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First Appellate District (Circuit 1) · official circuit site ✓
Preview of 25 instruments. All 35 county-scoped rules → search all three layers.
Each criminal department's weekly calendar - the master calendar courtrooms L1 and L2 (clear warrant, criminal, preliminary examination readiness and sentencing calendars at 8:30 a.m., felony in-custody and out-of-custody calendars at 1:30 p.m., jury trial assignment), the misdemeanor courtrooms 41 and 42, Courtroom 43 (LPS conservatorships, writs, FACT and CARE; CARE and civil gun violence TRO review at 8:00 a.m.), the felony trial courtrooms 51 to 54 (with military diversion and VALOR Court in Courtroom 53), Courtroom 62 (CEQA and Drug Court), Courtroom 63 (probate) and Courtroom 64 (mental health diversion) - with the judicial officers and judicial assistants, and the Appellate Calendar, and the Appellate Panel; the Criminal Division Schedule that Local Rule 8.1 points to.
Each department's weekly calendar - probate (Courtroom 63), the CARE, FACT, mental health diversion and LPS weapons retention calendars (Courtroom 64), guardianships (Courtroom 61), LPS and writs (Courtroom 43) - with the ex parte review times (probate ex partes by e-file or drop-off by 10:00 a.m. at 3055 Cleveland Avenue, CARE ex partes by 8:00 a.m., guardianship and LPS ex partes by 10:00 a.m. at 625 Administration Drive; pickup at or after 2:30 p.m.); the Appellate Calendar, and the Appellate Panel; the page Local Rule 6.2 points to.
The volunteer settlement conferences held Thursdays at 1:30 and Fridays at 8:30 (not the 5th Thursday and Friday), and the STBA settlement conference program suspended for the remainder of 2026 - no further conferences scheduled through it this calendar year.
The requirements of courts issuing custody or visitation orders (21.1) and of the District Attorney before requesting criminal protective orders (21.2); the modification of a criminal protective order that conflicts with a later custody or parenting plan order (21.3); and the language of custody and parenting plan orders - the safe exchange of the children, and no language that violates a criminal court's no contact order (21.4).
Trial by declaration under Vehicle Code § 40902, a person who fails to appear deemed to have elected a trial by written declaration under Vehicle Code § 40903 (20.1); exhibits no larger than a standard sheet of paper, 8 ½ by 11 inches (20.2); and the clerk's ability-to-pay determinations under Government Code § 68645.3(e), with review by a judicial officer and the criteria posted on the court's website (20.3).
Media coverage under California Rules of Court, Rule 1.150 (19.1); a media agency's request to photograph or otherwise record a court proceeding on Judicial Council form MC-500 with a proposed order (MC-510), filed with the Court Executive Officer or designee, and requests to record employee work areas (19.2); and the limitations on coverage of court facilities or locations - no photographing or recording by the media and general public in any part of a court facility, or within 50 feet of the entrances of the two first-floor courtrooms of the Hall of Justice (Courtroom #14 and #15); devices turned off in transit; no recording through courtroom door windows or of anyone wearing a juror badge (19.3).
The appointment, by a majority of the judges, of an Executive Officer of the Superior Court under Government Code §68114.6, who also acts as a Clerk of the Court, and the transfer of the County Clerk's duties to the Court Executive Officer (18.1).
Proceedings with a fee waiver - reasonable copies (17.1); conformed copies, a maximum of two at filing (17.6); prepaid, self-addressed envelopes (17.7); the hearing date and time in the caption, and in the e-filing description (17.8); local forms (17.9); restrictions on over-the-counter filings (17.11); background checks (17.14); voluntary e-service by the court's Stipulation and Order (17.16); the $5.00 fee for retrieving a file from storage (17.17); the appointment of an elisor (17.19); electronic records - paper filings scanned as the official record (17.20); the format of documents submitted for filing (17.21); mandatory electronic filing for represented parties, self-represented parties exempt (17.22); the limitations on electronic filings in civil, criminal, probate and family law (17.23); electronic filing service providers (17.24); electronic filing dates and times - documents received between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on a court day deemed filed that day (17.25); electronically filed proposed orders and orders after hearing (17.26); and electronic service (17.27).
Initial civil complaints or petitions filed, and first paper fees paid, at the Civil & Family Law Courthouse at 3055 Cleveland Avenue before any ex parte order is presented; then civil applications (injunctive relief, extraordinary writs, provisional remedies, orders shortening time) to the Assigned Judge at the times and locations posted at the courtroom and on the court's civil calendar page (16.1); unlawful detainer applications to the Unlawful Detainer Judge (16.2); criminal applications to the assigned criminal judge (Rule 8.9) (16.3); juvenile applications to the juvenile court judge or commissioner (16.4); family law (16.5); probate applications as described in Rule 6.2 (16.6); another judge when the assigned judge is unavailable or disqualified, or in an emergency, with Local Form CV-40 (16.7); and civil protective order petitions (harassment, violence against employees, elder or dependent adult abuse, transitional housing misconduct) at the ex parte times and locations designated by the Supervising Judge of the Civil Division and posted at the courtroom and on the court's website (16.8).
The court's policy and goal to encourage the parties in all civil cases to explore and pursue private dispute resolution by means of an Alternative Dispute Resolution process appropriate to the matter, at the earliest appropriate date (15.1).
A Grand Jury impaneled annually under PC § 888 (14.1); applications sought each February for the ensuing fiscal year (14.2); interviews of prospective grand jurors (14.3); the impanelment of the grand jury (14.4); and an additional term of service (14.5).
The method of selection - jurors selected at random from source lists (the list of registered voters, the Department of Motor Vehicle's list of licensed drivers and others) (13.1); jury qualifications - disqualification, excusals, permanent excusals and postponements (13.2); and the fulfillment of service - its duration and completion (13.3).
The appointment of a Superior Court Commissioner by majority vote of the judges under Government Code § 71622 (12.1); the commissioner's general authority (12.2); assignments as temporary judge - trials and hearings, preliminary matters, orders to show cause and temporary restraining orders, ex parte motions, appraisers in family law matters, bonds and undertakings, settlement conferences in civil cases, oaths and depositions, bail and own-recognizance releases, default and uncontested dissolution orders and judgments, paternity and support actions (12.3); and duties as commissioner - juvenile court referee, probate commissioner, taking evidence and reporting findings (12.4).
Appeals to the Appellate Division in limited civil cases (11.1: the Notice of Appeal and the CRC 8.831 Notice designating the record filed in the trial court, later filings in the Civil Appeals Department, no use of the court file in lieu of the record, the oral proceedings, original exhibits and the briefing schedule), in misdemeanor criminal cases (11.2: the CRC 8.864 Notice of election; the Criminal Appeals Department) and in infraction cases (11.3: the CRC 8.915 Notice); and petitions for writs of mandate and prohibition (11.4) and for writs of supersedeas (11.5) directed to the Appellate Division. Rules 11.6 and 11.7 are repealed.
Abbreviations, administration and definitions (10.1); juvenile calendars heard as designated by the Presiding Judge, the current designation on the court's website (10.2); rules of procedure, and standing orders posted on the court's website (10.3); attendance at hearings (10.4); counsel of record and self-represented parties (10.5); pre-hearing discovery (10.6); noticed motions in dependency proceedings (10.7); requests for ex parte orders, with advance notice to all parties (10.8); temporary restraining orders (10.9); attorney competence, standards of representation, complaints and requests to withdraw (10.10 and 10.12 to 10.16); continuances (10.11); release of information relating to juveniles (10.17); child advocates - the CASA program (10.18); medical issues and psychotropic drugs (10.19); requests for modification (10.20); access to minors (10.21); mediation (10.22) and settlement conferences (10.23) in dependency proceedings; guardians ad litem, visitation, trial home visits, orders terminating jurisdiction, 15-day reports, bonding studies and prisoner transport orders in dependency proceedings (10.24 to 10.30); requests for transcripts on Local Form RP-002 (10.31); access to the courtroom by non-parties and requests to attend delinquency proceedings (10.32 and 10.33); computer access to the juvenile case management system (10.34); cameras and recording equipment (10.35); foreign consulates (10.36); appearance by telephone (10.37); court appointed counsel compensation (10.38); dual status jurisdiction (10.39); and the competency protocol (10.40).
Case assignment to a Family Law department on the filing of the initial pleading (9.2); sanctions (9.3); the Family Law Facilitator (9.4); collaborative law cases (9.5); handwritten pleadings in blue or black ink (9.7); notices of unavailability not filed (9.9); case management conferences (9.10); domestic violence restraining orders under Family Code section 6200 et seq., with proposed orders including a pre-filled DV-110 (9.11); ex parte and emergency family law orders - declarations, notice, delivery, opposition, judicial review and set aside (9.12); the domestic and child support calendars (9.13); mediation and child custody recommending counseling, Family Court Services, and the appointment of child custody evaluators, parent coordinators and minor's counsel (9.14); child and spousal support (9.15); public assistance (9.16); orders after hearing (9.17); review hearings (9.18); law and motion (9.19); family law settlement conferences with Local Form FL-048 (9.20) and child custody settlement conferences (9.21); special masters, appraisers and experts (9.22); trials and evidentiary hearings (9.23); expedited custody trials requested on Sonoma County form FL-074 (9.24); adoptions (9.25); judgments - the appropriate completed judgment checklist, found on the court's website, submitted with the documents, nullity judgments and bifurcation of marital status (9.26); service by posting (9.27); requests for Special Immigrant Juvenile findings (9.29); court ordered therapeutic treatment (9.30); and the supervised visitation providers list (9.31).
Assignment of cases - felony matters assigned alphabetically to a felony master calendar department, misdemeanors for all purposes after arraignment to a misdemeanor department, and the Criminal Division Schedule on the website (8.1); filing criminal complaints with the Criminal Clerk's Office (8.2); violations of probation (8.3); protection of confidential personal information (8.4); criminal pretrial law and motion (8.5); appointment and payment of counsel in conflict cases (8.7) and appointment of second counsel (8.8); ex parte applications and the temporary release of inmates (8.9); continuances (8.10); arraignments (8.12); the calendaring system - the first appearance date, arraignments, the schedule of events and calendar events (8.13); mental health diversion - motions under PC § 1001.36 or PC §1370 filed with the clerk's office, filed confidentially and served on the Sonoma County District Attorney and on Sonoma County Behavioral Health, Local Form CR-007 for optional use, the petition calendar, referral for a suitability assessment, and the Mental Health Diversion Workflow and FAQ on the court's website (8.14); and remote appearances in criminal matters (8.15). Rules 8.6 and 8.11 are repealed.
Default, uncontested and compromise hearings conducted as scheduled by the Assigned Judge (7.1); default and uncontested hearings scheduled through the Superior Court Clerk's Office, with a letter of confirmation sent not less than ten (10) calendar days before the hearing (7.2); and attorney's fees in default proceedings - the schedule for judgments entered by the clerk in limited civil cases under Code of Civil Procedure §585(a) (35% of the first $1,500.00 principal, and so on) and fees in actions on book account (7.3).
Introduction and contact information (6.1); calendar and procedural matters (6.2) - the probate, conservatorship and guardianship calendars posted on the court's website, the departments designated by the Presiding Judge, probate examiner notes through the case portal, the Regular Probate, Case Management, Guardianship and LPS calendars, hearing dates assigned at filing, stipulated continuances on Local Form PR-018 submitted no later than noon (12:00 p.m.) three (3) court days before the hearing, proposed orders and supporting papers, hearings and tentative rulings, contested matters, ex parte applications and stipulated petitions; decedents' estates (6.3); conservatorships - temporary conservatorships, required documents, independent powers, accountings, final distribution, limited and LPS conservatorships, the report of court appointed counsel (6.4); compensation of fiduciaries and attorneys (6.5); bonds and blocked accounts (6.6); sales of real property - overbids, commissions, disputes between agents or brokers (6.7); trust petitions (6.8); and guardianships - calendaring, the report of proposed guardian, investigations, petitions for visitation and tentative rulings on the guardianship calendar (6.9).
Scheduling - law and motion heard as designated by the Assigned Judge, courtesy copies, matters resolved or dropped, appendices of authorities (5.1); the Order of Examination Calendar - representation of a corporation, a judgment debtor's failure to appear, service of warrants, in-custody judgment debtors, warrant of attachment and contempt of court hearings (5.2); continuances by stipulation and the dropping of law and motion matters, filed by 4:00 p.m. at least three (3) court days before the hearing (5.3); the meet and confer conference (5.4); hearings, tentative rulings issued by 2:00 p.m. on the court day before each law and motion calendar, and oral argument (5.5); ex parte applications under California Rules of Court, Rules 3.1200 et seq. (5.6); transcripts and administrative records (5.7); and orders after hearing or upon ex parte motion, with protective orders and orders to consolidate (5.8).
Differential case management (4.1), with uninsured and underinsured motorist actions; assignment to one judge for all purposes - the Notice of Assignment of Case to One Judge for All Purposes and Notice of Case Management Conference issued when the complaint is filed, and tentative rulings three (3) court days before each case management conference (4.2); orders to show cause (4.4); sanctions (4.5); the mandatory settlement conference, at the discretion of the Assigned Judge, before a pro tem panelist (4.6); the jury demand in the Case Management Statement (4.7); the deposit of jury fees (4.8); trial and trial-related motions - the trial calendar and continuances (4.9); pretrial matters and commencement of trial - uniform procedures, the duty to meet and confer, pretrial documents, exhibits, trial briefs, jury instructions and verdict forms, service of trial documents (4.10); voir dire (4.11); the disposition of fictitious defendants before judgment (4.12); temporary judge (pro tem) trials by stipulation (4.13); the Discovery Facilitator Program (4.14) and the Demurrer Facilitator Program (4.17) - policy, panel, participation by stipulation and mandatory participation, selection, compensation and resolution; matters affected by bankruptcy (4.16); post-trial courtesy copies to the department's drop box (4.18); and writs of mandate challenging government approvals and CEQA matters - the Assigned Judge, alternative dispute resolution, the initial case management conference, the administrative record (lodged in electronic format under California Rules of Court, Rules 3.2200 through 3.2208), motions to augment or strike, and matters requiring a hearing calendared through the department (4.19). Rules 4.3 and 4.15 are repealed.
Electronic recording in limited civil actions and criminal misdemeanor and infraction proceedings under Government Code § 69957, in which court reporters are not provided (3.1); the Court's Notice of Availability of Court Reporting Services, posted in the Clerk's Office and on the court's website (3.2); the civil case types for which the Court does not provide court reporters under California Rules of Court, Rule 2.956, unless the Notice of Availability provides otherwise (3.3); a request for a court reporter where a fee waiver has been granted (3.4); and procuring a qualified private certified court reporter pro tempore, with a proposed order, the Court adopting the Appointment of Official Reporter Pro Tempore as a local form (3.5).
Small claims cases (2.1): identification of a business defendant's authorized agent for service when the clerk serves under Code of Civil Procedure §116.340(a)(1); law and motion; trial setting; submitting evidence where the Court has granted a remote appearance - evidence sent to all other parties and submitted to the court at least 10 days before the hearing with Local Form SC-10, exhibits of no more than 10 pages by e-mail to SCtrials@sonomacourt.org; exhibits after trial, destroyed sixty (60) calendar days after the final determination unless their return is requested with a self-addressed stamped envelope; and appeals. Unlawful detainer cases (2.2): trial setting by a request to set the time of the trial; an unlawful detainer that becomes an ordinary civil case; default and compromise; attorney's fees; and stipulations for entry of judgment.
The citation and effect of the rules, supplementary and subject to statutes and the California Rules of Court (1.1); construction and application (1.2); definitions (1.3); sanctions under Code of Civil Procedure § 575.2 for failure to comply (1.4); the court's organization - one unified Superior Court under Government Code § 70200, organized into a criminal division, a family law division and a civil division, and the list of Rules 2 to 21 (1.5); hours of business determined by the presiding judge, and the drop box (documents left after 4:00 pm filed as of the following court business day) (1.6); courtroom dress and decorum (1.7); smoking prohibited in court facilities and within 20 feet of main entrances, exits and operable windows (1.8); remote appearances by case type - general provisions, non-evidentiary civil cases, civil evidentiary hearings and trials, small claims, unlawful detainer, temporary restraining orders in civil harassment, elder abuse, workplace violence and school site violence matters, probate, family law (how to appear remotely at the family law calendar page), domestic violence and gun violence restraining orders, criminal matters (Rule 8.15), juvenile justice and juvenile dependency (1.9); and the bias complaint procedure under standard 10.20(d) - the written Notice of Concern to the Presiding Judge or Court Executive Officer, and complaints (1.10).
A general order of the Presiding Judge, effective immediately and in effect until otherwise ordered by the Presiding Judge: no one except authorized Court and court security personnel may photograph, record or broadcast, or activate any camera, microphone, recorder or broadcasting device, in any courtroom or courthouse where the Court conducts business - including entrances, exits, hallways, escalators, elevators and adjacent or subterranean court parking areas - except as Local Rules, Rule 19.3, California Rules of Court, rule 1.150, this order or another order of a judicial officer permits (a law enforcement officer's passive body camera allowed); the definitions of a Camera, a Wearable Electronic Device and Wearable Camera, and a Personal Electronic Device; except for media representatives, no person may bring a Camera, Wearable Electronic Device or Wearable Camera into any courthouse (security personnel may require a press pass, other verifiable press credentials or a copy of a current filed petition seeking a court order); Personal Electronic Devices may be brought in but used only in accordance with rule 1.150 and Local Rule 19.3, and may be inspected by court security personnel; portable scanners, cameras or copiers used solely to image documents; devices silenced or turned off before entering a courtroom; violations may result in seizure of the device, monetary sanctions under section 177.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure, contempt under sections 128 and 1209 and arrest under Penal Code sections 166(a)(4), 166(a)(5) and 632; and the duties of court staff, security personnel and peace officers who become aware of a violation.