6308) or a gun violence restraining order (Penal Code § 18123) (6.2(F)); and remote appearances in proceedings identified in Code of Civil Procedure § 367.76(a)(1) and in juvenile justice proceedings under Welfare and Institutions Code § 679.5, the instructions and connection details on the Zoom Appearance page (6.2(G), 6.2(H)).
Rule 5 (its opening paragraph and subdivisions A to C): the Office of the Family Law Facilitator to perform the duties required by Family Code sections 10004 and 10005, at the direction of the court (5); educational materials for self-represented litigants on establishing parentage and establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support and spousal support, court forms and voluntary declarations of paternity, assistance in completing forms, support schedules based on statutory guidelines, and referrals to the local child support agency, family court services and other community agencies - the Office not to advocate on behalf of or represent a party in family matters (5(A)); upon court order, to draft stipulations for parties (5(B)); and upon court order, to prepare formal orders consistent with the court’s announced order where the parties are not represented by counsel (5(C)).
Rule 4 (subdivisions A to C): motions, orders to show cause, and requests for order with a prayer for the establishment or modification of child support or family support in which the Department of Child Support Services is a party heard in Department 7, the clerk accepting the filing to designate a hearing date and time in the Family Court Commissioner’s department (4(A)); litigants ordered to the Family Law Facilitator (Family Code sections 10004 and 10005) for assistance with their rights and obligations regarding support, support schedules and issues of child support, spousal support and health insurance, the Facilitator to prepare and submit a written recommendation when the discussion does not result in agreement (4(B)); and support payments, where the Department of Child Support Services is a party, made through the California State Disbursement Unit at P.O. Box 989067, West Sacramento, California 95798, except where good cause is shown (4(C)).
Rule 3 (subdivisions A to J): a readiness conference and a pre-trial conference for contested matters, mediation of custody and visitation issues where there is no issue of risk of harm to the minor(s), minor(s) six (6) years or older to attend the mediation on direction of the mediator, and the discovery protocol of California Rules of Court, rule 5.546 (3(A)); the minimum standards of competence of rule 5.660 for all attorneys who appear in juvenile dependency proceedings (3(B)); LSC-JVDP-100, Certificate of Competency to Practice in Juvenile Dependency Court, submitted within ten (10) days of a first appearance, certified counsel substituted for an attorney who does not meet the standards (or a written waiver by a party with retained counsel), and proof of certification by the juvenile court of the California county in which an attorney whose principal office is outside this county maintains an office (3(C)); certification after at least eight (8) hours of training or education in juvenile dependency law or at least six (6) months of experience, a new Certificate of Competency on or before February 28 of the third year and every third year thereafter with evidence of at least eight (8) hours of continuing training or education, 20 days from the mailing of a notice that the attorney will be decertified to submit evidence, and the clerk’s cumulative list of certified attorneys (3(D)); complaints or questions about representation referred initially to the agency or law firm appointed, then in writing to the court, which may review the complaint or refer it to the State Bar (3(E)); Judicial Council forms JV-100 or JV-180 utilized to inform the court of interests of the dependent child which require further investigation, intervention, or litigation and to request direction from the court (3(F)); child advocates trained by and to function under a Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA) (rule 5.655, Welfare & Institutions Code section 356.5) - their functions, oath and duties, their access to records (CASA volunteers court personnel under Welfare and Institutions Code section 827), mandated child abuse reporting and the right to adequate and timely notice of any motion concerning the child (3(G)); a photo of each minor provided to the Court by Lassen County Family & Child Protective Services (CPS) (3(H)); the petitioner to include all full siblings in one petition under one case number, one original filed and identical copies (3(I)); and court clerks not to accept for filing any non-emergency application, petition, or report without the approving signature of an attorney with the Office of Lassen County Counsel (or a Social Worker Supervisor on behalf of the reviewing attorney) and the signatures of the requesting Social Worker and Social Worker Supervisor (3(J)).
Rule 2 (subdivisions A to N): motions in limine made on notice and heard before trial where practicable, those made on the day of trial in writing with a proposed order, exhibits pre-marked by prior arrangement with the trial clerk (People, Plaintiff & Petitioner exhibits numerical designations, Defendant & Respondent exhibits alphabetical designations), a written witness list, in a civil case a brief written statement of the nature of the case, counsel and self-represented litigants to meet and confer upon their exhibits and on matters likely to be stipulated, and proposed jury instructions no less than five (5) days before trial in the form prescribed by California Rules of Court 2.1055 (2(A)); counsel to admonish clients and witnesses to refrain from contact with any juror or prospective juror and from gestures, grimaces, sighs, or exclamations (2(B)); counsel to question jurors and witnesses from the lectern or counsel table and to ask the court’s permission to approach a witness (2(C)); counsel to address all persons, other than child witnesses, by surnames (2(D)); objections, statements, and arguments addressed to the bench, the parties to stand when addressing the bench (2(E)); witnesses excluded from the courtroom absent a stipulation, the designation of an investigating officer made on the record (2(F)); no further argument after a ruling - “The remedy for an incorrect ruling is appeal, not oratory.” (2(G)); no “speaking objections” unless invited, arguments in jury trials at sidebar or in chambers (2(H)); juror consent and the confidentiality of juror information after trial (2(I)); a firearm exhibit placed with the court’s bailiff, with a trigger-locking device affixed (2(J)); controlled substances and any item contaminated with blood or other biological residue sealed in clear plastic of a minimum thickness of four mils, a syringe with a safety device, blood evidence in an unbreakable clear container (2(K)); requests and arrangements for the courtrooms’ evidence display systems made at least five (5) court days prior to trial on the Request/Notification for Courtroom Audio/Visual Presentation Equipment (LSC-MIS-400) (2(L)); a trial by written declaration on an infraction not involving an accident (section 40902 of the Vehicle Code), the clerk to complete section 4 and section 5 of Judicial Council form TR-215 (2(M)); and only judicial officers and authorized court personnel to file, process, remove, replace, edit, mark, copy or destroy original court case records and exhibits, a person viewing a court record accessible to the public in the designated File Viewing Room at the Hall of Justice permitted to copy it with the person’s own equipment, without physical contact and without a fee (Government Code section 68150(l)(3)–(4)) (2(N)).
Rule 19 (Rules 19.1 to 19.6): the Presiding Judge’s general responsibilities, authority (to assign judges to departments, apportion the business of the court and authorize and direct expenditures from the Trial Court Operating Fund, among others) and duties, no local rule or policy may limit that authority, and delegation to another judge or to the Court Executive Office (19.1); the Court Executive Officer recording judicial officer time off, a day of vacation a pre-approved absence for one full normal scheduled court business day, 24 days for judges with less than 7 years of service, 27 days for judges with “at least 7 but not less than 14 years of service” and 30 days with 14 or more years, new judges prorated by the month of the oath of office, no more than 30 vacation days carried forward (California Rules of Court, Rule 10.603(c)(2)(G)), and 2 personal leave days each January 1 (19.2); ancillary defense expenses for indigent defendants only on prior Court order, applied for by ex parte motion with a declaration marked “Confidential” of the circumstances, the status of the case, the purpose and each service provider’s rate, the Court to determine the reasonableness and necessity of travel expenses on a case-by-case basis at the current federal mileage reimbursement rate, no funds for overnight travel without prior court approval, an initial written report for medical and mental health experts (the declaration to explain in detail why local experts could not be employed when the expert is located more than 175 miles from the court), a supplemental funding request, and claims submitted via mail to the Administrative Services Department at 2610 Riverside Drive or by email to AdministrativeServices@lassencourt.ca.gov (19.3); appointed attorney fees - for private appointed conflict public defenders $125.00 per hour for First Degree Murder defense, $115.00 for “Three Strike” (25 to Life) defense, $100.00 for all other Felony defense and $90.00 for juvenile delinquency, misdemeanor, writs, civil contempt, misdemeanor appeals and CARE Court, with the guidance of Penal Code § 987.2, a COUNTY fee claim monthly, and mileage and up to 2 hours of travel time for travel over 50 miles one way, $115.00 per hour for counsel in juvenile dependency proceedings on a COURT fee claim, Sixty-Five Dollars ($65) per hour for indigent defense investigators, and $200 per day for counsel at the criminal arraignment calendars, who are expected to arrive at the Lassen County Adult Detention Facility (ADF) no less than 30 minutes before the start of the calendar (19.4); for Department 5 prison defense counsel $150.00, $125.00 and $115.00 per hour and investigator fees of $65.00 per hour, billing in 0.1 hour increments with multiple cases apportioned and no per diem billing, the billable and non-billable activities, and claims submitted in time for the six-month deadline of PC § 4750(j) (19.4.1); the Clerk of the Court or Clerk’s Designee appointed as an elisor, on ex parte application, to sign a document one of the parties will not or cannot execute (19.5); and the Clerk authorized to establish payment plans for outstanding fines and fees in adjudicated cases, multiple cases consolidated into a single payment plan, payments made consecutively, cases prioritized to pay Victim Restitution before any remaining outstanding fines and fees (19.6).
Rule 18 (Rule 18.1): a pilot project of limited eDelivery filings, any other electronic filing rejected - filings accepted from the Lassen County Department of Child Support Services and under Rules 1(V) and 10(J), eDelivered by using the processes and procedures on the court’s website, a confirmation of receipt with its date and time, a confirmation that the document has been filed, and a notice of rejection that will state the reasons (18.1).
Rule 17 (Rules 17.1 and 17.2): civil, probate, and family law documents filed by fax under rule 2.300 et seq. of the California Rules of Court to the facsimile number(s) on the court’s website, the first sheet the Judicial Council Facsimile Transmission Cover Sheet (form MC-005) with credit card information including the 3 or 4 digit security code (notwithstanding a Fee Waiver) and the Telephone No and E-Mail Address fields required, documents received on or before 4:00 PM PST on a court business day file stamped that day and documents received after 4:00 PM PST file stamped received the following court business day (a filing received when its last page is received), a fee of $1.00 for each page, a rejected document re-submitted entire with the cover sheet, and a receipt of payment delivered to the e-mail address on the MC-005 (17.1); and juvenile dependency documents for filing by fax under rule 5.522 by the persons and agencies defined in Rule 5.522(c) CRC, each with the Facsimile Filing Cover Sheet – Juvenile (JV-520) as the first page, documents received after 4:00 PM PST file stamped received the following court business day (17.2).
Rule 16 (subdivisions A to C): a party’s right to arrange, at the party’s own expense, for a court reporter when an official court reporter is not available (Government Code Section 68086, California Rules of Court, rule 2.956) (16(A)); the policy applies to hearings and trials in the Civil, Family, and Probate Divisions, court reporters provided by the Court in all mandated proceedings (criminal felony, juvenile dependency, juvenile delinquency, and family law matters where an official court reporter is mandated) (16(B)); and parties retaining a reporter to file form LSC-MIS-200, Request for Appointment of Official Reporter Pro Tempore, at least 5 days prior to the hearing, the Judicial Officer to sign the order appointing the reporter before the reporter may report the proceeding, the reporter agrees to have a valid, current California Certified Shorthand Reporter License, to upload notes within 48 hours and to be available for read-back within 30 minutes during a jury trial, all fees the responsibility of the party or parties who arranged the services, only one official record (Code of Civil Procedure Section 273), fees paid directly to the court reporter, and transcripts of an official reporter pro tempore treated identically to those of official reporters (16(C)).
Rule 15 (Rules 15.1 to 15.7): security in all courtrooms, facilities, and grounds maintained by the Lassen County Sheriff (15.1); no person to bring or possess any weapon as defined in Penal Code Section 171b in a court facility, except weapons to be used as evidence (locked where they can be) and those of Peace Officers carrying out official duties, a Peace Officer who is not a party to obtain permission from the Courtroom Bailiff, and no person carrying a weapon when appearing as a party (15.2); appropriate dress in any courtroom, the bailiff on duty with authority to enforce it (15.3); the courtroom clerks’ workstations and the judges’ benches and chambers reserved for court staff (15.4); photographing, videotaping, televising, or otherwise recording a proceeding prohibited unless a written request is approved before the proceeding (California Rules of Court 1.150), a person may use the person’s own equipment to copy a public record in the File Viewing Room (Rule 2(N)), members of the media to meet with the Court Executive Officer before operating equipment in common areas, and no buttons, flags, signs, images that might prejudice the court or jury (15.5); computers and electronic devices turned off before entering the courtroom and used only as authorized by the sitting judge, violators subject to contempt of court or confiscation (15.6); and the bias informal complaint policy - a written Notice of Concern to the Presiding Judge or Court Executive Officer, its intent to educate rather than to discipline, confidential to the extent possible - and a formal complaint sent to the Commission on Judicial Performance (CJP) about a judge, to the Presiding Judge about a commissioner or the Court Executive Officer, to the Court Executive Officer about a member of court staff or a court contractor, to the State Bar of California about an attorney and to the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office about a courtroom bailiff (15.7).
Rule 14 (subdivisions A to D): private counsel appointed for a minor in a guardianship or for a conservatee or proposed conservatee in a conservatorship an active member of the State Bar of California for at least three (3) years, with no disciplinary proceedings pending and no discipline imposed within the twelve (12) months before first availability, and covered by professional liability insurance of at least $100,000 per claim and $300,000 per year (14(A)); guardianship appointments for counsel who within the preceding five (5) years represented at least three (3) wards, three (3) children in juvenile court dependency or delinquency proceedings or three (3) children in custody proceedings under the Family Code, or who qualify under Local Rule 3 or under California Rules of Court, Rule 5.242 and Local Rule 13 (14(B)); conservatorship appointments for counsel who represented at least three (3) conservatees or proposed conservatees in probate or Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) conservatorships or completed any three (3) of the following five (5) tasks (14(B)); the court, with fewer than four (4) authorized judges, reserves the right to waive the qualification requirements (rule 7.1101(e)(1)) (14(B)); three (3) hours of education each calendar year which qualify for mandatory continuing legal education credit required for attorneys certified as specialists in estate planning, trust, and probate law, or the requirements of Local Rule 3 or Local Rule 13 for guardianships of the person only (14(C)); and certification of qualifications before eligibility and of continuing education before March 31st of each year on Judicial Council Form GC-010, submitted to the court but not filed or lodged in a case file (14(D)).
Rule 13 (subdivisions A to D): the court may appoint private counsel to represent the interests of the child in a custody or visitation proceeding where in the child’s best interest (Family Code section 3150(a)) (13(A)); counsel an active member in good standing of the State Bar of California with professional liability insurance or adequately self-insured (13(B)); at least 12 hours of education and training within one (1) year before the statement of compliance (no more than six (6) hours self-study), at least six (6) child custody proceedings within the preceding five (5) years (at least two (2) contested family law, no more than three (3) dependency or guardianship), a minimum of eight (8) hours of continuing education each calendar year (California Rules of Court, rule 5.242(c)), form FL-322, Declaration of Counsel for a Child Regarding Qualifications, and a new statement of compliance on form FL-322 on or before February 28 of the third year and every third year thereafter with certificates of completion, the court’s public list of attorneys, and 20 days from the mailing of a notice that the attorney will be decertified to submit evidence (13(C)); and counsel’s rights (Family Code sections 3111, 3151, 3151.5, 3153, Welfare and Institutions Code section 827) and duties under Family Code section 3151(a)-(b) and rule 5.242 - interviewing the child, reviewing the court files and records, further investigations, participating in the proceeding, and, if the child is called to testify, allowing the child to state a preference and advising the child about the court process (13(D)).
Rule 12 (Rules 12.1 and 12.2): Child Custody Recommending Counseling (CCRC) and Voluntary Mediation conducted under Family Code section 3160 et seq. - CCRC when a family law action is pending (it may result in a recommendation to the court) - and child custody evaluations under California Rules of Court, Rule 5.220 (12.1(A)); Voluntary Mediation without a pending action on intake packets completed with Family Court Services, available to parties once per year, the Mediator making a recommendation to the Court on unresolved topics (12.1(B)); all contested custody and visitation matters referred to CCRC, the counselor’s confidential recommendations on disputed issues and interim recommendations (12.1(C)); temporary domestic violence restraining orders with custody and visitation issues may be referred to Family Court Services (12.1(D)); the counselor’s discretion to interview any child (12.1(E)); a support person for a party who alleges being a victim of violence (Family Code section 6303) - 18 years of age or older, not the child of either parent, not the attorney for either party, present for emotional support, a support person the counselor may exclude under section 6303(c), required to sign a Statement of Understanding (12.1(F)); a neutral interpreter fluent in English and the party’s native language, an adult family member only when appropriate interpreters are not available, in no case a child of the parties (12.1(G)); a Court-Connected Child Custody Evaluator who meets the requirements of Family Code section 3110.5, a full or partial evaluation, a fee for the evaluation, a written confidential report, and the evaluator’s declaration of 12 hours of advanced domestic violence training and four (4) hour update training by attachment to the FL-325 filed annually (12.1(H)); an evaluator’s withdrawal on good cause (12.1(I)); ex parte communication with counselors, evaluators and mediators prohibited (California Rules of Court, rule 5.235(b)(2)) unless authorized by the court, to schedule appointments, to address allegations of domestic violence, a conflict of interest or complaints, and documents provided to the counselor also provided to the other party, with a proof of service to Family Court Services (12.1(J)); any written report or recommendation confidential (Family Code section 3111(d), section 3177, Evidence Code section 1040), and the exceptions to confidentiality (12.1(K)); complaints in writing to the Court Executive Officer, a request to change counselor received no later than thirty (30) calendar days after the session, and a written response within thirty (30) calendar days (12.1(L)); a CCRC/Mediation appointment a court date, a sanction of $100.00 for failure to attend or for failing to notify Family Court Services of an agreement no less than 48 hours before, in exigent circumstances, contact with Family Court Services and the other parent no later than 4:00 PM on the day before, and sanctions remitted before another appointment, fee waivers not to apply to sanctions (12.1(M)); supervised visitation - contact between a non-custodial parent and one or more children in the presence of a neutral third person, ordered to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the child(ren) (12.2(A), 12.2(B)); the Uniform Standards of Practice (Standards of Judicial Administration, Section 5.20) and the qualifications of Family Code section 3200.5 for nonprofessional and professional providers (12.2(C), 12.2(D)); nonprofessional providers to sign and file Judicial Council Form FL-324(NP) before supervising a visitation, by mail or at the Clerk’s window at the Hall of Justice, 2610 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130 (12.2(E)); professional providers to complete a Live Scan, register as a Trustline provider, meet training requirements and file form FL-324(P), a separate updated FL-324(P) with each report and an updated declaration within five days of a change (12.2(F)); and the parties to investigate and know that a provider meets the statutory qualifications - the court does not screen, endorse, evaluate, or monitor providers - and to file a declaration within five days of a provider’s written notice of ineligibility (12.2(G)).
Rule 11 (its opening paragraph and subdivisions A to E): Judicial Council Form CR-160, Criminal Protective Order-Domestic Violence (Penal Code section 136.2 and 1203.097(a)(2), Family Code section 6380), utilized to protect victims of violent crime from contact by the defendant (11); the District Attorney’s Office to prepare the form and submit it to the court, and law enforcement to enter the order and its proof of service into CLETS within one (1) business day (11(A)); the court to submit proof of service to law enforcement within one (1) business day of receipt (11(B)); reasonable efforts to determine whether a Criminal Protective Order exists when issuing orders involving child custody or visitation (11(C)); reasonable efforts to determine whether custody or visitation orders exist when issuing criminal protective orders, the court may modify the criminal protective order to allow or restrict contact between the person restrained and his or her children (11(D)); and firearm restrictions and enforcement under Penal Code section 136.2 (11(E)).
Rule 10 (subdivisions A to M): the Appellate Division to convene at times and places designated by its Presiding Judge, each respective county to process its own appeals effective July 1, 2024 (10(A)); the Presiding Judge of each court or a designee to act as the Appellate Division Presiding Judge rotating every two years commencing January 1, 2020 - Modoc, Sierra, Lassen, and Plumas - to appoint three judges to hear each case and to designate one of them to preside over the panel (10(B)); briefs bound on the top with covers in the colors designated by California Rules of Court 8.40(a), no copies required, briefs filed by fax or electronically not required to be bound or to have covers (10(C)); motions and ex parte applications presented to the presiding judge of the Appellate Division, or to the presiding judge of the panel where a panel designation has been made (10(D)); motions for augmentation, correction and addition to the record (Rule 8.841) to set forth the facts showing good cause and any previous motions, and to specifically identify each paper, record, or exhibit requested (10(E)); sessions not reported unless a party requests at least one week before the hearing (10(F)); applications for a waiver of fees and costs made under California Rules of Court 8.818 (10(G)); appointed counsel on appeal for a misdemeanor defendant who had appointed counsel at trial or has otherwise met the standards (California Rules of Court 8.851), from the Appellate Division’s list of attorneys (10(H)); fax filings during normal business hours to 530-251-2115, the phrase “By Fax” immediately below the title, the Appeal Facsimile Transmission Cover Sheet (LSC-APL-100) the first page, and a motion nunc pro tunc with a proof of transmission where a fax is not filed (10(I)); electronic filings to appellatedivision@lassencourt.ca.gov with the phrase “Electronically Submitted” below the title and a cover sheet, the court to deem a filing received on a day a technical problem precludes it (10(J)); oral argument by videoconference provided all of the conditions are met (10(K)); an official electronic recording transmitted as the record of oral proceedings in a limited civil, misdemeanor or infraction case (rule 8.837(d)(6)(A), 8.869(d)(6)(A), or 8.916(d)(6)(A)), and a copy of a recording that serves as the official record (Government Code § 69957) requested on a Request for Copy of Electronically Recorded Proceeding form, a fee of $10 for each copy (Government Code § 70631) (10(L)); and the California Rules of Court on Appeals to the Superior Court (commencing with Rule 8.800) to apply except as modified (10(M)).
Rule 1 (subdivisions A to AA): each department to publish annually by October 1 the succeeding year’s law and motion hearing dates on the court’s website, www.Lassen.Courts.CA.gov (1(A)); the matters set in each department - Department 1 (misdemeanor criminal law and motion matters, felony criminal matters, petitions to declare a minor a ward, juvenile dependency), Department 2 (traffic and misdemeanor criminal arraignments, in custody arraignments heard on Mondays and Wednesdays at 4:00 PM and Fridays at 1:00PM, small claims, unlawful detainer, civil, probate and family law actions, restraining orders, adoptions, and ex parte applications with LSC-FL-120), Department 3 (any proceeding assigned to a visiting judge by the Temporary Assigned Judges Program), Department 5 (a crime committed by an inmate in the custody of the Department of Corrections, writs of habeas corpus), Department 6 (civil case management conferences and settlement conferences) and Department 7 (actions brought by the Department of Child Support Services) (1(B)); customary professional courtesy and decorum, the attire and items not allowed while court is in session, and appropriate business attire for all counsel (1(C)); a law and motion matter that will require more than ten minutes, or a preliminary hearing that will require more than 30 minutes, heard as a setting for a long-cause hearing (1(D), 1(E)); a “Notice of Unavailability of Counsel” not binding on the court (1(F)); evidence at a law and motion hearing by affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury, the time for filing a motion, response, and reply observed (CCP §1005(b): 16, 9 and 5 court days), the clerk to mark any late-filed document with a stamp (1(G)); an exhibit divider with a cover sheet for each exhibit attached to a document (1(H)); an official court reporter normally available in the Felony and Juvenile departments only, electronic recording in limited civil actions and criminal misdemeanor and infraction proceedings, and a party’s right to arrange a court reporter at the party’s own expense (Local Rule of Court No. 16) (1(I)); a support calculation prepared on software approved by Judicial Council with any motion, response, or reply pertaining to support issues (1(J)); inability to pay support a defense to a contempt charge on child support issues, the court not to appoint counsel where both parties are unrepresented (1(K)); the family-centered case resolution process (Family Code sections 2450, 2451, rule 5.83) - a status conference within 180 days after the filing of the petition, the Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure served no later than ninety (90) days after service of the petition, and a Status Conference Statement (LSC-FL-100) filed at least five (5) calendar days before each status conference (1(L)); in family law trial settings the party who filed the At-Issue Memorandum to serve and file the declarations and the Settlement Conference Statement (LSC-FL-101) at least thirty (30) days, and the other party at least fifteen (15) days, before the first trial setting conference, and the parties’ consent on form LSC-FL-200 for a Commissioner to act as temporary judge (1(M)); a Final Judgment and a Notice of Entry of Judgment submitted with all Marital Settlement Agreements, Marital Termination Agreements and requests for default judgments (1(N)); criminal moving papers with a Memorandum of Points and Authorities served and filed at least ten (10) court days before the hearing, opposition five (5) and reply two (2) court days before (1(O)); the memorandum’s statement of the case or facts, its absence deemed an abandonment of the motion (1(P)); a Penal Code section 1538.5 motion at the preliminary examination filed and personally served at least five (5) court days before, with a complete itemized list of the items to be suppressed or returned (a request to suppress “all evidence seized” not sufficient) (1(Q)); a criminal discovery motion accepted only with a declaration by counsel of the informal efforts under section 1054 et seq. of the Penal Code (1(R)); appointed counsel in Department 5 (Prison) cases to meet with their clients no less than two (2) days before any hearing after the initial arraignment (1(S)); ex parte applications with notice by 10:00 a.m. on the day prior and LSC-FL-120 (1(T)); criminal Trial Readiness Conferences set no later than 14 days prior to the Jury Trial date, trial counsel and the defendant personally present (1(U)); petitions and responses for Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVRO) or Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVRO) submitted in-person, by mail, by fax (Rule 17) or electronically (1(V)); the Court delegates to the Clerk the authority to grant applications for an initial fee waiver (Government Code § 68634(d)) (1(W)); release on a Notice to Appear on a misdemeanor warrant for $5,000 and under within Lassen County and for $15,000 and under outside it (1(X)); a misdemeanor referral for a pre-sentence investigation and report only for a sex offense, domestic violence or child abuse (1(Y)); a plea in absentia through counsel on the mandatory form Plea in Absentia (LSC-CRIM-025) (1(Z)); and a request for a determination of ability to pay made online through MyCitations.Courts.CA.gov (CRC 4.335) or on form TR-320, a reduction for a defendant receiving public benefits or with a current net monthly income less than or equal to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (1(AA)).
General Order 2026-04, signed by Honorable Mark Nareau, Presiding Judge: the duty of candor of lawyers and Pro Se litigants to the court; by presenting a filing the attorney or unrepresented party certifies that it is the product of reasonable inquiry and that the authorities cited do in fact exist and are accurately represented; the court does not regulate, restrict, or require disclosure of the tools used, artificial intelligence programs included, but the person who signs and submits a filing bears responsibility for its contents; fabricated quotations, nonexistent authority, or materially inaccurate descriptions of legal authority a breach of the duty of candor; sanctions proportionate to the conduct - striking the filing in whole or in part, monetary sanctions, referral to appropriate disciplinary authorities or any other measure the court deems appropriate; the order intended to be incorporated into a future revision of the Local Rules of Court effective January 1, 2027, and then deemed automatically revoked and rescinded.
General Order 2026-03, signed by Honorable Mark Nareau, Presiding Judge: prior to the filing of a JV-180/388 Welfare and Institution Code Petition, the proponent of the petition to meet and confer with all parties as to their consent or non-consent to the request of the Petitioner, best efforts to meet and confer required prior to the filing; the order intended to be incorporated into a future revision of the Local Rules of Court effective January 1, 2027, and upon successful incorporation deemed automatically revoked and rescinded.
General Order 2024-02, signed by Mark R. Nareau, Presiding Judge: all in custody arraignments to utilize the Constitutional Rights advisory form with the defendant’s signature, printed name and case number attesting to having been advised of and understanding their constitutional rights at the initial arraignment; counsel for the defendants to file the original document with the Court within five days of the arraignment.