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Chapter 2 (Rules 2.00.00 to 2.01.00): the business of the court supervised by the executive committee - the presiding judge, the assistant presiding judge, the court executive officer and the assistant court executive officer - the presiding judge and the assistant presiding judge selected by a majority of the judges to serve for a 2-year term beginning January 1, a supervising judge for each branch court (2.00.01); the duties of the presiding judge under California Rules of Court, rule 10.603 (2.00.02); the assistant presiding judge to perform the duties of the presiding judge who is absent or otherwise unable to perform them (2.00.03); the CEO of the Superior Court as clerk of the court (2.00.04); court commissioners and temporary judges appointed under the California Rules of Court, rules 2.810-2.819 (2.00.05); complaints about a subordinate judicial officer or judge pro tempore made in writing to the presiding judge under rule 10.703, the complainant informed of the results within 90 days, and concerns about court staff in writing to the Court Executive Officer, each at 2850 Fairlane Court, Ste 110, Placerville (2.00.06); the record of proceedings - official reporters for most civil case matters, no reporters under rule 2.956 for civil case management conferences, settlement conferences and ex parte application hearings or for unlawful detainers, name changes, small claims and infraction hearings, a court-connected reporter at the fees of the court's Uniform Civil Fee Schedule, electronic recording under Government Code section 69957 in limited civil actions and misdemeanor and infraction proceedings, an official reporter at court expense for a party with a valid fee waiver unless the proceeding is electronically recorded, reporter fees posted under Government Code section 68086 and transcript costs under section 69953 (2.00.07); the locations for filing and court sessions in the Western Slope area and at the South Lake Tahoe Branch, 1354 Johnson Blvd., all papers filed with the clerk's office in the courthouse where the case is assigned, filings for Department 8 in Building C, the South Lake Tahoe Area and the actions and proceedings heard in the South Lake Tahoe Session (2.00.08); transfers between the Placerville and South Lake Tahoe sessions only with the consent of the presiding judge, filings in the session where the case is venued (2.00.09); cases assigned to a judge for all purposes, the current judicial assignments maintained on the court's website (2.00.10); the duty judge, each judge to serve 1 week at a time on a rotating basis from Friday at 5:00 p.m., available by email or telephone at all times, for probable cause requests, domestic violence restraining orders, search warrants and emergency authorization for medical treatment (2.00.12); an act due on a holiday performed on the next succeeding court day (2.00.13); open containers of alcoholic beverages prohibited (2.00.14); no firearms or other weapons, and no body armor or ballistic protection, in the court building (2.00.15); searches of persons and property - cursory searches on entering the courthouse, detailed searches authorized by the judge, the right to decline a search on condition that they immediately leave the courthouse (2.00.16); electronic devices in the courtroom - media requests under California Rules of Court, rule 1.150, no videotaping, photographing or electronic recording by the media and general public in any part of the court, audible devices turned off, no photographing of anyone wearing a juror badge or involved in any case, no computer or other electronic device used unless specifically authorized by the judge, confiscation and search on a violation (2.00.17); audio/visual evidence - the courtroom equipment, assistance requested at least one week in advance, DVDs in a DVD-player playable format (2.00.18); the Committee on the Elimination of Bias with the El Dorado County Bar Association, its policy and complaints to the presiding judge or the Court Executive Officer, complaints against a judicial officer to the Commission on Judicial Performance (2.01.00).
2.00.00 COURT OF ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS The Court of Original Proceedings, as defined in the California Constitution, Article 6, section 10, and applicable statutes, has jurisdiction of all adjudicative proceedings. (Effective January 1, 1994) 2.00.01 SUPERVISION OF COURT BUSINESS A. The business of the Superior Court shall be supervised by the executive committee, which shall consist of the presidi
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-10-10 (California T4 El Dorado build 2026-10-10) from BenchPath custody ca/t4/ca-el-dorado/docs/local-rules/local-rules.pdf (the court's rule book, its cover “Local Rules Revision: January 1, 2026” and its second page “LOCAL RULES FOR THE SUPERIOR COURT COUNTY OF EL DORADO Effective January 1, 2026”, as fetched 2026-10-10; 1813135 bytes, sha256 aba154e6450f0a7487a2f0a96e9da05110a8ab495e94410b87f54b88cfd6dd7a; 186 pages; this chapter PDF pages 12 to 24) with the shared verbatim composer (v2 reflow) and its strike-out: the rules (PDF pages 11 to 147, printed 1 to 137) composed as one text, from “1.00.00 SCOPE OF RULES FOR THE SUPERIOR COURT” to the last history note of Chapter 12, and cut at the twelve chapter headings, each matched once as a whole line (a chapter may begin mid-page: Chapters 6 and 7 both begin on PDF page 39); each page's running header (“LOCAL RULES – SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF EL DORADO”) and its two footer lines (the printed page number and “Revised January 1, 2026”) removed as chrome (411 lines); lines reflowed into the rules' paragraphs, each rule's number set with its title as one line (“2.00.08 LOCATION FOR FILING AND COURT SESSIONS”) and each history note on a line of its own; the strike report (review/strike-report-2026-10-10.txt) finds no struck run; 8 whitespace-only fixes (build/book-fixes.json: four cross-references the reflow broke before a label or a rule number - Rules 2.00.07, 2.01.00, 10.09.02 and 11.00.13 - joined; Rule 7.16.00's heading and a sentence of Rule 11.00.19 that a “SECTION” line start split, joined; Rule 2.01.00's two complaint addresses set line by line as printed) and 1 same-character fix (build/book-captions.json: the header row of Rule 8.19.02's debts table set cell by cell); the vertical-gap, short-line, page-break, fragment and row audits (custody file book_extra_audits.py; review/book-extra-audits-2026-10-10.txt) list candidates read one by one (build/book_fixes.py); proof 1 (whitespace-only) and proof 2 (same character multiset as the text layer minus chrome) pass. The cover, the effective-date page, the table of contents, the List of Effective/Revised Dates, the Alphabetical Index of Rules and the lists of local forms (PDF pages 1 to 10 and 148 to 186) belong to no card. Review note: Rule 2.00.08A(1) as printed lists the Placerville Fair Lane Branch among the Western Slope sessions; the Administrative Order of March 27, 2026 (carded) amends it effective April 01, 2026 to take the branch out (the court's notice of February 27, 2026, held, closes the branch from April 1, 2026), and the Administrative Order of September 17, 2026 (carded) adds subdivision K to Rule 2.00.17 (law enforcement use of body-worn cameras).
Division XI: information forms for data processing (Rule 11.2); required action - action taken on all calendared cases and a future date always set (Rule 11.19); and pro tem judges - an attorney named as a plaintiff in a civil or small claims case may not sit as a judge pro-tem during the case or within six months following its resolution, nor one named as a defendant in two or more such cases (Rule 11.22). Rules 11.1, 11.3 to 11.5, 11.7 to 11.18, 11.20 and 11.21 are repealed, and Rule 11.6 (voluntary arbitration; see Local Rule 10.2) was repealed and renumbered.
California > Third Appellate District > El Dorado County > Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado
2.00.00 COURT OF ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS The Court of Original Proceedings, as defined in the California Constitution, Article 6, section 10, and applicable statutes, has jurisdiction of all adjudicative proceedings. (Effective January 1, 1994) 2.00.01 SUPERVISION OF COURT BUSINESS A. The business of the Superior Court shall be supervised by the executive committee, which shall consist of the presiding judge, the assistant presiding judge, the court executive officer, and the assistant court executive officer. B. The presiding judge and the assistant presiding judge shall be selected by July 1 by a majority of the judges of the court and shall serve for a 2-year term beginning January 1. The presiding judge and the assistant presiding judge may be elected for additional terms. The grand jury judge shall be selected in January but shall serve a term beginning July l and continuing to June 30 of the following year. C. Each branch court shall have a supervising judge who shall be appointed by the presiding judge. If only one judge regularly sits in a particular branch, that judge shall be designated the supervising judge. D. Judges’ meetings shall be held monthly, or as otherwise determined by vote of the judges. The executive committee is authorized to decide routine or noncontroversial matters in the event a monthly judges’ meeting is not held. (Revised January 1, 2017) 2.00.02 DUTIES OF THE PRESIDING JUDGE A. The presiding judge of the court shall perform the duties specified in California Rules of Court, rule 10.603. In performing those duties, the presiding judge shall be guided by the Standards of Judicial Administration set forth in the California Rules of Court. B. In accordance with the policies of the court and as authorized by California Rules of Court, rule 10.605, an executive committee may be established by the court to advise the presiding judge or to establish policies and procedures for the internal management of the court. An executive committee may be appointed by the presiding judge to advise the presiding judge. C. For purposes of California Rules of Court, rule 10.603(c)(2)(H) (defining “vacation day”): An absence of four consecutive hours in the morning (8:00 – 12:00) or afternoon (1:00 – 5:00) is vacation time of half a day. An absence of eight consecutive hours is one full day of vacation. Time off for dental and medical visits and for illness will not be charged as vacation time. (Revised July 1, 2013) 2.00.03 ASSISTANT PRESIDING JUDGE If at any time the presiding judge shall be absent, ill, on vacation, or otherwise unable to perform his or her duties, the assistant presiding judge shall perform all the duties and exercise the authority of the presiding judge. If at any time during the term of office both the presiding judge and the acting presiding judge are unavailable because of illness, vacation, or other cause, the senior judge, or other judge as designated by the presiding judge, shall serve as assistant presiding judge during the period of unavailability. (Effective January 1, 1994) 2.00.04 CEO OF THE SUPERIOR COURT The CEO of the Superior Court shall also serve as clerk of the court. The CEO of the Superior Court has ultimate responsibility, under the supervision of the presiding judge, for the planning, organizing, and directing the non-judicial activities of the court, and shall perform the duties specified in California Rules of Court, rule 10.610 and in the job description as approved by the court from time to time. The CEO of the Superior Court serves at the pleasure of the court and is appointed by the elected members of the county judiciary by a simple majority vote. (Revised July 1, 2012) 2.00.05 COURT COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGES PRO TEMPORE Court commissioners for the court may be appointed by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, a majority of its judges, and under the control and supervision of the presiding judge. Within the jurisdiction of each court and under the direction of its judges, court commissioners shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties authorized by law to be performed by commissioners of the appointing court, and such additional powers and duties as may be prescribed by law. At the direction of the judges of the Superior Court, commissioners may have the same jurisdiction and exercise the same powers and duties as the judges of the appointing court, and with the consent of the parties, where required by law, may hear any other action as a judge pro tempore. Temporary judges shall be appointed for the court in accordance with the California Rules of Court, rules 2.810–2.819. Temporary judges serve under the control and direction of the presiding judge and shall hear matters as assigned by the presiding judge. (Revised July 1, 2021) 2.00.06 COMPLAINTS AGAINST COURT STAFF, COMMISSIONERS, REFEREES, AND JUDGES PRO TEMPORE A. Complaints about the conduct of a subordinate judicial officer or judge pro tempore will be processed in accordance with the procedures set forth in California Rules of Court, rule 10.703. A person having a complaint regarding the professional conduct of and/or procedures employed by a subordinate judicial officer or judge pro tempore shall make the complaint in writing to the presiding judge. Persons who are unable to file a written complaint because of a disability may present an oral complaint, which the presiding judge must commit to writing. The presiding judge, or another judge designated by the presiding judge, will conduct an investigation of the matter, which may include consultation with the judge pro tempore or subordinate judicial officer. Within 90 days of receipt, the complainant will be informed in writing of the results of the investigation. (1) Written complaints against subordinate judicial officers can be submitted via mail to: El Dorado County Superior Court Attn: Presiding Judge c/o Court Administration 2850 Fairlane Court, Ste 110 Placerville, CA 95667 B. Concerns regarding a court staff member, court procedure, or a suggestion on improving a process, other than those related to a particular case, can be submitted in writing to the Court Executive Officer. Written concerns must be signed and include an address where the Court’s response can be sent. (1) Written complaints against court staff can be submitted via mail to: El Dorado County Superior Court Attn: Court Executive Officer 2850 Fairlane Court, Ste 110 Placerville, CA 95667 (Revised July 1, 2025) 2.00.07 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS A. The court makes every effort to secure the services of official reporters for most civil case matters, except as set forth in subsection (D). However, the court cannot guarantee that official reporting services are available for proceedings where such services are not required by statute. B. The parties will be notified as soon as possible in the event the court cannot secure the services of an official reporter. If official reporting services are not required by statute for the case type, the matter will proceed as scheduled without reporting services. On the condition it does not cause a continuation of the proceeding, a party may also arrange, at the party’s expense, for a private certified court reporter or certified shorthand reporter to report proceedings. The court does not facilitate the attendance of private reporters. C. Pursuant to Government Code section 69957, in limited civil actions and criminal misdemeanor and infraction proceedings, the court, at its sole discretion, may utilize electronic recording as a means of generating a verbatim record of proceedings. In those instances, court reporters will not be provided. D. Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 2.956, the court does not provide court reporters for hearings in the following matters: • All Civil Case Management Conferences • All Civil Settlement Conferences • All Civil Ex Parte Application hearings • All hearings regarding Unlawful Detainers, Name Changes, or Small Claims • All Infraction hearings A litigant who wishes to obtain a record of a hearing for any of the above types of matters must arrange for a court reporter at their expense. A litigant may contact the court to determine if a court-connected court reporter is available by calling, as applicable, the Placerville Session at (530) 621-5867, or the South Lake Tahoe Session at (530) 573-3075. If a court-connected reporter is available and provided to the litigant by the court, the litigant shall be charged fees as set forth in subsection (F) below. The court does not facilitate the attendance of private certified court reporters to report proceedings. E. Notwithstanding subsection (D), an official reporter will be provided at court expense upon the request for a court reporter by a party with a valid fee waiver on file, unless the proceeding is being electronically recorded. F. There shall be a court reporter fee as set forth in the court’s Uniform Civil Fee Schedule, which can be viewed at the court’s web site at: www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov. All parties shall provide and post court reporter fees pursuant to Government Code section 68086. Fees for proceedings lasting less than one hour shall be posted by the moving party as directed by the court. Fees for proceedings lasting more than one hour, including trials, shall be posted as directed by the court or at the beginning of any long cause hearing or trial. Failure to provide and post court reporter fees pursuant to statute and these rules shall be cause for the hearing or trial to be postponed or continued at the discretion of the court. The court may award attorney fees and/or sanctions against the non-complying party. G. Unless otherwise required by statute, the parties shall be responsible for all transcript costs pursuant to Government Code section 69953. H. The court may tape or otherwise electronically record any hearing or proceeding for its internal use. Any such recording shall not constitute an official record of the proceeding recorded. (Revised January 1, 2024) 2.00.08 LOCATION FOR FILING AND COURT SESSIONS A. LOCATION (1) In the Western Slope of El Dorado County, also referred to as the Western Slope area (excludes the Tahoe Basin), sessions of the court may be held in the following locations: a. Placerville Main Street Branch, 495 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667 b. Placerville Building C Branch, 2850 Fairlane Court, Placerville, CA 95667 c. Placerville Fair Lane Branch, 295 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA 95667 d. Cameron Park Branch, 2927 Meder Road, Cameron Park, CA 95682 (2) In the City of South Lake Tahoe, also referred to as the South Lake Tahoe area as described in section C below, all sessions of the court are held at: a. South Lake Tahoe Branch, 1354 Johnson Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 (3) The court may conduct sessions at any appropriate location within the County of El Dorado as directed by the judicial officer presiding at the hearing. (4) Unless otherwise ordered by the court, all papers must be filed directly with the clerk's office in the courthouse where the case is assigned, except that filings for Department 8 must be filed in Building C at 2850 Fairlane Court, Ste. 120, Placerville, CA 95667. (Revised July 1, 2025) B. The courts take judicial notice of the last preceding census, taken under the authority of the Congress of the United States, that the population of the City of South Lake Tahoe in the County of El Dorado exceeds 7,000, and the City Hall in the City of South Lake Tahoe is more than 30 miles from the courthouse. Therefore, pursuant to the provisions of the Government Code section 69751.5, it is declared that a session of the Superior Court of the State of California, for the County of El Dorado, shall be held in the City of South Lake Tahoe to serve the convenience of the residents of the County and to promote the ends of justice. C. For the convenience of the courts, there is hereby designated a portion of the County of El Dorado, to be known as the South Lake Tahoe Area. The South Lake Tahoe Area is legally described as follows: Commencing at a point on the North section line of Section 35, Township 14 North, Range 14 East and the centerline of Barts Creek, said point being also on the El Dorado-Placer County line; thence Southerly along the centerline of Barts Creek to its intersection with the centerline of Gerle Creek; then Southerly along the centerline of Gerle Creek to a point on the centerline of Wentworth Springs Road; thence Southerly along the centerline of Wentworth Springs Road to its intersection with the centerline of Icehouse Road; thence Southerly along the centerline of Icehouse Road to the East-West centerline of Section 13, Township 12 North, Range 14 East; then East along the centerline of said Section 13, and Sections 18, 17, 16, 15 and 14, Township 12 North, Range 15 East to the East section line of said Section 14; then South along the East line of Section 14, Township 12 North, Range 15 East to the Southwest corner of Section 18 of Township 12 North, Range 16 East; thence East along the South lines of Sections 18, 17, 16, 15, 14 and 13 of Township 12 North, Range 16 East and the South lines of Sections 18 and 17 of Township 12 North, Range 17 East to the Southeast corner of said Section 17; thence South along the West lines of Sections 21, 28 and 33 of Township 12 North and Range 17 East and the West lines of Sections 4, 9, 16, 21 and 28, Township 11 North, Range 17 East, to the Southwest corner of said Section 28; thence West along the North line of Sections 5 and 6 to the Northwest corner of Section 6, Township 10 North, Range 17 East; thence South along the West lines of Township 10 North, Range 17 East and Township 9 North, Range 17 East to intersection with the El Dorado-Amador County line; thence Northeasterly along said county line to its intersection with the California-Nevada State Line; thence Northerly and Westerly along the El Dorado County line to the point of beginning. All Townships and Ranges are within the Mount Diablo Meridian. D. The following actions or proceedings may be heard in the South Lake Tahoe Session: (1) All jury actions or proceedings wherein the subject matter arises in the South Lake Tahoe area. (2) All non-jury actions or proceedings wherein the subject matters arise in the South Lake Tahoe area. (3) All non-jury actions or proceedings involving title to, or possession of real property located in said area in whole or in part. (4) Proceedings for probate of an estate, termination of a life estate or joint tenancy and guardianship, wherein residence is established in said area. (5) All juvenile actions where the subject matter arises in the South Lake Tahoe area. (6) Any action or proceeding may, for good cause, be transferred from the South Lake Tahoe Session to the Session at the County Seat, or vice versa, on motion of any party or the Courts. (Revised July 1, 2011) 2.00.09 TRANSFERRING CASES BETWEEN PLACERVILLE AND SOUTH LAKE TAHOE SESSIONS A. Transfers shall be handled with regard for the present statutory requirements concerning cases entitled to preference. Cases may only be transferred with the specific consent of the presiding judge. B. If a case has been venued in the Placerville session, all filings in that case must be made in Placerville only. (1) If a case has been venued in the South Lake Tahoe Session, all filings in that case must be made in South Lake Tahoe only. (2) Pursuant to 2.00.08(A)(4), unless otherwise ordered by the court, all papers must be filed directly with the clerk's office in the courthouse where the case is assigned, except that filings for Department 8 must be filed in Building C at 2850 Fairlane Court, Ste. 120, Placerville, CA 95667. C. The judge in the receiving court shall be the authority on whether a transfer is to take place. Before a case may be transferred, the judge in the receiving court must be consulted as to the cases pending in that court on the date in question. D. If the judge in the transferring court disagrees with the judge of the receiving court’s decision, the presiding judge shall rule as to: (1) Whether the case shall be transferred; (2) Whether it shall take precedence over the cases then pending in the receiving court; and (3) Whether the case being transferred, if it is not to be heard during the trial week it was set for in the transferring court, shall be given precedence over the cases pending in the receiving court. E. The judge in the receiving court shall have full authority over the case once transferred and any change in trial status or reported settlement shall be made through the receiving court. F. The judge of the transferring court shall notify counsel of the transfer immediately and shall advise counsel that all further communications and inquiries concerning the case should be made to the judge of the receiving court assigned to try the case or the calendar clerk of that court. G. The presiding judge may transfer any case between the 2 sessions for reasons of court convenience, including the availability of a courtroom, the availability of a judicial officer, or for other reasons promoting judicial efficiency as determined by the presiding judge. (Effective July 1, 2025) 2.00.10 JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENTS Cases assigned to a judge are for all purposes. Current judicial assignments are maintained on the court’s website at www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/judicial-assignments. (Revised January 1, 2022) 2.00.11 RESERVED FOR FUTURE USE (Revised January 1, 2021) 2.00.12 DUTY JUDGE A. Each of the judges shall serve 1 week at a time as duty judge on a rotating basis. Each 1-week period shall commence on Friday at 5:00 p.m. and continue until the following Friday at 5:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted on the schedule. B. The judges shall annually by November of each year designate which time period each will be available to serve as duty judge in the coming year, and the presiding judge shall make assignments according to those designations. The judges shall rotate the name of each judge assigned to each 1-week period so that each of the 8 judges shall serve one period every two months. A duty judge unable to act will arrange for a substitute and the pertinent agencies shall be so notified by the CEO of the Superior Court. The presiding judge shall provide all relevant law enforcement and governmental agencies with a copy of the judges’ annual duty judge schedule and any subsequent revisions. C. The duty judge shall be available by email or telephone at all times. In the event the duty judge cannot be reached, then leave a voicemail message with contact information. If the judge does not respond to the voicemail message within approximately five (5) minutes, then dispatch, or the officer must call the on-call judge back at the provided phone number(s). D. The duty judge shall be responsible for accomplishing the following: (1) Providing a ruling on all probable cause requests by law enforcement; (2) Issuing domestic violence restraining orders; (3) Executing written search warrants or, if because of distance such is not feasible, issuing telephonic search warrants; (4) Issuing emergency authorization for medical treatment for dependency children and other children if required. In the event medical treatment is required for children who have been taken into custody by Child Protective Services, it shall be the responsibility of Child Protective Services to contact the duty judge and set forth the nature of the emergency, including: a. Name and telephone number of the doctor who is to be contacted; b. Nature of the illness; c. Names of the foster parents and their telephone number; d. Telephone number of the Child Protective Services social worker who will be monitoring the matter; e. A succinct statement as to the nature of the emergency which dictates the requested authorization. The duty judge shall then confirm directly with the doctor the nature of the emergency and the fact that the procedure which is to be taken cannot be delayed until the next workday when the dependency calendar commissioner or judge will be available. The duty judge shall then, pursuant to the requirements of law, determine whether or not said authorization shall be given. In the event of children who are not dependent children of the juvenile court or are not in the custody of Child Protective Services, the duty judge shall follow the procedure as specified by law, confirming the nature of the emergency procedure and the need for immediate operation, and proceed, if necessary, by telephonic hearing. (5) All other emergency requests by law enforcement, Child Protective Services, probation department, or any other governmental entity or individual entitled to emergency requests. (Revised January 1, 2024) 2.00.13 HOLIDAYS If any day on which an act is required by these rules to be done falls on a holiday, as defined in Code of Civil Procedure section 134 and Government Code section 6700, the act may be performed on the next succeeding court day after the holiday, with the same effect as if it had been performed on the required day. (Effective January 1, 1994) 2.00.14 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES Open containers of alcoholic beverages are prohibited in all areas of the courthouse and may not be brought into the courthouse unless the container and its contents are to be used as an exhibit in a court proceeding. (Effective July 1, 2010) 2.00.15 FIREARMS; WEAPONS; BODY ARMOR OR BALLISTIC PROTECTION No person, including correctional officers, governmental employees, deputy sheriffs, members of the Highway Patrol, or other law enforcement representatives, other than a bailiff or person specifically charged with the security of the court building, or as otherwise authorized by the judge, shall keep on his or her person firearms or other weapons while in the court building and shall not bring any weapon into the courtroom when the appearance is in a civil, family law, or probate matter. No person, except law enforcement representatives, shall have on his or her person body armor or ballistic protection while in the court building. (Revised July 1, 2018) 2.00.16 COURT SECURITY: SEARCHES OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY In order to maintain adequate physical security for court personnel, litigants, and the public, the following procedures shall apply to all court facilities. A. All courtrooms and exterior doors of the courthouse shall be posted with a sign that shall state that all persons entering the courthouse, or a courtroom, are subject to search. B. All persons entering the courthouse, or a courtroom, shall be subject to cursory search, including searches of purses, parcels and other carried items at any time deemed warranted by court security personnel or as directed by a judge of the court. “Cursory search” includes the use of “pat down” searches, electronic metal detection, and visual inspection of the contents of any purse, parcel, or carried item. C. All persons entering a courtroom shall be subject to detailed search, including searches of purses, parcels, or other carried items at any time authorized by the judge of the subject courtroom. “Detailed search” shall include all the means in the previous paragraph, plus such additional measures as may be deemed warranted by the authorizing judge. D. Conducting searches pursuant to this rule, court security personnel shall acknowledge the right of a person to decline a search of their person or property, on condition that they immediately leave the courthouse. Such right to leave without being searched shall not apply to searches incident to arrest or otherwise being taken into custody or any other circumstances authorized by law, which permits searches without warrant. A person who refuses to submit to search and also refuses to leave the courthouse may be subject to arrest for violation of Penal Code sections 148 and 166(a)(5). E. Conducting searches as authorized by this rule, court security personnel, to the extent reasonably practicable, shall conduct the searches with discretion and out of the general view of the public and other court participants, including jurors. In exercising their discretion, court security personnel may take into account such factors as the intrusiveness of the search, potential disruption of court proceedings, officer safety and the security needs of the court. F. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions, upon good cause shown, a judge of the court may order any method of search of persons or property deemed necessary on a case by case basis to secure the safety of the courthouse, court personnel, litigants and the public. (Effective January 1, 1994) 2.00.17 USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN THE COURTROOM This rule has been developed for the protection of all parties to ensure the secure and efficient handling of cases and events in all court facilities of the Superior Court, County of El Dorado. No filming, photography or electronic recording, including by way of smartphone or computer tablet, is permitted in the court facilities except as permitted in the courtroom consistent with California Rules of Court, rule 1.150 and this rule, or as permitted as a reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability consistent with California Rules of Court, rule 1.100. A. Media requests for coverage for any type of video, still photography or audio coverage, including pool cameras, must be made in compliance with California Rules of Court, rule 1.150(e)(1) and submitted to the judicial officer assigned to hear the case on Judicial Council Forms MC-500, Media Request to Photograph, Record or Broadcast and MC-510, Order on Media Request to Permit Coverage. A copy of the request must also be submitted to the court’s Public Information Office. B. Videotaping, photographing, or electronic recording by the media and general public is not permitted in any part of the court, including, but not limited to lobby areas, halls, stairs, and elevators. C. Videotaping, photographing or electronic recording devices must be turned off, while transporting them in any area of the court. D. All audible electronic devices must be turned off when they are in courtrooms. E. Any photography of the interior of a courtroom through glass door windows or from the lobby area through open doors is prohibited. F. The use of photographic equipment or audio recording or transmission equipment in any jury assembly area or juror deliberation room, through a window into such rooms, or into any such rooms from any vantage point outside of such rooms is prohibited without advance permission of the presiding judge or his/her designee. G. Photographing, videotaping, filming, and electronic recording of anyone wearing a juror badge anywhere inside a courthouse is prohibited. Photographing, videotaping, filming, and electronic recording or anyone standing in line awaiting entry into a jury assembly area is also prohibited. H. Photographing, videotaping, filming, and electronic recording of anyone involved in any case, including litigants, witnesses, and spectators, anywhere inside a courthouse is prohibited. Nothing in this rule shall be read to prohibit photography associated with weddings as long as persons who are prohibited from being photographed in this rule are not depicted in such photos. I. Unless specifically authorized by the judge, no computer, laptop, computer tablet, wireless device, cell phone or other electronic devices may be used or accessed within any courtroom by counsel or any member of the public. J. Photography, video and electronic recording equipment used in violation of this rule is subject to confiscation and search. Any person who violates this rule may be subject to criminal or civil prosecution under Code of Civil Procedure section 177.5; Penal Code section 632; Penal Code section 166(a)(1); California Rules of Court, rule 1.150(f). (Revised July 1, 2014) 2.00.18 PRESENTATION OF AUDIO/VISUAL EVIDENCE A. COURTROOM EQUIPMENT. In general, each courtroom is equipped with a conference telephone, assisted-listening devices, Wi-Fi internet access, and either an LCD television or a projector screen. B. BRINGING YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT. The court is not able to provide assistance in setup or use of equipment which does not belong to the court. If requested, the court’s Information Technology Department can provide reasonable technical assistance with issues involving connectivity to court technology equipment. The request for assistance must be made at least one week in advance of the court date. C. USE OF DVDS; FORMAT. Please be advised that certain DVD formats are not compatible with the court’s DVD players in the jury deliberation rooms. To prevent delays in court due to compatibility problems, a party presenting evidence by way of DVD must ensure all video and pictures on the DVD are burned in a DVD-player playable format. (Effective January 1, 2017) 2.01.00 LOCAL COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF BIAS The court, in cooperation with the El Dorado County Bar Association, establishes a Committee on the Elimination of Bias (“the Committee”), as required by the California Rules of Court, Standard 10.20, Title 10, Standards of Judicial Administration. A. POLICY. The court is dedicated to preserving the integrity and impartiality of the judicial system, to ensuring that courtroom proceedings are conducted in a manner that is fair and impartial to all participants, and to eliminating explicit and implicit bias in all court proceedings. In all courtroom proceedings, except where such conduct is relevant to the issues in the proceeding, all court staff, courtroom clerks, court reporters, bailiffs (collectively “court staff”), judicial officers, attorneys, jurors, witnesses, and all other participants shall refrain from engaging in any conduct or comment that exhibits bias, including but not limited to, bias based on ancestry, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity, religion, age, disability, marital status, or socioeconomic status whether that bias is directed toward counsel, court staff, witnesses, parties, jurors, or any other participants. Judicial officers shall ensure that all orders, rulings, and decisions are based on the sound exercise of judicial discretion and the balancing of competing rights and interests and are not influenced by stereotypes or biases. B. COMMITTEE COMPOSITION AND FUNCTION (1) The presiding judge, or the judge’s designee, shall appoint the members of the Committee, with the intent to create a diverse representation of the community at large. The Committee Chair shall be a judge of the court. The other Committee members should be drawn from the court community and its justice partners, including but not limited to judges, lawyers, court administrators, members of any local bar association, community organizers, and representatives and individuals from nonprofit agencies. (2) The Committee aims to sponsor or support educational programs designed to eliminate bias within the court and legal communities. C. COMPLAINTS (1) Any person who believes that they have been subjected to conduct by a judicial officer, court staff, or any other courtroom participant in violation of paragraph (A) above, may submit a written complaint to the following: a. Written complaints against subordinate judicial officers can be submitted via mail to: El Dorado County Superior Court Attn: Presiding Judge c/o Court Administration 2850 Fairlane Court, Ste 110 Placerville, CA 95667 b. Written complaints against court staff or other courtroom participants can be submitted via mail to: El Dorado County Superior Court Attn: Court Executive Officer 2850 Fairlane Court, Ste 110 Placerville, CA 95667 c. Complaints against a judicial officer should be directed to the Commission on Judicial Performance. (2) Anonymous complaints are prohibited. To the extent possible and unless disclosure is required by law, the Court will protect the confidentiality of the complainant, the person who is the subject of the complaint, and other interested persons. (3) Under the California Rules of Court, Standard 10.20, Title 10, Standards of Judicial Administration, the Committee has no authority to take disciplinary action, however it may refer the complainant to the appropriate disciplinary authority as warranted. (4) To the extent possible and unless disclosure is required by law, retention of written records of complaints received is prohibited. Collection of data on types of complaints or underlying anecdotes that might be useful in educational programs is permitted. (Effective July 1, 2025)
Duval County's indigent-defense and magistration rules under the Texas Fair Defense Act (S.B. 7): who may be booked into the county jail and on what paper; arrest-case numbering; presentment to a magistrate within 48 hours (art. 15.16); the magistrate's warnings, counsel inquiry, interpreter duty, indigence determination and appointment of counsel within 24 hours of a request; the alternative appointment plan under art. 26.04(g)-(h) with annual applications, seven attorney categories (capital, first and second degree, third degree/state jail/misdemeanor, competency, appeals, post-conviction, extradition), CLE and experience standards, random rotation within each category, written acceptance within 48 hours, first contact by the end of the next working day, replacement and suspension of counsel, fee applications within five days of completing services and the compensation attachment ($500 pleas; $175/$150 hourly; $1,400 per jury-trial day; appellate caps); bail schedules by offense class with a personal bond office (fee $20 or 3%), pre-trial supervision and revocation hearings within two working days; arraignment settings and notice; repeal of conflicting rules.