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Chapter 2 (Rules 2.1 to 2.14): the Amendment to Complaint Form in Appendix 2.1 to add a properly named Doe defendant or correct an incorrectly named defendant (2.1); Rules 2.2 and 2.3, deleted effective 01/01/2024; continuance of a case set for trial only on a notice of motion heard on the civil law and motion calendar - a stipulation is not a sufficient basis (2.4) - and of a post-trial matter only with the Court's approval (2.4.1); settlement conferences in civil cases, requested through the website of the Superior Court of Humboldt County no sooner than sixty (60) days and no later than thirty (30) days before trial, the itemized list of damages furnished at least five (5) court days before the Settlement Conference, the attendance of the parties, the attorneys who are to try the case and insurance representatives, the Settlement Conference Statement filed no less than five (5) court days before the conference, and counsel's discussion not less than two (2) court days before it (2.5), with sanctions for failure to attend (2.5.1); civil trial rules - the Pretrial Conference Statement filed and served no later than seven (7) court days before trial, the long form juror questionnaire (form JURY-001) submitted no later than fifteen (15) court days before trial, the trial memorandum (not to exceed seven (7) pages, its points and authorities not to exceed fifteen (15) pages), the jury trial conference thirty (30) minutes before trial, motions in limine filed and served no later than fourteen (14) court days before trial and oppositions seven (7) court days before, and the motions in limine deemed granted at the time of trial (2.6); proposed pattern jury instructions from the latest editions of the Judicial Council of California, Civil Jury Instructions (2.6.1); law and motion hearings, the total presentation not to exceed fifteen (15) minutes (2.7 and 2.7.1); the Trial Court Delay Reduction Program - differentiated case management under rule 3.714, the Notice of Inclusion in the Delay Reduction Program served with the complaint (Appendix 2.8.2), and the exemptions and dismissal following settlement under rules 3.712, 3.714 and 3.1385 (2.8 to 2.8.7); applications for ex parte orders and emergency stays in civil matters - heard according to the schedule available on the Court's website, the pleadings received before 12:00 p.m. (noon) for the next court day's calendar, oppositions filed no later than two (2) hours before the hearing, and "EMERGENCY STAY REQUESTED" in the caption of an emergency application (2.9); the schedule of attorney fees in default proceedings, from 15% with a minimum of $75 to $2,890 plus 1% of the excess over $100,000 (2.10); citations to an official reporter, or a complete hard copy of an authority without one (2.11); dismissal of an unlawful detainer when proof of service of the summons is not filed within sixty (60) days of the filing of the complaint (Code of Civil Procedure section 1167.1) (2.12); default judgments only after all non-defaulting parties, including all Does, are dismissed (2.13); and changing a noticed hearing date only by stipulation and order, a properly noticed ex parte application, or the Court sua sponte (2.14).
CHAPTER 2 – CIVIL RULES 2.1 Amendment of Pleadings Parties shall use the Amendment to Complaint Form in Appendix 2.1 to add a properly named Doe defendant or correct an incorrectly named defendant. (Eff. 01/01/2017) 2.2 SUBSECTION DELETED (Effective 01/01/2024) 2.3 SUBSECTION DELETED (Effective 01/01/2024) 2.4 Continuance of Case Set for Trial A stipulation by the parties is not a sufficient basis
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-10-10 (California T4 Humboldt build 2026-10-10) from BenchPath custody ca/t4/ca-humboldt/docs/local-rules/05-16-2025-local-rules-effective-july-1-2025.pdf (the court's rule book, its cover “HUMBOLDT COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT LOCAL COURT RULES Effective July 1, 2025”, as fetched 2026-10-10; 3339720 bytes, sha256 61bbba76fd55c4b89e8f2aaf073ca274d1bc27cc4fb94111264286bf177d5ca4; 111 pages) with the shared verbatim composer (v2 reflow) chapter by chapter - Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9 (PDF pages 7 to 19; 20 to 28; 29 to 33; 36; 37 to 59; 60 to 69; 70), each beginning at the top of a page, and Appendix 8.5, the Meet and Confer Orders Rule 8.5 requires (page 80): each page's running header (“Superior Court of California, County of Humboldt”) and footer (the page number) removed as chrome; lines reflowed into the rules' paragraphs; no struck run on any of the 111 pages (review/strike-report-2026-10-10.txt); 4 whitespace-only fixes (build/book-fixes.json: two lines the reflow broke inside a sentence before a cross-reference - Rule 2.9(e)'s “Local Rule 2.9” and Rule 3.4(b)'s “subparagraph (a)” - set back to a space, and Rule 2.10's attorney fee schedule, whose five right-aligned rows the reflow ran together in pairs, set a row a line as the page prints them; the vertical-gap, short-line and false-break audits find no other); no same-character fix; proof 1 (whitespace-only) and proof 2 (same character multiset as the text layer minus chrome) pass. The cover, the table of contents, Chapters 4 and 5 (each “RESERVED”), the appendices' forms other than Appendix 8.5, the lists of forms by number and by name, the list of effective dates and the index belong to no card. Review note: Rule 2.9(d)(2) places an ex parte matter whose pleadings are received after 12:00 p.m. (noon) on the calendar no earlier than "the date that is two (2) court days from the date of receipt of the pleadings"; the court's Calendar Plan (February 1, 2026) says civil and family law ex parte hearings are scheduled "within 2 days if submitted after 12:00 pm" - which governs is a review task. Rules 2.2, 2.3 and 2.8.3 are printed as deleted subsections and the book prints no Rule 2.8.4 (its table of contents runs from 2.8.3 to 2.8.5). Rule 2.10's schedule of attorney fees is printed as five rows of a range and a fee; the card sets each row on its own line (whitespace only).
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 > First Appellate District > Humboldt County > Superior Court of California, County of Humboldt
CHAPTER 2 – CIVIL RULES 2.1 Amendment of Pleadings Parties shall use the Amendment to Complaint Form in Appendix 2.1 to add a properly named Doe defendant or correct an incorrectly named defendant. (Eff. 01/01/2017) 2.2 SUBSECTION DELETED (Effective 01/01/2024) 2.3 SUBSECTION DELETED (Effective 01/01/2024) 2.4 Continuance of Case Set for Trial A stipulation by the parties is not a sufficient basis for a continuance of a case set for trial. A party seeking a continuance, whether contested or uncontested, shall serve and file a notice of motion, together with supporting declarations, for hearing on the civil law and motion calendar. No continuance otherwise requested shall be granted by the Court except in extreme emergencies, such as serious accident or death. A trial or hearing continued by the Court or upon a motion by a party shall, unless otherwise directed by the Court, be reset for trial or hearing by the Court at the time the motion is granted or as soon as possible thereafter by the Court. (Eff. 07/01/1994; as amended eff. 07/01/2010; as amended eff. 01/01/2018; as amended eff. 07/01/2022) 2.4.1 Continuance of Post-Trial Matter Following any trial by the Court without a jury, no continuance or extension for performing any act shall be granted upon stipulation without approval of the Court. (Eff. 07/01/1994; as amended eff. 07/01/2010) 2.5 Settlement Conferences (a) Settlement Conference Upon request from any party, the Court will schedule a settlement conference in all civil cases except short causes and such other cases as the Court may determine will not benefit from a settlement conference. Parties requesting a settlement conference shall submit the request through the website of the Superior Court of Humboldt County. All requests must be made no sooner than sixty (60) days before trial, and no later than thirty (30) days before trial. Upon receipt of a request for a settlement conference, the settlement conference will be scheduled for a date prior to trial. The parties will be notified of the date and time of the settlement conference by the Court through a Notice of Hearing. Requests for a settlement conference and all settlement conference statements must also be filed in paper form with the Court. (b) Duty of Attorneys and Others as to Settlement Conferences In addition to the settlement conference statement required by CRC 3.1380(c), each party claiming damages shall furnish to all other parties as least five (5) court days before the Settlement Conference an itemized list of the special damages and the amount of general damages claimed, and in a personal injury or wrongful death case, a settlement offer. Except as otherwise directed by the Court for good cause shown, all parties, their attorneys who are to try the case, and, when a party is insured, a representative of the insurance company who has authority to settle the case, shall attend the Settlement Conference. Upon written request by counsel to the Court five (5) court days in advance of the Settlement Conference, the Court may on a showing of good cause excuse attendance by a party or insurance representative whose counsel is present at the conference. The person excused shall be immediately available by telephone at all times during the conference. Each attorney attending a settlement conference shall have a thorough knowledge of the evidence, and shall be prepared to discuss the facts and law pertaining to both liability and damages. In a personal injury or wrongful death case, each attorney shall bring to the conference a copy of each medical report that pertains to the case. Each party shall prepare a Settlement Conference Statement, which shall be filed with the Court no less than five (5) court days prior to the conference. If prior statements have been filed, the Court requires updated statements if the prior statement is over six (6) months old and/or if there have been substantial changes in liability or damages. Not less than two (2) court days before the Settlement Conference, opposing counsel will discuss their mutual contentions based on the Settlement Conference Statements. They shall explore a possible settlement at that time. If settlement cannot be obtained at that point, they will isolate all areas of: (1) Agreement; (2) Disagreement; and (3) Be prepared to report these to the Court. (Eff. 07/01/1994; as amended eff. 07/01/2010; as amended eff. 01/01/2018; as amended eff 07/01/2022; as amended eff. 07/01/2024) 2.5.1 Sanctions for Failure to Attend Conference The failure of any person to prepare for (including the submission of any required documents), appear at, or participate in a pretrial or settlement conference as required by these rules or an order of the Court, unless good cause is shown for that failure, is an unlawful interference with the proceedings of the Court, and the Court may impose appropriate sanctions, including but not limited to the following: (1) Monetary sanctions, (2) Payment of the opposing party’s costs, including actual expenses and counsel fees. (3) An appropriate change in the calendar status of the case. (Eff. 07/01/1994; as amended eff. 07/01/2010) 2.6 Civil Trial Rules These rules apply to all civil trials except unlawful detainer trials or as otherwise stated herein. (a) Pretrial Conference Statement No later than seven (7) court days prior to trial, the attorneys shall file and serve their respective Pretrial Conference Statements. Such statements shall include: (1) A list of witnesses, with expert witnesses categorized separately, expected to be called by the party and the estimated length of direct examination of each witness; (2) A statement of the case that counsel proposes to be read to the jury; (3) A list of voir dire questions to be asked by the judge, including specific references to questions in the Standards of Judicial Administration §3.25; (4) If desired by the attorney or ordered by the judge, a glossary of technical or unusual terms expected to be used during the trial; (5) Requests for judicial notice, identified by number in the body of the statement and with the items that are the subject of the requests appended as attachments; (6) Proposed jury instructions, identified by number in the body of the statement and appended as attachments in proposed final form. (7) Proposed verdict forms, identified by number in the body of the statement and appended as attachments in proposed final form. (8) A list of exhibits, with a short description of the exhibit, expected to be used by the party. The number of expected exhibits should be provided to the Court so that proper exhibit number series may be made available by the Court. (9) Any party wishing to use the long form juror questionnaire (Judicial Council form JURY-001) must submit the proposed long form questionnaire with any modifications to the Court no later than fifteen (15) court days prior to trial. All parties must agree to the proposed modifications prior to submission to the Court. (b) Trial Memorandum Each party may submit a trial memorandum, not to exceed seven (7) pages, setting forth a statement of the nature of the case, the general contentions of the party submitting the statement and a memorandum of points and authorities (not to exceed fifteen (15) pages) upon any unusual questions of law anticipated to be presented. The original of this document shall be filed, and a copy served on all parties, no later than seven (7) court days prior to the scheduled date of trial. Parties in unlawful detainer trials may submit a trial memorandum. (c) Jury Trial Conference On the first day of a jury trial unless otherwise ordered, all attorneys shall attend a conference beginning thirty (30) minutes before trial, for the purpose of determining the trial procedures. (d) In Limine Motions Unless otherwise agreed to by the court, counsel must file and serve motions in limine and opposition thereto no later than fourteen (14) court days and seven (7) court days, respectively, prior to the scheduled date of trial. Motions in limine shall include any evidentiary questions to be decided prior to, or during, trial, together with points and authorities where appropriate. Unless otherwise requested by counsel and approved by the court, the following motions in limine will be deemed granted at the time of trial, even when not made by counsel: (1) Motion excluding evidence of collateral source; (2) Motion excluding evidence of or mention of insurance coverage; (3) Motion excluding experts not designated pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 2034.300; (4) Motion excluding offers to settle and/or settlement discussions; and (5) Motion to exclude testifying witnesses prior to the time of testimony. Written motions need not be submitted on the above issues unless the counsel is requesting otherwise. If a motion in limine is granted, it is the duty of counsel to instruct associates, clients, witnesses, and other persons under their control that no mention or display be made in the presence of a jury of any matter that is the subject of the motion in limine. Without prior leave of court, counsel must not ask a question that: (1) suggests or reveals evidence excluded pursuant to a motion in limine; or (2) reasonably may be anticipated to elicit testimony that was excluded pursuant to a motion in limine. (e) Examination of Witness or Jurors Unless otherwise permitted by the Court, only one attorney for each party shall examine or cross-examine a witness or prospective juror. (f) Attorney as Witness Unless otherwise permitted by the Court for good cause shown, an attorney who has testified as a witness in a contested case shall not argue such case before the Court or jury except when the appearance as witness was only by reason of having been called to the witness stand by opposing counsel or when the attorney’s testimony is only in regard to ministerial matters or having to do with attorney fees. (Eff. 07/01/1994; as amended eff. 07/01/2010; as amended eff. 1/1/2017; as amended eff. 07/01/17; as amended eff. 01/01/2018; as amended eff. 01/01/2019; as amended eff. 07/01/2022) 2.6.1 Proposed Pattern Jury Instructions In jury trials, the instruction forms contained in the latest editions of Judicial Council of California, Civil Jury Instructions shall be used when applicable. Counsel shall fill in all blanks and make any necessary changes on such forms. The Court will consider additional proposed instructions submitted by the attorneys for the parties, pursuant to California Rule of Court, Rule 2.1055. When requesting a Judicial Council Instruction, counsel shall request such instruction by title and number. (Eff. 07/01/1994; as amended eff. 07/01/2010; as amended eff. 01/01/2019) 2.7 Law and Motion Rules; Applicability Except where another rule is specifically applicable, Local Rule 2.7.1 shall apply to all Law and Motion proceedings except those matters involving Criminal or Family Law. (Eff. 07/01/1994; as amended eff. 07/01/2010) 2.7.1 Law and Motion Hearings In no event shall the total presentation, combining all parties’ time, exceed fifteen (15) minutes. Hearings expected to exceed fifteen (15) minutes will be specially set. Hearings exceeding fifteen (15) minutes on the Law and Motion Calendar will be stopped and specially set. (Eff. 07/01/1994; as amended eff. 07/01/2010) 2.8 Trial Court Delay Reduction Program It is the policy of the Court to bring general civil actions to disposition by settlement, trial, or other means as quickly as possible, and within the Court’s guidelines established herein and by statute. The Court, in administrating the program, will employ techniques of calendar management necessary to achieve the goal of reducing delay in the disposition of civil actions. The Presiding Judge shall designate, in accordance with the law, one or more judges to conduct the program. The Court Executive Officer shall provide administrative assistance necessary to the successful operation of the program and obtainment of the program goals. (Eff. 07/01/1994; as amended eff. 07/01/2010) 2.8.1 Differentiated Case Management The Court will endeavor to dispose of all cases within the time set by California Rules of Court 3.714. (Eff. 07/01/1994; as amended eff. 07/01/2010; as amended eff. 07/01/2022) 2.8.2 Filing and Service of Notice of Inclusion At the time of filing the complaint herein, the Court shall cause to be issued a Notice of Inclusion in the Delay Reduction Program. (See Appendix 2.8.2). A copy of the notice shall be placed in the Court file. Said notice shall be served by the filing party with the complaint. (Eff. 07/01/1994; as amended eff. 07/01/2010; as amended eff. 01/01/2019) 2.8.3 SUBSECTION DELETED (Effective 07/01/2022) 2.8.5 Exemption of Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Cases and Bankruptcy Cases from Delay Reduction Program Please see California Rules of Court, Rule 3.712. (Eff. 07/01/1994; as amended eff. 07/01/2010; as amended eff. 07/01/2022) 2.8.6 Exemption of Complex Litigation from the Delay Reduction Program Please see California Rules of Court, Rule 3.714. (Eff. 07/01/1994; as amended eff. 07/01/2010; as amended eff. 07/01/2022) 2.8.7 Dismissal Following Settlement Please see California Rules of Court, Rule 3.1385. (Eff. 07/01/2014; as amended eff. 07/01/2022) 2.9 Applications for Ex Parte Orders and Emergency Stays (a) This rule applies to ex parte applications in civil matters. It does not apply to family law matters, civil proceedings under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (Welfare and Institutions Code §§5000-5550, including hearings under Welfare and Institutions Code §5332 to determine a person’s capacity or incapacity to refuse treatment with antipsychotic medication (“Riese hearings”)), or to ex parte civil or workplace harassment temporary restraining order requests under Code of Civil Procedure §§527.6 and 527.8. (b) Ex parte applications must be made in compliance with the California Rules of Court, including Rules 3.1201 through 3.1207 (Ex Parte applications) and Rule 3.670 (Telephonic appearances). (c) The Court will not issue any orders on ex parte requests unless the order requested is necessary to prevent injustice, irreparable harm, immediate danger, or states a proper statutory basis for granting ex parte relief, and due to time constraints, a noticed motion cannot be made. Failure to timely request a noticed motion must not have been due to any failure or lack of diligence on the part of the requesting attorney or party. (d) Except for applications for emergency stays and other emergency matters, all ex parte requests shall be made as follows: (1) Civil ex parte matters will be placed on the court calendar and heard according to the schedule that is available on the Court’s website. (2) All pleadings from the party making the ex parte request must be received by the Court prior to 12:00 p.m. (noon) in order for an ex parte matter to appear on the next court day’s calendar. If the pleadings are received after 12:00 p.m. (noon), the matter will not be placed on the court calendar before the date that is two (2) court days from the date of receipt of the pleadings. (3) Any opposition or responsive pleadings must be filed no later than two (2) hours prior to the ex parte hearing. (4) If any party wishes to have a court reporter for any hearing that proceeds, that party will be required to pay a court reporter fee in addition to any filing fees. (e) Applications for emergency stays or other emergency matters should be submitted with the words “EMERGENCY STAY REQUESTED” in the caption of the document. In the application, a party must state facts that demonstrate that the application is an emergency application and that the party can not comply with the other time requirements of Local Rule 2.9 and the California Rules of Court 3.1200 through 3.1207. (Eff. 07/01/2014; as amended eff. 07/01/2017; as amended eff. 01/01/2018; as amended eff. 07/01/2021; as amended eff. 07/01/2025) 2.10 Attorney Fees in Default Proceedings With the exception of unlawful detainer actions, whenever a contract, promissory note, or other obligation sued upon provides for the recovery of attorney fees, the following schedule will apply to the amount of the fee award unless otherwise determined by the Court. $0.01 to $1,000 15% with a minimum of $75; $1,000.01 - $10,000 $150 plus 6% of the excess over $1,000; $10,000.01 - $50,000 $690 plus 3% of the excess over $10,000; $50,000.01 - $100,000 $1,890 plus 2% of the excess over $50,000; Over $100,000 $2,890 plus 1% of the excess over $100,000. In calculating fee awards based on the foregoing schedule, the Court will use the amount of the damages award in the judgment without including costs, interest, or attorney fees. Any party seeking attorney fees in excess of those provided in the foregoing schedule shall submit a declaration substantiating the extraordinary fees. (Eff. 07/01/2017; as amended eff. 01/01/2018) 2.11 Reliance Upon Authorities Outside of California Official Reports Citations to an official reporter must be provided for any legal authority which counsel wishes the Court to review. This includes any state or federal case law, statute, or regulation. If no citation to an official reporter is available, counsel must submit a complete hard copy of the legal authority (such as local ordinances or laws) to the court and to all other counsel. Counsel must also comply with CRC 3.1113 (case citation format) and CRC 8.1115 (citation of opinion). (Eff. 07/01/2017; as amended eff. 01/01/2018; as amended eff. 07/01/2021) 2.12 Unlawful Detainers: Summary Dismissal for Failure to Prosecute If proof of service of the summons in an unlawful detainer matter has not been filed within sixty (60) days of the filing of the complaint, the court will dismiss the action without prejudice, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1167.1. (Eff. 01/01/2024) 2.13 Default Judgments To obtain a default judgment in any civil matter, all non-defaulting parties, including all Does, must be dismissed prior to or contemporaneously with requesting the default judgment. (Eff. 01/01/2024) 2.14 Changing Hearing Dates Moving parties are to select a hearing date that is consistent with the Court’s current calendars. Once a hearing date is noticed, it may be changed only by (1) Stipulation by the parties and Order signed by a judge; (2) a properly noticed ex parte application; or (3) sua sponte by the Court. An “Amended Notice of Hearing” may not be used to change a previously set hearing date. (Eff. 01/01/2024)
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.