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Orange County, CA
Every published instrument scoped to Orange County, newest effective date first. 0 circuit-wide and 13 statewide instruments also apply here — search all three layers together. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Showing 51–100 of 139 · page 2 of 3
Civil restraining orders (civil harassment, gun violence, workplace violence, school site violence and transitional housing misconduct): filing, questions and self-help; law enforcement emergency gun violence restraining orders through the on-call EPO referee; in Departments C64 and C65, ex parte requests for temporary restraining orders ruled on the papers without hearing, remote Zoom appearance offered for the other non-evidentiary proceedings, and trials and evidentiary hearings in person; gun violence restraining order hearings in Department C61, where parties and witnesses may appear remotely under Penal Code section 18123(a); Local Rule 375.
Unlawful detainers: filings by represented parties through an approved e-filing service provider; questions and self-help; in Departments C17 and C61, remote Zoom appearance for law and motion, case management and status conferences, ex parte applications and other non-evidentiary proceedings, with trials in person; technology problems; Local Rule 375.
Administrative appeals (civil fines and penalties, Labor Commissioner awards, dangerous or vicious dog determinations, disqualified person determinations) are heard in Department C65 at the Central Justice Center: how to file and ask questions; remote Zoom appearance for the initial status conference in Labor Commissioner appeals, with other initial hearings in person; technology problems; Local Rule 375.
Civil unlimited and complex cases: filings by represented parties through an approved e-filing service provider; remote appearance by Zoom through the court's online check-in for law and motion, case management and status conferences, ex parte applications and other non-evidentiary proceedings; trials and evidentiary hearings in person (a party may move for a remote evidentiary hearing); settlement conferences in person unless all parties stipulate; judgment debtor examinations in person; Local Rule 375.
Probate and mental health appearances at the Costa Mesa Justice Complex: remote and in-person appearances under Local Rule 601.02, with free video appearance on the court's platform; the language parties must include in notices of hearing and publication in all probate cases; and, until further notice, electronic submission of signed letters and of bonds (the original bond retained and available to the court).
Judge Scott A. Steiner's policies for Department N18 (North Justice Center): ex parte procedures (Monday through Friday 1:30 p.m., no reservation, decided on the papers unless argument is invited); calendar (trial call Monday 9:00 a.m. with trials Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; jury fees posted before the case management conference; counsel bring their own court reporters; law and motion Wednesday 10:00 a.m.; case management, order to show cause and default prove-up hearings Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 a.m.; settlement conferences Friday 9:00 a.m. with e-filed statements; informal discovery conferences Friday 10:00 a.m.); continuances; appearances in evidentiary and non-evidentiary proceedings; and trial procedures (exhibits, voir dire, witnesses, courtroom decorum).
Judge Melissa R. McCormick's general policies and procedures for Department CX105 (Civil Complex Center): calendar (initial case management and status conferences Thursday 9:00 a.m., with statements and joint reports five court days ahead; settlement conferences Friday 8:30 a.m.; review and order to show cause hearings Thursday 9:00 a.m.; default prove-ups Thursday 10:00 a.m.; law and motion Thursday 2:00 p.m.; trials Monday through Wednesday; ex parte Monday through Thursday 1:30 p.m. on reservation by noon the business day before); general procedures; ex parte applications (notice and irreparable-harm declarations, points and authorities, a proposed order in Word); and trial procedures.
Judge Craig L. Griffin's general and trial procedures for Department N17 (North Justice Center): pandemic-era modifications and remote versus in-person proceedings; calendar (trial call Monday 9:00 a.m. with trials Tuesday through Thursday — counsel bring their own court reporters; law and motion Monday 2:00 p.m.; case management, order to show cause, post-arbitration, review and default prove-up hearings Friday 9:30 a.m.; settlement conferences Friday 9:00 a.m.; ex parte Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.; judgment debtor hearings Friday 11:00 a.m.); general procedures (stipulations in Word; case management and settlement conference statements; post-arbitration continuances; tentative rulings; priority requests); trial procedures (six-pack jury selection); and the department's ex parte and law-and-motion information sheets.
Effective November 13, 2023, new guidelines for remote and partially remote civil and probate proceedings under Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75: participants must give a case number set for hearing before checking in to the virtual courtroom; remote participants must observe courtroom decorum, demeanor and attire; violations may lead to removal from the hearing, muting, disabling of the camera, contempt proceedings or monetary sanctions (Code of Civil Procedure sections 177.5 and 1205), blocking of the participant's IP address from future virtual hearings, and in severe cases referral to law enforcement.
Effective October 2, 2023, the court rescinds Administrative Order No. 22/03 (October 11, 2022): requests for custody orders may be made on a Request for Order (FL-300) in an existing child support/DCSS case, and requests to modify custody orders on an FL-300 in an open family law domestic violence case.
Judge Sheila O. Recio's policies for Department W8 (West Justice Center): calendars (trial call Monday 8:45 a.m. with trials Tuesday through Thursday; order to show cause, review, default and debtor examinations Monday 9:00 a.m.; small claims appeals Monday 1:30 p.m.; ex parte Monday through Thursday 1:30 p.m.; settlement conferences Friday 9:00 a.m.; law and motion Friday 9:30 a.m.); civil court reporters; evidentiary proceedings in person; non-evidentiary proceedings (trial call by online check-in, remote appearances encouraged); ex parte applications (reservation by noon the court day before; highly disfavored); law and motion and tentative rulings; signatures; and public access.
Judge William Claster's policies for Department CX101 (Civil Complex Center): the initial case management conference (the topics counsel must meet and confer on, among them parties, claims and defenses, ADR, preservation of evidence, discovery and staged discovery, liaison counsel, a case management order and confidentiality; and the contents of the joint case management conference report); law and motion procedures; informal discovery conferences; trial procedures; and courtroom demeanor, conduct and etiquette.
Judge Richard Y. Lee's standing trial procedures for jury and non-jury trials (Department W15): nothing is delivered to the courtroom before trial; a joint trial binder (pleadings, joint statement of the case, joint witness and exhibit lists, controverted issues, stipulations, trial briefs, motions in limine); a joint exhibit binder; certified deposition transcripts; witnesses and scheduling; court reporters; jury instructions and special verdict forms; the court's jury selection method; jury fees; multiple counsel; and pandemic-era protocols.
Judge Nathan Nhan Vu's interim policies for Department N15 (North Justice Center): case management, order to show cause, review and status conferences Thursday 8:30 a.m.; settlement conferences Thursday 9:00 a.m.; default prove-ups and small claims appeals Thursday 1:30 p.m.; law and motion Monday 8:30 a.m. on reservation (papers within 24 hours except summary judgment motions; tentative rulings by 5:00 p.m. the Sunday before); jury and court trials Monday afternoon and Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; ex parte Tuesday through Friday 1:30 p.m. on reservation by noon the day before. The policies state they shall be replaced.
Because family law e-filing now accepts qualified domestic relations orders, a completed Statement of Compliance for Qualified Domestic Relations Order (Family Law) form must be submitted with every QDRO, effective immediately.
Judge Sheila O. Recio's standing trial order and trial procedures for jury trials (Department W8): the Local Rule 317 issue conference; a tabbed joint trial notebook brought on the trial date (jury instructions and verdict forms, motions in limine with oppositions and replies); two sets of joint exhibit notebooks; certified deposition transcripts; witnesses, scheduling and interpreters; jury fees and court reporters; multiple counsel; and pandemic-era protocols.
The court's guidelines for remote proceedings, which are official court proceedings and do not supersede department policies: preparing (courtroom attire, a private quiet location, camera position, background, headphones, testing, no appearances from a moving vehicle, no recording); checking in (5–10 minutes ahead, separately for each case and each attorney, under the firm's or attorney's name for unlimited civil, and by name and role for complex); and conduct during the hearing (audio and video on when called; the chat feature).
Juvenile dependency hearings are set for in-person appearance, and parties discuss remote options with their attorneys (rule 3.672(i)); when a remote appearance is approved, the link comes by email; the applications used (Microsoft Teams by default, WebEx from the Orange County jail, Zoom in special circumstances); the proceedings are confidential and may not be recorded; the court may end a remote appearance or require personal appearance.
Juvenile justice hearings are set for in-person appearance, and parties discuss remote options with their attorneys (rule 3.672); the court does not broadcast juvenile proceedings; when a remote appearance is approved, the link comes by email; the applications used (Microsoft Teams when the party is not in custody, WebEx from the Orange County jail, Zoom in special circumstances); no recording; the court may end a remote appearance or require personal appearance.
Juvenile traffic and minor offense arraignments are set as remote hearings with the option to appear in person, and court trials are heard in person; remote hearing instructions come with the Notice to Appear; the Zoom meeting details; the person appearing must have a working device, may not record, must identify themselves and may wait in the eLobby; the court may end a remote appearance or require personal appearance.
The presiding judge of the Appellate Division orders that all oral argument be conducted, and all parties appear, by Zoom videoconference (California Rules of Court, rule 8.885(b)); oral argument remains open to the public under the court's posted access procedures; the order continues until changed or superseded by local rule.
The court's electronic evidence protocols for courtrooms using the electronic evidence portal: participating courtrooms require evidence to be submitted electronically; the portal is used only to upload evidence for a specific case and for legitimate litigation purposes; confidential or sealed material must be identified; uploaded evidence is lodged, not part of the record; who may upload; the prohibition on sexual depictions of minors; limits on access to confidential evidence and on reproduction and dissemination; and disposition of electronic evidence.
Photography, broadcasting, video, audio and electronic recording and filming are prohibited in or on the grounds of any court building except as expressly permitted (California Rules of Court, rule 1.150; Local Rule 180); court-sponsored community events are excepted; violations may bring sanctions of up to $1,500 per violation under Code of Civil Procedure section 177.5, contempt under section 1209(a)(5), prosecution under Penal Code section 166(a), or other sanctions provided by law.
The Criminal Appeals Unit (felony notices of appeal to the Court of Appeal and misdemeanor and infraction appeals to the Appellate Division): remote appearances continue for Appellate Division hearings unless ordered otherwise; felony appeal filings by the Central Justice Center drop box, by mail or in person; misdemeanor and infraction appeal filings by the drop box at the assigned justice center or by mail to the justice center addresses listed.
The juvenile court incorporates Administrative Order No. 20/24 and its stipulation on the disclosure of evidence audit records, Remedy printouts and reports into juvenile proceedings (criminal proceedings read as juvenile cases), subject to the confidentiality of juvenile information under the Welfare and Institutions Code; the order is a standing order for all juvenile proceedings.
The procedure for disclosure of Orange County Sheriff's Department evidence audit records, Remedy system printouts and associated reports in criminal proceedings: the court adopts the stipulation of the Sheriff's Department, County Counsel, the District Attorney and the defense offices (attached), under which, in place of a Pitchess motion, the District Attorney gives the Sheriff's Department notice of a case and the Department compiles the records for disclosure, with personal identifying information protected; the order is a standing order for all criminal proceedings.
Effective January 2, 2020, a completed Name Change Notice of Related Cases form must be filed with each Judicial Council name change and gender recognition petition (NC-100, NC-200, NC-300, NC-500); at the direction of the Civil and Family Law Supervising Judges, name changes and name/gender changes involving minors or adults with a prior family law case, and gender changes involving minors, are filed at the Lamoreaux Justice Center; the clerk may reject filings without the mandatory local form.
The juvenile court's revised Competency Protocol under Welfare and Institutions Code section 709 and rule 5.645, adopted by the order and binding on all parties, attorneys, agencies and organizations: informal resolution; the formal declaration of doubt and the substantial-evidence determination; evaluation of the youth by an appointed expert; the competency determination hearing; the course when competency or incompetency is determined; the attainment-of-competency hearing; jurisdiction; and confinement of the youth.
The juvenile court assigns juvenile justice, dependency and truancy cases on a direct calendar system, so a case assigned to a judge or commissioner stays with that officer for all purposes until jurisdiction ends unless otherwise ordered; a peremptory challenge must be made before any determination of contested issues of fact on the merits and within 15 days after notice of the assignment, and each party has one per case; the order also addresses cases accepted into the collaborative courts.
The general order on expressive activity at the court's courthouses: courthouse interiors are nonpublic fora; definitions (prohibited activity, walkway, courtroom, courthouse, court property, curtilage); prohibitions (no prohibited activity on court property or within a courthouse's curtilage, and at the Lamoreaux Justice Center none in the walkway to, or within 80 feet of either side of or in front of, its doorway; no obstructing or harassing persons entering or leaving; no activity intended to interfere with proceedings; no amplification; no posting or distributing written material on court property); exclusions; severability; compliance with law enforcement; posting and service; and penalties.
The court's uniform requirements for temporary judges and settlement officers: eligibility under rules 2.812–2.815; ethical requirements (canon 6(D)); disqualification, with the family law and unlawful detainer exemptions from rule 2.818(b)(3) under Administrative Orders 16/06 and 19/05; use of the title; administrative matters; post-hearing availability; notice to the court of criminal charges or discipline; and scope.
Finding good cause, the court waives the limitation of California Rules of Court, rule 2.818(b)(3) so that a duly appointed temporary judge may hear an unlawful detainer case, until the Presiding Judge determines good cause no longer exists.
For all unlimited civil courtrooms, including complex: when no official reporter is available a party may arrange a reporter at its own expense; the reporter must be appointed official reporter pro tempore before the hearing (form L-0860, stipulation required if not on the court-approved list); the reporter's undertakings (licensing, fees, rules, impartiality, archiving notes, read-back, realtime services); fees lodged before the policy took effect.
The court's policy on official court reporters: available in felony, juvenile and other proceedings where required by law; in unlimited civil cases on request by a party with a fee waiver (rule 2.956(b)(3)); in probate and mental health only for trials, evidentiary hearings and conservatorship and guardianship hearings; otherwise parties may privately retain a reporter from the court-approved list of official reporters pro tempore; reporters' notes are official records.
After AB 1810 added Penal Code section 1001.36, mental health diversion motions must be submitted in writing: felony motions are filed in Department C5, and misdemeanor motions, with a proposed treatment plan, in the master calendar department at the assigned justice center.
Effective January 1, 2018, probate proposed orders after hearing are submitted by e-filing after the ruling on a petition or motion (ex parte matters excepted), and originals on the court's e-filing exceptions list, such as bonds and letters, must follow to the Probate clerk's office.
Presiding Judge Charles Margines's order enforcing Local Rule 180 (media and public photographing, recording and broadcasting in court): a person who violates the rule must immediately cease and desist when a Sheriff's deputy provides a copy of the order and states the violation; under Code of Civil Procedure sections 177, 187 and 128 and the court's inherent authority, deputies may immediately bring a person who does not comply to Department C-1 of the Central Justice Center to determine whether media coverage should end, contempt proceedings begin or sanctions be imposed (rule 1.150(f)).
The family law court's protocol for family centered case resolution (Family Code section 2450; California Rules of Court, rule 5.83): cases that miss milestones receive a Case Review Notification at 180 days, are set for a status conference at 330 days, face further steps at 500 days, and at 547 days the court is relieved of case management obligations; appearance requirements and the effect of entry of a judgment or dismissal.
The juvenile courts of six Southern California counties adopt, effective forthwith, the Southern California Inter-County Transfer Protocol for transfers of juvenile cases (best interests of the minor, confirming the parent's residence, services in the receiving county, expeditious transfer, transfer-in hearings, transfer of the court file, secure electronic transfer), binding on all who appear before those courts, with statute and rule controlling in any conflict. The protocol itself is a separate 44-page file, not carded here.
After a minor is declared a ward, non-appearance Compliance Review hearings (commitments to Juvenile Hall or conditional orders) or Wardship Status Review hearings (no such commitments) are set at the judicial officer's discretion, no later than two years after the wardship declaration or from the last hearing date, on Probation reports; a Recommendation to Terminate Wardship may be submitted earlier.
For good cause, the Social Services Agency may reproduce CII criminal history information in its court reports in 8.5-point type rather than the 12-point minimum of rule 2.104, to shorten the reports.
The juvenile court's order on admission to juvenile proceedings (Welfare and Institutions Code sections 346, 676 and 676.5; rule 5.530), media coverage (rule 1.150; Local Rules 180 and 906; only the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court may admit media or authorize coverage), the prohibition on publishing or disseminating information about juvenile proceedings (section 827(a)(4); Local Rule 903.3), and photography and recording; it supersedes the earlier juvenile orders on public and media access.
For Social Services Agency warrant applications (investigatory school interviews, protective custody and related warrants), the cut-off for same-day execution is 3:30 p.m.; protective custody warrants for immediate execution may be submitted later only as requests for night service, stated prominently on the first page and supported by a separately delineated statement of good cause.
Evidence Code section 730 evaluations in juvenile court are ordered by a juvenile court judicial officer and conducted by members of the court's 730 panel: ex parte communications with evaluators are prohibited; an advisory committee assists the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court; removal of an evaluator on noticed motion; minimum standards for psychiatrists, psychologists and evaluators of minors in certain sex offense matters; appointment, reports, testimony and the process and fee schedule.
Minimum standards of competence for attorneys appearing in juvenile dependency proceedings: the general competency requirement; screening and certification of competency by the presiding judge of the juvenile court; minimum standards of education and training; standards of representation; procedures for reviewing and resolving complaints about appointed counsel; and procedures for informing the court of a dependent child's other interests.
Based on the ethics rules against ex parte communication, members of the Juvenile Drug Court team (attorneys, probation officers, therapists, mentors, volunteers) may not communicate orally, by email or in writing with a judicial officer about a substantive issue concerning a participant unless at least the district attorney and the minor's attorney are present or included; the order also addresses non-judicial and non-substantive communications.
The procedure for emergency non-business-hour requests in juvenile court: medical consents (the supervising social worker contacts the judicial officer by telephone), probable cause declarations reviewed by the weekend and holiday duty judge, dependency warrants requested by County Counsel from the duty judicial officer, and delinquency search and arrest warrants issued by the court's duty magistrate.
Requests to seal juvenile records under Welfare and Institutions Code section 781 and rule 5.830 go first to the Probation Department, which prepares the petition, investigates, files it, sets the hearing and gives notice, for a reasonable fee; clerks reject sealing requests not first submitted to Probation; hearings are set in the courtroom where the petitioner's cases were last assigned (before the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court when no wardship petition was filed), with provisions for requests made by counsel.
The assigned judicial officer may appoint outside counsel for a party in a juvenile dependency or delinquency matter on a Petition for Appointment of Outside Counsel, which must state the expertise required, the issue, the status of the outside proceeding and the petitioning counsel's due diligence toward informal resolution; the officer may grant the petition, request more information, set a hearing or deny it.
The juvenile court's dependency mandatory settlement conference practice (in the spirit of rule 5.518's informal resolution): definitions; the assigned judge may order a settlement conference with a completion date; selection of the settlement officer; who must attend and who may be ordered to attend; the Social Services Agency report; and setting and conducting the conference.