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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 101–139 of 139 · page 3 of 3
The civil motion-date reservation rules: only available dates are shown; moving papers must be submitted within 24 hours or the reservation is cancelled automatically; pleadings must be timely served and filed; motions to designate a case complex are heard by the Supervising Judge of the Civil Panel; claim-of-exemption hearings are not eligible for reservation and take a date on the assigned judge's schedule.
The Complex Civil Courtroom Schedule & Requirements (the court's Complex Civil Calendar web application): helpful resources and the remote appearance authorities, and for each complex department (CX101–CX105) its judge, hearing days and times for law and motion (reservations required) and ex parte applications, the ex parte notice deadlines, and links to the department's tentative rulings, policies and guidelines.
The Court Child Support Unit's courtroom schedule (last updated May 2026): the weekly calendars of Department L51 (Commissioner Laurie Burns, cases ending 00–49) and Department L54 (Commissioner Jessica Paulson-Duffy, cases ending 50–99) — general family law matters, Department of Child Support Services matters (modifications, arrears, wage assignments, license denial, motions for judgment), and long cause trials with DCSS; telephonic requests for continuances are not permitted.
The trial standing order issued in every case assigned to Judge Jonathan Fish and set for jury trial (Department C11): civility and professionalism; continuances (disfavored; stipulations not effective until ordered); exhibits (a joint numbering system and list; exhibits moved into evidence once foundation is laid); objections at hearings and trials; the Local Rule 317 issue conference; in limine motions; jury instructions and special verdict forms; the jury selection method; witnesses and scheduling; and other issues.
Judge David J. Hesseltine's policies for Department C23 (Central Justice Center): calendar (trial call Monday 9:00 a.m. with trials Tuesday through Thursday; law and motion Thursday 2:00 p.m.; ex parte Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m.; settlement conferences Friday 9:00 a.m. in person; case management, order to show cause, ADR and status conferences Monday 9:30 a.m. remotely); general procedures (remote versus in-person proceedings and public access, court reporters, stipulations and orders in Word, case management and settlement conferences); and trial procedures (the joint exhibit list format, the seven-pack jury selection method, multiple counsel).
Judge Bradley S. Erdosi's general policies and procedures for Department C27 (Central Justice Center): calendar (trial call Monday 9:00 a.m. with trials Tuesday through Thursday; status, case management and order to show cause hearings Monday 10:00 a.m. in person; law and motion Monday 2:00 p.m. remotely; ex parte applications Monday through Thursday 1:30 p.m.; settlement conferences Friday 8:30 a.m.; default prove-ups Friday 10:30 a.m.); remote versus in-person proceedings and public access; court reporters; the civil rules; civility; ex parte applications (reservation by 10:00 a.m. the day before); case management conferences; law and motion; and trial procedures, with the department's conduct-in-jury-trials rules and procedural stipulations.
Judge Lee L. Gabriel's policies for Department C32 (Central Justice Center): calendar (jury and court trials Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9:00 a.m.; law and motion Tuesday 9:00 a.m.; order to show cause, case management, settlement conferences and trial call Friday 9:00 a.m.; post-arbitration and review hearings Friday 9:00 a.m.; default prove-ups Tuesday 1:30 p.m.; ex parte Monday through Thursday 1:30 p.m. on reservation by 10:00 a.m. the day before); ex parte applications (written oppositions; ruled on by minute order); law and motion (reservations, tentative rulings by 3:00 p.m. the day before, taking motions off calendar); and trial procedures.
Judge Sandy N. Leal's policies for Department C33 (Central Justice Center): non-law-and-motion order to show cause hearings Thursday 1:30 p.m. (California Rules of Court, rule 3.110 service); case management conferences Monday through Wednesday 9:00 a.m.; default prove-ups, judgment debtor examinations and post-arbitration and review hearings Friday 9:30 a.m.; settlement conferences Friday 9:00 a.m.; law and motion Thursday 10:00 a.m. by online reservation; jury and court trials Monday 9:00 a.m. under the separate trial standing order; ex parte Monday through Wednesday and Friday 9:30 a.m. on reservation by noon the day before; electronic signatures; remote appearance requirements.
The trial standing order issued in every case assigned to Judge Sandy N. Leal and set for trial (Department C33): civility and professionalism; continuances (disfavored; stipulations are not effective until ordered); exhibits (a joint numbering system and exhibit list; advance notice of video, deposition video and projector use); objections (state the word and the legal basis, then await the ruling); the Local Rule 317 issue conference; in limine motions; jury instructions and special verdict forms; the jury selection method; witnesses and scheduling; and other issues (post-trial matters, jury fees and court reporters, multiple counsel, communication with the court, notice of the order).
Judge H. Shaina Colover's policies for Department C34 (Central Justice Center): calendar (trials Monday through Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.; case management and status conferences Thursday 9:00 a.m.; order to show cause and default prove-up hearings Thursday 10:30 a.m.; law and motion Thursday 1:30 p.m. by online reservation; ex parte Monday through Thursday 1:30 p.m. on reservation by 10:00 a.m. the day before; settlement conferences Friday 9:00 a.m., in person unless stipulated two weeks ahead); general procedures (remote versus in-person proceedings, court reporters, the civil rules, civility, ex parte applications, case management conferences, continuances); and trial procedures, with the department's conduct-in-jury-trials rules.
Judge Layne H. Melzer's guidelines for approval of class action and PAGA settlements (Department CX102): motions for preliminary approval of class action settlements (the noticed motion under rule 3.769(c) and its supporting information — the litigation summary, settlement agreement, settlement amount, reversionary terms, financial terms, taxes, class definition, claims and investigation, release, PAGA component, allocation; class notice administration; class notice; proposed orders); motions for final approval; and motions for approval of PAGA settlements.
Judge Layne H. Melzer's policies for Department CX102 (Civil Complex Center): calendar (jury and court trials Monday through Wednesday 9:00 a.m. in person; initial case management conferences and status, order to show cause and review hearings Thursday 9:30 a.m. remotely, with statements five court days ahead; settlement conferences Friday 8:30 a.m. in person; default prove-ups Friday 9:00 a.m.; law and motion Thursday 2:00 p.m.; ex parte Monday through Thursday 1:30 p.m. on reservation by 10:00 a.m.); general procedures (remote versus in-person proceedings, court reporters, the civil rules, civility, ex parte applications); and trial procedures (scheduling and pretrial compliance, pretrial conference, exhibits and demonstratives, depositions, witnesses, stipulations, jury instructions), with the department's conduct-in-jury-trials rules.
Judge David A. Hoffer's policies for Department CX103 (Civil Complex Center): hearing schedule (trials Tuesday through Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.; law and motion Monday 1:30 p.m.; case management, status, order to show cause and default prove-up hearings Monday through Thursday, with status reports a week ahead; a transition note for the CX-103 inventory); trial procedures (full Local Rule 317 compliance; a remote readiness appearance on the trial date); law and motion (reservations online; tentative rulings at least 24 hours ahead); ex parte applications, usually decided on the papers; informal discovery conferences (six-page briefs three court days ahead); and courtroom demeanor under the State Bar's civility guidelines.
Department L51's mandatory settlement conference rules under Local Rule 707: the parties and DCSS meet and confer before the conference; settlement conference and trial statements (with guideline support calculations) served five calendar days before; a joint statement of issues remaining to be tried; mandatory attendance, with sanctions for failure to attend.
Department L54's mandatory settlement conference rules under Local Rule 707 for cases estimated at one hour or more: the parties and DCSS meet and confer before the conference; settlement conference and trial statements (with guideline support calculations) served five calendar days before; a joint statement of issues remaining to be tried; mandatory attendance, with sanctions for failure to attend.
Judge Donald F. Gaffney's general policies and procedures for Department N16 (North Justice Center): modifications and remote appearances; calendar (order to show cause, case management and review hearings Tuesday 9:00 a.m.; settlement conferences Friday 9:00 a.m., set on request; default prove-ups Wednesday 10:30 a.m.; law and motion Wednesday 9:00 a.m.; trials Monday, Thursday and Friday 9:00 a.m. and Tuesday 10:00 a.m.; ex parte Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. with notice by 10:00 a.m. the court day before); general procedures; ex parte applications; law and motion; and trial procedures, with the department's conduct-in-trials rules and trial forms, including a deposition designation form.
The court's Electronic Evidence Portal: the Civil Unlimited pilot in Departments C15, C16, C24, C25 and C27 (exhibits uploaded in place of trial notebooks under the Civil Unlimited protocol; the signed Electronic Evidence Order and Stipulation filed by noon the Wednesday before trial and served by the plaintiff); small claims in C18 (all evidence through the portal); probate in CM03, CM05, CM06 and CM08 and civil harassment, unlawful detainer and administrative appeal matters in C61, C64, C65 and C66 (the portal may be required); family law since January 1, 2025 under Local Rule 714 (all trial and specially set hearing exhibits, including impeachment and rebuttal); and access instructions, with the court's privacy policy and Administrative Order 21/06.
Electronic filing in juvenile proceedings, authorized under Welfare and Institutions Code section 212.5, Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, California Rules of Court, rules 2.252 and 5.522(b), and Local Rule 908: documents e-filed before midnight on a court day are filed that day, but initiating petitions must be filed by 3:00 p.m. the day before when a hearing is required the next day; delinquency petitions and disqualifications may not be e-filed; eFile CA.
The Family Law Division's courtroom schedule and requirements (revised September 2026): for each family law department — Supervising Judge Eric J. Wersching in L611, the Lamoreaux Justice Center departments L11, L52, L53, L60–L69 and L71–L73, and Departments C14 and C17 — the judicial officer and the weekly schedule of hearings by day and time, with each department's requirements; a legend of hearing types and a link to court reporter availability.
Media and public access to family law proceedings is in person in the courtroom where the hearing is set (with remote access when a proceeding is entirely remote); the courtroom email addresses and telephone numbers for assistance, which are not for ex parte communication or to bypass e-filing or other court procedures.
A family law guide to the Judicial Council forms: to appear remotely at an in-person evidentiary hearing or trial (RA-010 Notice of Remote Appearance, served on all parties, and RA-020); to oppose a remote evidentiary hearing or trial (RA-015, rule 3.672(h)(3), and RA-020); to appear in person at a remote non-evidentiary hearing; and how to submit the forms, including by e-filing as one PDF.
The guidelines of all the court's complex civil departments, which the plaintiff (and a cross-complainant) must serve with the summons and complaint: courtroom demeanor under the State Bar civility guidelines; general matters (case management orders govern, e-filing, service of the guidelines, telephone appearances); the initial case management conference; case management and status conference statements; case management orders; law and motion (meet and confer, tentative rulings, off-calendar matters and continuances); ex parte applications; mandatory settlement conferences; pre-trial conferences; use of the court's evidence presentation systems; motions in limine at trial; and the attorney civility pledge (rev. May 4, 2010).
The court's hearing schedule for limited civil cases, unlawful detainers and civil protective orders (actions of $35,000 and less): unlawful detainer departments C66 and C61 (court and jury trials, law and motion, ex parte applications, claims of right to possession and claims of exemption, with each department's evidence and remote-appearance rules); civil harassment restraining order departments C65 and C64 (ex parte temporary restraining orders, law and motion, hearings, bench warrant appearances, gun violence restraining orders); and limited civil Department CX104 (court and jury trials, default prove-ups, status conferences, orders to show cause re dismissal and sanctions, ex parte applications under rules 3.1200–3.1207, law and motion).
The Juvenile Court's judge assignments and courtroom schedule (Lamoreaux Justice Center): each department's judicial officer, assignment and schedule — the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court in L21, the dependency and juvenile justice departments and the collaborative courts — with the court's public notices (dated January 26, 2022 through January 7, 2026); cases are assigned on a direct calendar system and proceedings are confidential and closed to the public, with few exceptions.
Mandatory electronic filing in civil cases under Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, California Rules of Court, rules 2.252 and 2.253, and Local Rule 352: documents filed by represented parties must be e-filed; originals that may not be e-filed (bench warrants, subpoenaed documents, Labor Commissioner cash or check deposits, bonds and undertakings); and the court-approved electronic filing service providers.
Mandatory electronic filing in the Probate Division under Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, California Rules of Court, rules 2.252 and 2.253, and Local Rule 601.01: every document except the originals the court lists must be e-filed, originals by the close of business on a court day; self-represented parties are exempt but encouraged to e-file; e-filing in mental health cases is encouraged but not required; originals that may not be e-filed (affidavits re real property of small value, private professional conservators' financial documents, subpoenaed documents, undertakings, original wills and codicils); the pandemic-era allowance for electronic submission of signed bonds and letters; and the court-approved electronic filing service providers.
The court's notice under rule 2.956(b): a party with a fee waiver in an unlimited civil case may request an official reporter at least 10 calendar days before trial or an evidentiary hearing (form L-0790); and, justice center by justice center (Central, Central Jail, Civil Complex Center, Community Court, Costa Mesa, Harbor, Lamoreaux, North and West), each department's calendar assignment, hearing type and whether an official reporter is provided.
The protocol of the Probation Department, the Social Services Agency and the court for children who appear to come within both dependency (section 300) and wardship (sections 601 and 602) jurisdiction, including dual status designation: referral, the joint assessment report and hearing, and disposition; the decision-making criteria; exchange of information; confidentiality; resolution of conflicts; modifications; tracking of dual status cases; and termination.
The Probate and Mental Health courtroom schedule (Costa Mesa Justice Complex): each department's judicial officer and weekly calendar (CM01, CM03, CM04, CM05, CM06, CM07, CM08), links to the standing orders of Departments CM03, CM05, CM06 and CM08, the Statement on Continuances and the Trial/Hearing Guidelines, law and motion reservations, and the setting of mandatory settlement conferences and trials by the court.
The Probate Department's hearing and trial guidelines: contested matters proceed through a trial setting conference, a mandatory settlement conference and trial; communication among counsel, cooperative discovery, written notice of hearings, liberal amendment of pleadings, no stipulated continuances without court approval, tentative rulings and settlements; the trial setting conference; the mandatory settlement conference (mediation, statements five court days before); the issue conference; the pretrial statement; and trial procedures and instructions (among them court reporter fees paid in advance and the probate courtroom email).
The guidelines of the court's voluntary Probate Mediation Program: description; eligible cases (decedents' estates, trusts and other probate matters); initiating the mediation; the mediator's authority; timelines, extensions and notice of mediation; ethics and standards of practice; conducting the session; the information mediators provide the court; maintaining panel status; compensation; case limits; panel lists; facilities; and resignation and removal of mediators.
Probate examiner notes: the text-message and email notice program for new notes, the remote Clear Your Notes workshop, the probate notes search, the matter types for which notes are prepared, how to ask questions about notes, and requests for continuances by email to ContinueProbate@occourts.org (the required subject line — hearing date, time, department, case number and caption — and message content; no attachments).
The probate motion-date reservation rules: use of the motion reservation process is mandatory; only available dates are shown; moving papers must be submitted within 24 hours or the reservation is cancelled automatically; pleadings must be timely served and filed.
The Probate bench's statement that repeated continuances to clear probate notes are interfering with the court's calendars: if notes are not cleared by the third continuance, depending on the matter, the petition may be dismissed without prejudice and the petitioner required to pay the filing fee to re-file, or an appointed personal representative, conservator or guardian may be suspended and an order to show cause re removal set; delays caused by the court's own backlog in approving orders and letters will be accommodated.
The court's remote appearance index: remote appearance is offered in various case types, and for each (the Appellate Division, civil administrative appeals, evictions and unlawful detainers, limited civil, name changes, and the other listed case types through probate and mental health and traffic) the page links the appearance procedure and remote hearing instructions; members of the public should also check the local rules and any department rules.
Commissioners Laurie Burns (L51) and Jessica Paulson-Duffy (L54): Income and Expense Declarations with attachments submitted to DCSS within 90 days and exchanged 72 hours before the hearing; hearings by Zoom beginning 8:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.; who is admitted; participants on camera; no recording; timeliness and attire; conduct at the hearing; interpreters and ADA accommodations; and preparing, marking and maintaining electronic evidence and exhibits.
How to schedule an ex parte hearing when filing a complaint: in unlimited civil, give notice to appear at the Central Justice Center at 1:30 p.m. and check the lobby monitors for the department, and e-file the complaint and application with fees paid by 1:15 p.m. the same day; in limited civil, give notice under the Limited Civil Calendar Schedule & Requirements and e-file the complaint and application with fees paid before the hearing.
The small claims hearing schedule: small claims matters are heard at the Central Justice Center only; trials 20 to 70 days from the clerk's order; SC-100 claims Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and SC-500 claims Friday 8:00 a.m., by Zoom in Department C16; judgment debtor examinations Friday 9:00 a.m. in Department C64; appeal hearings by random assignment; bench warrant appearances at the civil clerk's office; motions Monday and Wednesday 2:30 p.m. by Zoom in Department C16.
The Unlimited Civil Courtroom Schedule & Requirements (the court's Civil Calendar web application, actions over $35,000): helpful resources and the remote appearance authorities (Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75, California Rules of Court, rule 3.672, Local Rule 375); rescheduling hearings; judgment debtor examinations; and for each unlimited civil department at the Central, North and West Justice Centers its judge and telephone, the days and times it hears noticed motions and ex parte applications, and its deadlines for telephonic notice and for ex parte papers, with links to the department's procedures.