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Sacramento County, CA
Every published instrument scoped to Sacramento 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 1–50 of 70 · page 1 of 2
Chapter 1 of the court's local rules (General Rules; rules 1.00–1.28): citation and effect of the rules and failure to comply; self-represented parties; master calendar departments; Presiding Judge law and motion proceedings and the posting of civil tentative rulings (rules 1.05 and 1.06); ex parte applications in the Presiding Judge's department; the voir dire juror questionnaire; waiver of court fees and jury fees; court reporting services and requests for them; lost papers, typing services and non-attorney document preparers, and the drop box; writs and abstracts; sexually violent predator cases; conflicting protective orders; the electronic filing program, process and inquiries (rules 1.20–1.23); photographing, recording and broadcasting in courthouse facilities (Rule 1.24); the Digital Evidence Policy (Rule 1.25); claims under the California Environmental Quality Act (Rule 1.27); and the use of AI by counsel (Rule 1.28).
Chapter 10 (Criminal; rules 10.00–10.66), in seven parts: general rules (charging documents, arraignment, continuances, withdrawal as attorney of record, remote proceedings and punctuality); law and motion (criminal law and motion departments, filing and format of motions, notice, failure to appear, taking matters off calendar, and setting evidentiary and Pitchess hearings); discovery (rules 10.20–10.22); felony cases (filing of the information, the bail schedule, pre-assignment requests and review of privileged records); misdemeanors and infractions (law and motion, trial date and the trial readiness conference); trial (assignment for trial, jury instructions, the mandatory trial readiness conference and trial readiness notification, rules 10.50–10.55); and miscellaneous matters (probable cause hearings, temporary release from jail, the standing income deduction order, incompetence findings, submission of exhibits, and mental health diversion readiness notification and sealing).
Chapter 11 (Appellate Division; rules 11.00–11.06): sessions; briefs; the hearing date in the caption; motions to augment or correct the record; requests for a free clerk's or reporter's transcript; binding of the clerk's transcript in civil appeals; and the record on appeal.
Chapter 2 (Civil; rules 2.00–2.99.06), in eleven parts: general rules (sanctions, mandatory civil local forms, civil filings, orders after hearing, substitution of attorney, continuances of trial, attorney's fees schedules, judgments, costs, amended complaints, limited civil cases and exhibits); writs of mandate, priority election matters and expedited review of housing development decisions (rules 2.26–2.28); Civil Home Court law and motion (rules 2.30–2.40: filing, defaults, ex parte applications, discovery, reserving hearing dates and requesting oral argument); the Civil Home Court Case Management Program (rules 2.45–2.55); alternative dispute resolution, judicial arbitration and voluntary civil mediation (rules 2.60–2.87); trial setting (rules 2.88–2.92); settlement conferences for long cause matters and for small claims and unlawful detainer cases; the duty to meet and confer and exchange materials for civil trials (motions in limine, jury instructions, exhibits, witness lists, trial briefs); settlement approval motions in class and PAGA actions (Rule 2.99.05); and mandatory electronic filing of limited civil unlawful detainer documents (Rule 2.99.06).
Chapter 3 (rules 3.00–3.03): applications for appointment of a guardian ad litem; withdrawal of funds; the compromise of claims of minors and incompetent persons; and trusts created pursuant to court order.
Chapter 4 (Probate; rules 4.00–4.85), in five parts: general rules (form of papers, preparing for hearing, the probate law and motion calendar, notices, continuances, remote proceedings, matters recommended for approval, objections, contested matters, settlement conferences, trial procedures, orders, assignment of the probate referee and ex parte petitions); guardianship (rules 4.30–4.35: fingerprinting, appointment, contested guardianships and mediation); conservatorship (rules 4.38–4.43); decedents' estates (rules 4.50–4.74: wills, special letters, notices, independent administration, bond, family allowance, sales, distribution and compensation); and accountings in conservatorship, guardianship, decedent and trust matters (rules 4.80–4.85).
Chapter 5 (Family Law; rules 5.00–5.38): construction and definitions; assignments in family law departments (Rule 5.09); ex parte applications and orders shortening time; law and motion pleadings; confidential mediation and recommending mediation through the Office of Family Court Services and referrals to private mediation (rules 5.16–5.18); child custody evaluations and the admission of mediation or evaluation reports; temporary spousal support; continuances; remote proceedings (Rule 5.24); discovery; trial setting, time estimates, mandatory settlement conferences, statements of issues and contentions, and findings and orders after long cause hearings; child support stipulations; challenges to and complaints about mediators and evaluators; Family Centered Case Resolution (Rule 5.34); minor's counsel; the family law facilitator; and electronic evidence for trials and specially set hearings (Rule 5.38).
Chapter 6 (rules 6.00–6.09): the exchange of information and disclosure of juvenile court records; public admission and media coverage of juvenile court matters; notice and requests to attend proceedings; the use of cameras or recording equipment; identification, check-in and waiting areas; locations for photography and recording; pooling; and photography or recording of minors in juvenile institutions.
Chapter 7 (Juvenile Dependency; rules 7.00–7.45): the Court Appointed Special Advocate program; filings; counsel of record and self-represented litigants; direct calendaring and appearances; detention hearings; jurisdictional and dispositional hearings; ex parte orders; orders to produce incarcerated parties; pre-trial statements and conferences and the duty to meet and confer; psychotropic medication and medical, surgical and dental requests; attorney competency standards and complaints; access to and disclosure of juvenile court records (Rule 7.28); orders and custody orders; motions to relieve counsel; modification of orders (Rule 7.35); electronic submission of documents; settlement conferences (rules 7.41–7.43); remote proceedings (Rule 7.44); and ICWA voluntary proceedings (Rule 7.45).
Chapter 8 (Juvenile Justice; rules 8.00–8.24): general provisions; orders; ex parte applications; access to the courtroom by non-parties; appearances and continuances; post-detention hearing modifications; restitution determination procedures; placement; applications for rehearing; trial assignment; emergency removal of a minor from the youth detention facility; requests for medical, surgical and dental care; access to and disclosure of juvenile court records; electronic submission of documents; and the Court Appointed Special Advocate program.
Chapter 9 (Traffic Court; rules 9.00 and 9.01): trial by declaration and ability-to-pay determinations.
The checklist of the Complex Litigation Department (revised March 10, 2026; Local Rule 2.99.05) of the information and argument required for motions for preliminary approval of class action settlements (including class notice administration, notice to the class and the contents of proposed orders), motions for final approval, and motions for approval of PAGA settlements; moving counsel must attest that the briefing complies with the checklist.
The juvenile division's competency protocol (implemented September 1, 2023; revised May 12, 2025) under Section 709 and Rule 5.645: declaring a doubt and suspending proceedings; expert evaluation (selection, appointment, the evaluation and the written report due within 21 court days); the initial and contested competency hearings; services and the service plan for minors in and out of custody and progress review hearings every 30 or 45 calendar days; and the statutory time limits and evidentiary hearings at six and twelve months.
The standing order of February 28, 2025 setting how an action is reassigned when the Felony Home Court judge of Department 61, 62 or 63 is disqualified - by whether the case number ends in an even or odd number - and referring the case to Department 47 when all Felony Home Court judges are disqualified.
The standing order (dated December 19, 2024; effective January 1, 2025) for complaints under the Tribal Nations Access to Justice Act (Government Code section 98020): the caption designation “TRIBAL NATIONS ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT (SB 549) MATTER”; filing methods and courtesy copies to SB549@saccourt.ca.gov; assignment for all purposes to one judicial officer in Department 22; automatic consolidation; complex designation; the April 1, 2025 filing deadline; no preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order against added gaming tables; hearing reservations by e-mail; a stay of discovery; demurrer and case management dates; tentative rulings; and civility. A review note records the department's later assignment.
The standing order of December 19, 2024 for complex civil cases: meet and confer at least 30 calendar days before each case management conference on the listed subjects; a joint CMC statement 15 calendar days before (not on form CM-110); continuance requests; construction defect master case lists; tentative rulings on the public portal; law and motion and reserving hearing dates; class action and PAGA settlement approval under the court's checklist and Local Rule 2.99.05; informal discovery conferences; disputes during depositions; PAGA early evaluation conferences under Labor Code section 2699.3; filings and ex parte applications; typical case progress; interim orders; and civility.
The standing order of June 27, 2024 on petitions for writ of mandate that qualify as priority election matters (Elections Code § 13314, Government Code § 83121, Code of Civil Procedure § 460.7): the caption must state “PRIORITY ELECTION MATTER”, the authority and the deadline for final action (with a sample caption); the e-filing title “Petition for Writ of Election”; notice to the assigned department's clerk on filing; hearing dates set by the clerk; and, absent good cause, no merits hearing on less than four court days' notice.
The standing order of February 16, 2023 appointing the Sacramento County Public Defender in any felony or misdemeanor case involving a Penal Code § 1203.425 objection petition under Assembly Bill 1076.
The standing order (dated April 18, 2022; effective June 1, 2022) on criminal trial assignment: cases set for trial assignment are calendared Mondays at 8:45 a.m. in Department 9; a trial readiness conference is set in the home court two weeks before trial; counsel give electronic notice of readiness through the Criminal Readiness Notification system between 8:00 a.m. Friday and 12:00 p.m. Monday the week before trial; assignments are posted by 2:30 p.m. Tuesday; and non-compliance may lead to an order to show cause and sanctions under Code of Civil Procedure section 177.5. It rescinds SSC-20-6 and states that it supersedes Local Rules 10.52 and 10.54.
The standing order of April 22, 2022 barring firearms from every Sacramento County courthouse building unless carried by a uniformed officer on official duty; it applies to all local, federal and state law enforcement agencies and officers, does not apply to firearms brought as evidence, allows written exemptions by the Presiding Judge, and supersedes the standing order of December 28, 2001.
The amended standing order of March 16, 2022 authorizing the doctor or doctors named in a Doctor's Appointment Letter to have full access to, and copy, the medical, psychiatric and administrative records about the named defendant held by the Sacramento County Main Jail, Jail Psychiatric Services, the California Department of Corrections, or the Department of State Hospitals; defense counsel may move to set the order aside case by case.
The standing order of February 3, 2022 appointing the Sacramento County Public Defender in any felony case before the court for resentencing under Senate Bill 483 (Pen. Code, §§ 1171, 1171.1).
The fourth amended standing order of August 19, 2021: unless otherwise ordered, parents found suitable for treatment at or after the dispositional hearing, or on a motion to participate before disposition, participate in the Juvenile Dependency Family Treatment Court, administered under its Legal Procedures.
The standing order of June 21, 2021 assigning all Penal Code § 290.5 petitions under Senate Bill 384 to the Honorable Curtis M. Fiorini and appointing the Sacramento County Public Defender when the petitioner requests counsel; it applies only to petitions concerning convictions in adult court.
The third amended standing order of June 15, 2021 on dependency visitation orders (Welf. & Inst. Code § 362.1; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.670(g)): general rules for the social worker's administration of visits, make-up visits and conduct during visits; the general, observed, supervised and therapeutic visitation orders and their minimum frequency; and modification - temporary suspension, less restrictive or extended visits by stipulation (JC\E-324) or petition (JV-180 or Local Rule 7.35(A)), and challenges by a section 388 petition.
The ninth amended standing order of June 7, 2021 on access to confidential juvenile case files under Welfare and Institutions Code section 827 and rule 5.552: the JV-570 petition, service with forms JV-571 and JV-572 at least 10 days before submission and proof of service on form JV-569; where to file in the juvenile justice and dependency sections; objections; rulings; declarations for access by persons authorized under section 827(a)(1)(A)-(O) on form JC\E-667; and identification and copying of records.
The order of May 24, 2021 adopting the court's policy under Senate Bill 54 (2017-2018 Regular Session) and the recommendations of the Attorney General: protecting access to justice in court facilities (pseudonyms, non-disclosure of immigration status, access liaisons); protections for children and immigrant crime victims (Form I-918 Supplement B); responding to immigration enforcement requests for access and for information; and the handling of warrants, subpoenas and notices to appear, with sample federal forms in Appendices A-G (not transcribed).
The standing order of January 20, 2021 permitting public entities, as defined in Government Code section 811.2, to use digital signatures on documents filed with the court, with the force of a manual signature only if the signature meets the five attributes of Government Code section 16.5(a)(1)-(5); no other electronic signatures are accepted, and the filer represents that the signer's certificate is kept and available to the court on request.
The standing order of July 2, 2019 providing that, when the law and motion judge of Department 53 or 54 is disqualified from an action, it goes to the other law and motion department, and that when both are disqualified it is referred to Department 47 for reassignment.
The court's Digital Evidence Policy (approved May 16, 2019): non-proprietary formats that run on VLC Media Player or Windows Media Player for multimedia shown on court equipment; release of liability for parties' own equipment; text-searchable PDFs on order; media free of viruses and malware and no compressed or zipped files; motions for an exception; and the supported video and audio formats.
The standing order of January 2, 2019 appointing the Sacramento County Public Defender in any Penal Code § 1170.95 petition for re-sentencing in which the petitioner requests counsel.
The standing order of January 2, 2019 appointing the Sacramento County Public Defender in any Penal Code § 1170.91 petition for re-sentencing in which the petitioner requests counsel.
The amended standing order of November 29, 2017 deeming counsel appointed on each new section 300 or 342 petition: County Counsel for the petitioner; the Children's Law Center for each child and as CAPTA guardian ad litem, with conflict representation by the Law Offices of Dale S. Wilson; the Law Offices of Dale S. Wilson for parents, with notice to the court when conflict counsel is assigned; automatic relief 60 days after the child's 18th birthday under section 317(d); and motions to be relieved in the Home Court.
The standing order of May 3, 2017 setting the court's guiding policy for judicial officers presiding over juvenile justice cases: costs, fees and fines are imposed at the statutory minimum, absent specific circumstances warranting a different amount, within the judicial officer's discretion under California law.
The standing order of November 9, 2016 appointing the Sacramento County Public Defender in any Health and Safety Code § 11361.8 petition for re-designation of sentence (Proposition 64) in which the petitioner requests counsel.
The juvenile court's protocol (revised July 1, 2016) for authorizing medical, surgical or dental care for children under section 369: emergency care under section 369(d), including requests when a provider refuses to act without a court order during and after business hours (forms JC-E-677, JC-E-678 and JC-E-679); and non-emergency care for children in temporary custody (section 369(a)), after a petition is filed (section 369(b)) and for dependents in the Department's care (section 369(c)).
The standing order (dated August 26, 2015; effective August 24, 2015) appointing the Sacramento County Public Defender, on the filing of a petition to revoke post-release community supervision or parole, to represent the supervised person, and the Conflict Criminal Defenders where the Public Defender declines for a legal conflict; it supersedes orders SSC-11-6 and SSC-13-9.
The standing order of November 13, 2014 appointing the Sacramento County Public Defender in any Penal Code § 1170.18 petition for re-designation of sentence (Proposition 47) in which the petitioner requests counsel; other counsel may be appointed where otherwise appropriate.
The standing order of June 10, 2013 providing that, when the Public Defender declines appointment for overload under Penal Code section 987.2, the court appoints an attorney from the Indigent Defense Panel, paid on the IDP fee schedule, and appointing the Conflict Criminal Defenders' office to select the panel attorney and administer the appointments.
The standing order (dated February 1, 2013; effective February 11, 2013) directing that, while a law and motion matter is on calendar, dismissals, continuance requests and notices dropping a pending matter be filed directly in Civil Law and Motion as soon as practicable.
The standing order of November 30, 2012: in a family law or probate matter, a request to designate an attorney as a temporary judge (California Constitution article VI, section 21; California Rules of Court 2.830 et seq.) is made by filing a Stipulation and Order for Designation of Temporary Judge (Form MIC/E-001) in the department of the Supervising Judge, Family Law; in all other matters it is filed in the department of the Presiding Judge.
The first amended standing order (dated June 18, 2012; effective July 1, 2012) requiring civil litigants filing a complaint, cross-complaint, petition or application to provide one additional complete paper copy, which the court places in the Public Access Bin for public inspection; pleadings may not be removed from the courthouse and may be copied there at the person's own expense.
The standing order of May 6, 2011 authorizing the Department of Revenue Recovery to serve notice, by mail to the probationer's last known address, of hearings on the court's FTPF calendar, which monitors payment of fines and fees imposed as conditions of probation; a probationer who fails to appear may face a bench warrant under Penal Code sections 978.5 and 1203.2(a).
The fourth amended standing order of August 26, 2008 on counsel in delinquency cases: the Public Defender's review of the case file under section 827(a)(1)(P) and notice of a conflict or overload to the 602 Support Unit; deemed appointment of the Public Defender, or of the Conflict Criminal Defenders, at 12:00 PM on the arraignment or detention date; acknowledgment of the appointment; retained counsel; relief of the Public Defender after arraignment; relief of assigned CCD attorneys; duration of appointment; and the District Attorney's appearances (section 681).
The standing order of March 1, 2007 appointing Conflict Criminal Defenders to represent former CCD clients whose cases involve issues raised by Cunningham v. California, where the former client asked for a consultation on review of the sentence, is not represented by other counsel on any challenge to the underlying case, and received an upper term sentence.
The civil division's page of department information: the trial judge's responsibilities and filing in trial departments, and for the Civil Home Courts, the complex departments, the writ of mandate and CEQA departments and the Presiding Judge's department, each department's days and times for noticed motions, ex parte applications and case management conferences, hearing reservations, tentative rulings and requests for oral argument.
The Civil Home Court page: the random assignment of civil cases to the four Home Court departments (8C, 8D, 16C and 16D), which hear law and motion and Case Management Program matters; filing information; ex parte hearings (reservations through the Court Reservation System by 10:00 AM the court day before, orders shortening time and notice under Local Rule 2.35); hearing reservations for law and motion; the required tentative-ruling notice language; and requests to continue or drop law and motion matters.
The civil remote appearance page: notice of remote appearance (RA-010), opposition to remote proceedings at evidentiary hearings or trial (RA-015) and the court's order (RA-020); remote appearances in Civil Home Court through the tentative ruling; each civil department's Zoom link, toll-free number and meeting ID; and step-by-step remote appearance instructions.
The civil settlement conference page (Chapter 2, Part Seven of the local rules): scheduling of mandatory settlement conferences in the trial setting process; the settlement conference statement due not less than ten days before the conference; attendance in person or by Zoom and the meet-and-confer requirement; requests for remote appearance; and continuing a settlement conference (motions in conjunction with the trial date go to the Presiding Judge in Department 17A).
The complex civil page: assignment of complex cases for all purposes to Department 8A or 8B; SB 549 Tribal Nations Access to Justice Act matters; complex case designation and assignment under California Rules of Court 3.400; case management conferences; complex law and motion; informal discovery conferences; discovery disputes during depositions; the class action and PAGA settlement checklist and model agreements; court reporters; remote appearances; and civility and professionalism.