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Chapter III, Rules 3.1 to 3.13: the court's management of all civil cases from the date of filing through final disposition (Heading); the rules applying to limited and unlimited jurisdiction general civil cases (3.1); remote proceedings under Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75 (3.2.1); new cases assigned to a specific judicial officer for all purposes, the Notice of Case Assignment served with the case initiating documents, and reassignments on a change of judicial officer posted at least 30 days in advance (3.3); law and motion heard pursuant to the courtroom schedules, Metropolitan Division hearing dates pre-cleared and reserved by calling the Civil Division at (661) 610-6000, and the regional courts' telephone numbers (3.3.1); motions for a new trial or to set aside and vacate heard by the trial judge (3.3.2); no continuances of a judgment debtor examination for want of service (3.3.3); ex parte applications pre-cleared with the Clerk's Office (3.4); jury fees and mileage under Code of Civil Procedure section 215 (3.5); the attorney's fees on promissory notes and contracts - 20% of the first $5,000 with minimum fee of $150.00, 15% of the next $10,000, 10% of the next $35,000 and 5% of the amount over $50,000 (3.6); a monitoring judge assigned and a case management conference set within 180 days (3.7); basic discovery before the case management conference (3.8); statements at least five (5) days before a final case management conference and no less than fifteen (15) days before trial (3.9); trial without interruption (3.10); disposition within twelve (12) to twenty-four (24) months (3.11); collection cases - service within one hundred eighty (180) days and a case management conference not less than ninety (90) days after the first responsive pleading (3.12 to 3.12.3); and uninsured motorist cases (3.13).
California > Fifth Appellate District > Kern County > Superior Court of California, County of Kern
Chapter III. Civil Rules and Civil Case Management (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 7/1/20) It is the policy of the Superior Court of California, County of Kern, to manage all civil cases from the date of filing through final disposition. All parties are subject to this policy and are expected to proceed diligently and expeditiously in preparing civil cases for trial. “Civil cases” as used in these Rules shall not include domestic relations/family law matters, juvenile court matters, probate matters, special petitions, actions brought for equitable relief only entitled to preferential setting for trial without the use of juries, asset forfeiture cases (Health and Safety Code sections 11470 et seq.), and criminal matters. All other cases will be included and classified at filing as general civil. Nothing in these rules shall prevent a court, in an individual case, from issuing an exception order based on a specific finding that the interests of justice require a modification of the routine processes as prescribed by these rules. In civil matters filed in the Multi-Divisional Courts, the court shall determine the appropriate location for the trial at the case management conference. The judge, using information concerning the parties’ residences, the attorneys’ residences, the likely witness’ locations, estimated trial days, and other relevant factors, will determine the need to retain the case at the Multi-Divisional Court for trial or to transfer the matter to the Metropolitan Court Civil Division. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 7/1/20) If the matter is to be tried at the Metropolitan Division, the judicial officer shall set a trial setting conference no later than three (3) weeks following the case management conference. The Metropolitan Court Civil Division shall subsequently assign a judge for all purposes upon receipt of the filing and notify all parties of the time and Department for the Trial Setting Conference. A transfer to the Metropolitan Court Civil Division under this policy shall not affect the time standards for disposition of civil cases in this county. Rule 3.1 Application of Rules – Case Types (Effective 7/1/03) These rules apply to limited and unlimited jurisdiction general civil cases filed in the Kern County Superior Court. Rule 3.2 Telephonic Court Appearances (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 7/1/09; renum. 1/1/13) See Rule of Court 1.1.1, page 1. Rule 3.2.1 Remote Court Appearances (Effective 3/7/22; rev. 1/1/24; rev. 1/1/25; rev. 7/1/26) (a) Remote proceedings other than an evidentiary hearing or trial. A party wishing to appear remotely in any civil proceeding other than an evidentiary hearing or trial, including conferences and law and motion hearings, is permitted to use the following options without advance notice to the Court or other parties: (Effective 3/7/22; rev. 1/1/25) 1. The party may appear via digital audio or video using CourtCall, LLC. Instructions for the CourtCall procedures can be found on the court’s website. (Effective 3/7/22; rev. 1/1/25) 2. By appearing remotely parties will be deemed to have requested a remote appearance. Each judicial officer retains the discretion to require a party to appear in person at a conference, hearing, or proceeding, as authorized by Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75. (Effective 3/7/22; rev. 1/1/25) (b) Remote proceedings for an evidentiary hearing or trial. Remote proceedings for evidentiary hearings or trials in all divisions shall be noticed and conducted as authorized by Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75 and California Rules of Court, rule 3.672. (c) This rule shall be in effect until January 1, 2027. (Effective 3/7/22; rev. 1/1/24; rev. 7/1/26) Rule 3.3 Case Assignments and Reassignments (Effective 7/1/23) (a) Notice of Assignment and Service of Notice. New cases are assigned to a specific judicial officer for all purposes. The litigant will receive a Notice of Case Assignment when the case is filed. A copy of this notice must be served on the parties with the case initiating documents. Assignments of civil cases are for all purposes, within the meaning of Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6(a)(2). Assignments of civil cases as a result of a disqualification, recusal, or unavailability of another judicial officer will be assignments for all purposes within the meaning of Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6(a)(2). (b) Reassignment. Nothing in these rules shall prevent the court from reassigning a case to a different judge, in which case the court shall notify the parties of the assignment. (c) Reassignment Due to Change of Judicial Officer in a Department. All civil case reassignments initiated by the court, as a result of the change of a judicial officer in a department, are posted online and also on the courthouse electronic monitors or in the courthouse lobbies and will be noticed through the court’s case management system, at least 30 days in advance of the reassignment. The court will mail case-specific notice to all self-represented litigants. Rule 3.3.1 Civil Law and Motion – Civil (Effective 7/1/03; renum. 1/1/13; rev. 1/1/14; rev. 7/1/15; rev. 7/1/20; renum. 7/1/23; rev.1/1/24) All law and motion matters will be heard pursuant to applicable courtroom schedules. Within the Metropolitan Division, hearing dates for regularly noticed law and motion proceedings in the unlimited general civil departments (“Fast Track”) that are filed by attorneys, shall be pre-cleared and reserved by calling the Civil Division at (661) 610-6000. All motions that are pre-cleared and reserved must be filed, and the motion filing fees paid within three (3) days of the date that the reservation is made, unless the motion is a type requiring notice to parties with delayed filing time limits, e.g., motions pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 128.7 or 437(c). Failure to pay the filing fee and file the moving papers timely will result in the expiration of the reserved hearing date. This Rule does not apply to ex parte applications. (See, Local Rule 3.4.) Attorneys with cases that are assigned as “NFT” (Non Fast Track) to a department other than one of the unlimited general civil departments do not need to call in to reserve law and motion dates. These motions are to be filed and served pursuant to statute with the date as chosen by the attorney noticing the motion. (Effective 7/1/03; renum. 1/1/13; rev. 1/1/14; rev. 7/1/20) In the regional divisions, a civil law and motion date can be obtained at the particular court’s Civil Division office/counter by calling the appropriate regional court listed below: (Effective 7/1/03; renum. 1/1/13; rev. 1/1/14; rev. 1/1/24) Superior Court - East Division (Ridgecrest) (661) 610-7450 Superior Court - East Division (Mojave) (661) 610-7400 Superior Court - North Division (Delano) (661) 610-7300 Superior Court - North Division (Shafter) (661) 610-7200 Superior Court - South Division (Lamont) (661) 610-7100 Rule 3.3.2 Motions for New Trial or Motions to Set Aside and Vacate (Effective 7/1/03; renum. 1/1/13; renum. 7/1/23) Motions for a new trial or motions to set aside and vacate a judgment shall be heard by the trial judge. When the trial judge is unavailable, the motion shall be noticed in a Department and before a judge designated by the Presiding Judge pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 663. A motion for a new trial shall be noticed by the Clerk of the Court in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure section 661. Rule 3.3.3 Order to Appear for Judgment Debtor Examination (Effective 7/1/09; renum. 1/1/13; rev. 7/1/14; renum. 7/1/23) There shall be no continuances granted if a Judgment Creditor is unable to serve a Judgment Debtor with the Order to Appear for Judgment Debtor Examination. In cases in which there is no proof of service filed with the Clerk of the Court at least three (3) calendar days prior to the scheduled court date, the matter shall be removed from the court calendar by the Clerk of the Court. If no timely proof of service is filed, the Judgment Creditor may again file an Order to Appear, which will require a new filing fee. Rule 3.4 Ex Parte Applications and Orders (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (a) All ex parte applications/petitions that require notice will be noticed in the Civil Division or Direct Calendar Court for a ruling. All ex parte matters must be pre-cleared with the Clerk’s Office. Copies of all papers to be presented at the hearing must be filed with the Court no later than 12:00 p.m. the court day prior to the scheduled hearing. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (b) Notice must be provided to all parties no later than 10:00 a.m. on the court day prior to the scheduled hearing, in accordance with California Rule of Court, rule 3.1203(a)(b), and all applications/petitions and supporting paperwork must be filed with the Court no later than 12:00 p.m. the court day prior to the scheduled hearing. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (c) The Presiding or Direct Calendar Judge shall be available for the signing of ex parte orders or shall designate a judge or judges who will be available for such signing. (Effective 7/1/03; renum. 1/1/20) (d) Attorneys shall not seek to have ex parte orders signed by judges other than those assigned by the Presiding Judge. (Effective 7/1/03; renum. 1/1/20) (e) Requests for ex parte orders shall be based solely on the moving papers without oral argument or comment by counsel, but the judge may, in his or her own discretion, exempt matters from this provision. (Effective 7/1/03; renum. 1/1/20) Rule 3.5 Juror Fees and Expenses and Reporter Fees (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/10; renum. 1/1/13) Jury fees and mileage shall be governed by the Code of Civil Procedure section 215. Unless otherwise ordered by the Presiding Judge, the Clerk’s Office will not accept client’s personal checks for daily jury fees. These fees should be paid by the attorney’s firm’s check. Daily fees shall be paid in full to the Clerk’s office by the attorney’s firm’s check on a daily basis before 9:00 a.m. Rule 3.6 Actions on Promissory Notes and Contracts providing for the Payment of Attorney’s Fees (Effective 7/1/03; renum. 1/1/13) (a) The following attorney’s fees shall be awarded under normal conditions in actions on promissory notes and contracts providing for the payment of attorney’s fees and foreclosures: Default action on note or contract, exclusive of costs: 20% of the first $5,000 with minimum fee of $150.00; 15% of the next $10,000; 10% of the next $35,000; 5% of the amount over $50,000. In an action upon contract providing for an attorney’s fee, the clerk shall include in the judgment an attorney’s fee in accordance with this schedule (not to exceed the amount prayed for). (b) Additional Fees: A petition for compensation for additional services rendered under Subsection (a) of this rule, or in a probate or other proceeding, shall include an itemized statement of the services rendered or to be rendered by the attorney and a reference in the caption and prayer to the request for additional fees. An appearance by the attorney or the parties is not normally required. In determining such fees, the court shall consider the experience of counsel, the time expended, the complexity of the issues, the amount involved and the results achieved. Rule 3.7 Selection of Monitoring Judge and Setting of Case Management Conference (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/13) At the time the complaint is filed, a monitoring judge shall be assigned and the clerk of the court shall set a case management conference (“CMC”) for the case on said judge’s calendar within 180 days. The clerk shall issue Notice of CMC date, time, and department by notation on the face of the complaint or by a separate Notice of CMC. (a) Plaintiff must serve the Notice of CMC (if not noted on the face of the complaint) on each defendant along with the summons and complaint. Any cross-complainant shall serve upon any new party to the action a Notice of CMC, along with the cross-complaint and summons thereon. Proof of service of the complaint or cross-complaint and summons shall include proof of service of a Notice of CMC if not noted on the complaint. (Effective 1/1/13) (b) The term “monitoring judge” as used in these rules shall include direct calendaring judges as well as judges who are assigned cases for “all purposes” by the Presiding Department. The monitoring judge to whom the case is assigned shall be responsible to move the case along to an orderly disposition under these rules. All motions provided for under these rules shall be made to the monitoring judge. If the assigned judge is operating a direct calendar court, the assignment shall be deemed for “all purposes.” (Effective 1/1/13) Rule 3.8 Discovery (Effective 7/1/03; renum. 1/1/13) During the period prior to the case management conference, the parties are, at a minimum, to engage in the basic discovery necessary to determine the presence or absence of all necessary parties in the action, to determine the issues which are in actual controversy and those without substantial controversy, and to properly evaluate the case for meaningful settlement negotiations. Rule 3.9 Final Case Management Conference (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/06; renum. 1/1/13; rev. 1/1/14) (a) At least five (5) days prior to any final case management conference set in advance of the day of trial but no less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date the matter is set for trial each party shall serve on every other party and submit to the court the following: (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/14) 1. Said party’s proposed jury instructions. All parties are invited to use the Instruction Request form for the standard CACI instructions. If any standard instructions are not on the request form, or if any special instructions are going to be requested, they must be served with the request form. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/06) 2. All motions in limine in written form, together with any points and authorities in support thereof. 3. A list of all witnesses that said party intends to call in his or her case in chief. 4. A proposed generic statement of the case to be read to the jury at the beginning of the case. 5. A list of all photographs, documents, physical objects or other tangible things that said party intends to have marked as an exhibit and introduced in evidence at the time of trial. (In matters where a final case management conference has been set, said items will actually be brought to the final case management conference for examination). (b) Prior to the final case management conference, or prior to the trial if no final case management conference is set, counsel will confer in an effort to resolve the jury instructions, issues raised in the motions in limine, the generic statement of the case, and the admissibility of the various photographs, documents, physical objects and other tangible things included in each party’s exhibit list. In addition, counsel shall review the witness lists and make their best estimate of the time anticipated for the direct and cross-examination of each of the witnesses. Counsel will also attempt to work out stipulations concerning issues which are not contested. At the time of the final case management conference or at the time of trial, if no final case management conference is set, efforts will be made to resolve the remaining issues and, to the extent that they are unresolved by agreement, will be ruled upon by the court. Final Case Management orders shall be generated settling the jury instructions (subject to augmentation after the evidence is received), providing rulings on the motions in limine, providing for the admission of certain photographs, documents, physical objects or other tangible things, and settling the generic statement of the case. A master list of witnesses and the anticipated time involved for each witness will also be generated for use of court and counsel. Such other orders will be made as may be appropriate for the management of the anticipated trial. (c) All final case management documents shall be filed (pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 3.1110) under a cover sheet which lists the documents submitted. Rule 3.10 Disallowance of Interruptions (Effective 7/1/03; renum. 1/1/13) Once the case has been assigned to a trial court by the Presiding Department or called to trial by a Direct Calendar Department, it shall proceed without interruption to conclusion. No adjournment will be allowed to explore settlement, conduct discovery, marshal evidence or prepare for the presentation of any subsequent portion of the trial, except in unusual circumstances without fault of the moving party where good cause is shown in the sound discretion of the trial judge. It is also anticipated that each party will have his or her witnesses available to present his or her case without interruption or delay. An unexcused inability of a party to proceed because of a failure to schedule adequate witnesses, or otherwise, may result in sanctions being imposed, including a determination by the trial judge that said party has rested. Rule 3.11 Differential Case Management (Effective 7/1/03; renum. 1/1/13; rev. 1/1/20) Pursuant to California Rule of Court, rule 3.714(b), all general civil cases are subject to disposition within twelve (12) to twenty-four (24) months from date of filing of complaint. Rule 3.12 Collection Cases (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/07; renum. 1/1/13) In the event that during the pendency of the action, whether the defendants have appeared or not, the parties agree to resolve that matter with a program of periodic payments, all monitoring and time requirements can be terminated, provided that the conditions in (a) through (d) below are met. If the periodic payment agreement satisfies these conditions, the case will be deemed “disposed of” and will no longer be monitored. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/07) (a) The parties file with the court a written stipulation and agreement setting forth in detail the terms of the periodic payments which, if made, will fully satisfy the obligations which generated the litigation. (b) That the stipulation and agreement further provide that on full performance of the agreement by the defendants, plaintiff will request a dismissal of the entire action with prejudice; and in the absence of such a request, the court may dismiss the action on its own motion, without notice to the parties, after forty-five (45) days has expired from the due date of the last payment unless plaintiff, within that time, requests entry of judgment as provided in Subparagraph (c). (c) That the stipulation and agreement further provide that in the event defendant fails to make any of the payments required, plaintiff may, by written declaration, notify the court of defendant’s default and the amount then due under the agreement and request that the court enter judgment accordingly, together with costs of suit. (d) That the stipulation and agreement be unconditional so that a judicial determination will not be required and the court’s only remaining function in the case would be to enter a dismissal as provided in Subparagraph (b) or a judgment as provided in Subparagraph (c). (e) That the parties shall file with the court a request for dismissal without prejudice reserving to the court jurisdiction to set aside such dismissal to enter judgment as provided in (c) hereof. Rule 3.12.1 Application of Rules 3.12.2 and 3.12.3 (Effective 1/1/08; renum. 1/1/13) Rules 3.12.2 and 3.12.3 apply only to those cases designated on the civil case cover sheet as Rule 3.740 collections. Rule 3.12.2 Time for Filing (Effective 1/1/08; renum. 1/1/13; rev. 7/1/14) (a) All named defendants must be served and a proof of service must be filed or an order for publication of the summons must be obtained as to each named defendant within one hundred eighty (180) days of the date of filing of the complaint. (Effective 1/1/08; renum. 1/1/13) (b) At the time the complaint in Rule 3.740 collection action is filed, the clerk shall issue an order to show cause to the plaintiff designating a date of hearing on the order to show cause not less than one hundred eighty (180) days nor more than two hundred (200) days after filing, for compliance with Rule 3.740(d), and not less than three hundred forty (340) days and nor more than three hundred sixty (360) days after the date of filing of the complaint, for compliance with Rule 3.740(f). If not less than ten court (10) days prior to the order to show cause the plaintiff files a proof of service or an order for publication of the summons as to each named defendant or answer or other responsive pleading filed by each named defendant in compliance with Rule 3.740(d) or a default judgment, a request for dismissal of the entire action, a stipulated judgment or stipulation for entry of judgment, or a notice of settlement in compliance with Rules 3.740 and 3.741, the order to show cause will be vacated by the clerk. (Effective 1/1/08; rev. 7/1/14) Rule 3.12.3 Case Management Conferences (Effective 1/1/08; renum. 1/1/13; rev. 7/1/15) (a) Upon the filing of an answer or other responsive pleading by any named defendant in a collections case, the clerk shall set a case management conference not less than ninety (90) days following the date of filing of the first answer or responsive pleading. The clerk shall give notice to all parties appearing in the action of the date, time and department of the case management conference. (b) The plaintiff shall serve written notice of the case management conference on any parties appearing in the action after service of notice of the case management conference by the clerk. (c) All parties who have appeared in the action shall file with the court and serve on all parties a case management statement no less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the case management conference. Failure to timely file and serve a case management statement constitutes a waiver of any objection to action taken by the court at the case management conference, including setting the case for trial, ordering the case to judicial arbitration, or setting a mandatory settlement conference. (d) If, based on its review of the written submissions of the parties and such other information as is available, the court determines that appearances at the conference are not necessary, the court may issue a case management order and notify the parties that no appearance is required. (e) At the case management conference, counsel for each party and each self-represented party must appear personally or by telephone as provided in California Rules of Court, rule 3.670 and 1.1.1 of these rules; must be familiar with the case; and must be prepared to discuss and commit to the party's position on the issues listed in Rules 3.724 and 3.727 of the California Rules of Court. (Effective 1/1/08; rev. 7/1/15) Rule 3.13 Uninsured Motorist Cases (Effective 7/1/03; renum. 1/1/13) (a) At the time of filing a complaint for personal injury or wrongful death or at any time thereafter, plaintiff may file a declaration with the court establishing the items set forth in (1) through (4) below. On receipt of such a declaration, the court may classify the case as “uninsured motorist”. 1. All the named defendants are believed to be uninsured, and the action is filed to protect the running of the statute of limitations in the event that insurance is later discovered or plaintiff, after filing the action, has learned that all the defendants are uninsured. 2. Plaintiff is proceeding to arbitration with his or her insurer under the uninsured motorist provision of his or her insurance policy and does not intend to proceed in the action against the uninsured defendants. 3. In resolving the case with the defendants, it has been determined that defendants were underinsured within the meaning of plaintiff’s policy which provides underinsured motorist’s coverage. 4. Plaintiff’s counsel has sought from plaintiff’s insurer a concession of uninsured status of defendant to avoid the filing of the action or to dismiss it and plaintiff’s insurer has refused. (b) Cases classified as uninsured motorist will be placed on a review calendar and plaintiff will file a certificate of progress every 90 days advising the court of the status of his claim against his insurer and the progress of the arbitration proceeding, if any. (c) In the event that plaintiff’s claim against his insurer is not resolved within 180 days after being designated uninsured motorist, the court may require plaintiff’s counsel to appear for a hearing to determine when the matter will be resolved and the action dismissed or reclassified as general civil litigation. (d) When plaintiff’s claim is resolved against his insurer, plaintiff’s counsel shall give notice to the insurer that the action is pending in this court and shall seek consent from the insurer to dismiss the action. The notice shall contain the complete title of the cause, case number and a statement to the effect that the case is governed by these Rules and that, effective as of that date of the notice, the case is reclassified as general civil litigation and a proof of service or certificate of progress is due sixty (60) days therefrom under California Rule of Court, rule 3.110. In filing the original of such notice with the court with appropriate proof of service, plaintiff’s attorney shall provide the court with the name, address and phone number of the appropriate representative of plaintiff’s insurer. The filing of such a notice with the court does not preclude the need to file a formal substitution of attorneys unless plaintiff’s attorney intends to remain of record.
Chapter III. Civil Rules and Civil Case Management (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 7/1/20) It is the policy of the Superior Court of California, County of Kern, to manage all civil cases from the date of filing through final disposition. All parties are subject to this policy and are expected to proceed diligently and expeditiously in preparing civil cases for trial. “Civil cases” as used in these Rules s
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-10-14 (California T4 Kern build 2026-10-14) from BenchPath custody ca/t4/ca-kern/docs/general/local-rules-court-effective-7126.pdf (the court's rule book, its cover “LOCAL RULES OF COURT SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF KERN July 1, 2026”, as fetched 2026-10-14; 1712899 bytes, sha256 374bf0cba1a66f90bd6bea59ca9523d5149362ef14f0d1edc454e76ac5738a83; 138 pages; this part PDF pages 43 to 50, printed pages 42 to 49) with the shared verbatim composer (v2 reflow): the rules (PDF pages 14 to 128) composed as one text and cut at the chapter headings (“Chapter I. General Rules” to “Chapter IX. Court Communication Protocol for Domestic Violence and Child Custody Orders”) and, in Chapters I, III, VI, VII and VIII, at rule or section headings (“Rule 1.8”, “Rule 1.12”, “Rule 3.14”, “Rule 6.10”, “Rule 7.4”, “Section Three – Proceedings”, “Section Six – Attorney Competency Standards”, “Rule 8.10”), each matched once as a whole line; every page's running header (“SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF KERN”, named) and printed page number (“13” to “127”) removed as chrome - 230 chrome lines; lines reflowed into the rules' paragraphs, each chapter heading, rule heading, Preamble, section heading and lettered or numbered subdivision starting a line; Rules 1.17 and 1.21's ruled tables (PDF pages 32 and 33, 38 and 39) set a row a line, its cells left to right (the composer's table rows); the strike report (review/strike-report-2026-10-14.txt) finds no struck run; 27 whitespace-only fixes (build/book-fixes.json: 7 line breaks the reflow left before a reference or an inline list item at the paragraph's own margin, rejoined; 19 runs of rows the reflow ran together, split - Rule 1.8.1's two fee tables and the court's mailing address, Rule 3.3.1's regional courts and their telephone numbers, Rule 3.6(a)'s scale of fees, and the side heading “Preamble” of Chapters VI and VII; 1 word the page break split at its hyphen, closed up - “20-calendar-day”); the vertical-gap, short-line, page-break, false-break, structural-break and row-join audits (review/book-gap-audit-2026-10-14.txt, review/book-short-lines-2026-10-14.txt and its run after the fixes, review/book-extra-audits-2026-10-14.txt) list candidates read one by one (build/book_fixes.py) - the rest kept as printed; proof 1 (whitespace-only) and proof 2 (same character multiset as the text layer minus chrome) pass. The cover (PDF page 1), the table of contents (2 to 13) and the index (129 to 138) belong to no card; Appendix A, a separate document, is decided in the document catalog (held for the table lane, with a review task).
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.
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.