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Chapter VII, Rule 7.4: a CASA of Kern County volunteer appointed to represent the best interests of the child (7.4); a CASA an officer of the court under the supervision of the Kern County CASA Program (7.4.1); prohibited activities (7.4.2); appeal and grievance procedures (7.4.3); case referral, appointment and the criteria for referral (7.4.4 to 7.4.5); the CASA's investigation authority (7.4.6); a CASA a mandated child abuse reporter (7.4.7); regular unsupervised contact with the child (7.4.8); timely notice and the right to appear (7.4.9); confidentiality of case information (7.4.10); and written CASA reports filed and served at least five (5) calendar days before each hearing (7.4.11).
California > Fifth Appellate District > Kern County > Superior Court of California, County of Kern
Rule 7.4 Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) (Welfare and Institute Code section 102, 104; California Rules of Court, rule 5.655) (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) In an action pursuant to the Welfare and Institutions Code sections 300 and 602 et seq., the court may, in an appropriate case appoint a CASA of Kern County volunteer to represent the best interests of the child. CASAs serve at the pleasure of the court having jurisdiction over the proceeding in which the CASA has been appointed and that appointment may continue after the child attains his or her age of majority, with the consent of the nonminor dependent. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) In general, a CASA’s functions and duties are as follows: (Effective 7/1/03; rev. and renum. 1/1/20) (a) To help define the best interest of children and nonminors involved under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. (Effective 1/1/20) (b) Interview and observe the child. Explain the proceedings to the child. Establish a relationship with the child to better understand the child’s needs and desire. Support the child throughout the court proceedings. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. and renum. 1/1/20) (c) Conduct an independent investigation for the juvenile court regarding the case by review of available appropriate relevant records regarding the child and the child’s family. Such shall include review of records from any agency, hospital, school, organization, division or department of the state, physician and surgeon, nurse, or other health care provider, psychologist, psychiatrist, law enforcement agency, or mental health clinic, etc. CASA’s independent investigation shall also include interview of the child(ren), parties, and other persons having significant information. This may include, but is not limited to, parents, caretakers, social workers, and teachers. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. and renum. 1/1/20) (d) Determine the interests of the child, taking into account the child’s age, maturity, culture, and ethnicity, and maintain the confidences of the child to the fullest extent possible consistent with the law and the best interest of the child. (Effective 1/1/20) (e) Identify and explore potential resources that will facilitate family preservation, early family reunification, or alternative permanency planning. (f) Explain the CASA volunteer’s role, duties, and responsibilities to all parties associated with a case. (g) Provide the court with a written report of the results of his or her investigation, providing independent, factual information, and if ordered to do so, provide the court with any other information the court specifically requests. The written report shall include an evaluation and assessment of the issues, a discussion of the child’s needs and the child’s expressed wishes (if any), as well as recommendations on what placement, permanent plan, and services/treatment are best for the child, as well as whether an evaluation or assessment of the child is recommended. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. and renum. 1/1/20) (h) Consider whether appropriate services, including reasonable efforts, are being provided or offered to the child and the child’s family. (i) Monitor implementation of court orders and case plans to determine whether the court’s orders have been fulfilled and that services are actually provided in a timely manner and are accomplishing the desired goals. (Effective 1/1/20) (j) In advance of each hearing, consult with the child’s social worker and counsel to review recommendations and participate in negotiations, as requested and appropriate, to seek cooperative resolutions to the child’s situation within the scope of the child’s interest and welfare. (Effective 1/1/20) (k) Attend court hearings and participate as necessary. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. and renum. 1/1/20) (l) Investigate the interests of the child in judicial or administrative proceedings outside of juvenile court, report to the juvenile court concerning the same; and, with the approval of the court, offer his/her services on behalf of the child or nonminor to such other courts or tribunals. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. and renum. 1/1/20) Rule 7.4.1 Sworn Officer of the Court/Under the Supervision of the Kern County CASA Program (Effective 7/1/03; rev, and renum. 1/1/20) (a) A CASA is an officer of the court and is bound by all court rules under California Rules of Court, rule 103(e). At the completion of training, and before assignment to any child’s or nonminor’s case, the CASA volunteer must take a court-administered oath. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (b) A CASA volunteer shall serve under the guidance, training, and supervision of the Kern County CASA program staff and is expected to comply with operational policies and procedures approved by the program’s Board of Directors, sections 100 through 109 of the Welfare and Institutions Code rule 5.655 of the California Rules of Court, and any and all Judicial Council guidelines, Local Rules of Court, and the provisions of any agreement entered into by the Kern County CASA program with the Juvenile Court. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. and renum. 1/1/20) Rule 7.4.2 Prohibited Activities (California Rule of Court, rule 5.655(i)) (Effective 1/1/20) Prohibited activities of CASA volunteers include, but are not limited to, disclosing the child(ren)’s confidential case information, taking a child or nonminor to the CASA volunteer’s home, giving legal advice or therapeutic counseling, giving money or expensive gifts to the child, nonminor, or family of the child or nonminor, being related to any of the parties in the case or employed in a position or by an agency that might result in a conflict of interest, and any other activities prohibited by the juvenile court. Rule 7.4.3 Appeal and Grievance Procedures (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (a) A CASA volunteer serves at the pleasure of the court; the appointment is a privilege and not a right. The Presiding Juvenile Court Judge or his or her designee has the sole authority and power to appoint and/or remove a CASA to or from a case. There is no appeal process from the court’s decision. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (b) The Kern County CASA Program has established an internal process for the submission and investigation of grievances which process shall be followed. Rule 7.4.4 Case Referral and Appointment (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (a) A child’s case may be referred by the court to the CASA program for appointment at any point in the proceeding. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (b) Upon acceptance of the case by the program and acceptance by an available CASA volunteer, an Order for Appointment shall be submitted to the court by the CASA program staff, requesting appointment of the identified volunteer. The court may appoint a CASA volunteer at any time following the jurisdictional hearing and, in extraordinary cases, the court may appoint a CASA volunteer prior to the establishment of jurisdiction. In cases where the appointment is made prior to the establishment of jurisdiction, the court order shall specify that the duties of the child’s advocate are limited to supporting the child and advocating for needed services prior to establishment of jurisdiction and shall admonish the child’s advocate not to investigate jurisdictional issues. (c) Where the referral is not made by the court at an appearance hearing, the CASA staff will notice parties of the CASA program appointment and the name of the specific CASA volunteer assigned to the case. Rule 7.4.5 Criteria for Referral to CASA Program (Effective 7/1/03; rev. and renum. 1/1/20) Criteria for referral to the CASA program may include, but is not limited to: (a) Severe physical/sexual abuse cases where the child is not released to a parent or relative, and the child is seriously traumatized. (b) Special needs cases (e.g., educational, developmental, medical health needs) that involve conflicting opinions as to assessment and/or treatment for the child, or where treatment plans or resources will be difficult to arrange. (c) Cases of repeated abuse that involve a number of issues or a number of interested parties. (d) Children who have experienced multiple placements and whose parents have consistently failed to show progress toward or interest in fulfilling treatment plans or goals for family reunification. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (e) Children where a CASA volunteer might expedite the case toward family reunification or adoption, if reunification is not appropriate. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (f) Short term CASA intervention/involvement is required in case resolution or clarification of issues or by gathering or researching information, e.g., contacting out-of-state relatives or investigating medical concerns to assist the court in reaching a decision. (g) Children who have experienced three or more separate placements during any consecutive twelve-month period or who have been detained at A. Miriam Jamison Center or some other residential care institution (excluding group homes) for thirty (30) days or more and who have been diagnosed as having or have a history of any of the following: (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) 1. Conduct disorder with aggressive tendencies or antisocial behavior. 2. Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder treated by psychotic drugs. 3. Self-destructive or suicidal behavior. 4. Use of psychotropic drugs. 5. Developmental disability. 6. Fire setting. 7. Manifestation of psychotic symptoms such as delusion, hallucination, or disconnected or incoherent thinking. 8. Somatizing or psychosomatic problems such as sleeping or eating disorder. 9. Chronic depression. 10. Severe sexual acting-out behavior. 11. Substance abuse. (h) Children in prolonged out of home care where there is a need to identify and locate relatives and other important committed adults to care and serve as life-long connections. (Effective 1/1/20) (i) Any child or nonminor whose particular circumstances warrant or otherwise support the appointment of a CASA. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. and renum. 1/1/20) Rule 7.4.6 Release of Information to a CASA/Investigative Authority/Authority to Interview (Welfare and Institutions Code section 103(h)) (Effective 7/1/03; rev. and renum. 1/1/20) (a) The extent of a CASA’s investigation authority is the same as any other officer of the court appointed to investigate proceedings on behalf of the court. (Effective 1/1/20) (b) A CASA shall have the authority to interview parties involved in the case, as well as other persons having significant information relating to the child, to the same extent as any other officer of the court appointed to investigate proceedings on behalf of the court. (Effective 1/1/20) (c) A CASA shall have the same legal right to records relating to the child the CASA is appointed to represent as any Kern County Department of Human Services’ social worker assigned to manage the child’s case with regard to records held by any agency, school, organization, division or department of the state, physician, surgeon, nurse, or other health care provider, psychologist, psychiatrist, mental health provider or law enforcement agency. The CASA shall present his or her identification as a court appointed special advocate to any such record holder in support of his or her request for access to specific records. No consent from the parent or guardian is necessary for the CASA to have access to any records relating to the child. (Effective 7/1/03; renum. 1/1/20) Rule 7.4.7 Report of Child Abuse (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) A CASA is a mandated child abuse reporter with respect to the case to which he or she is appointed. As such, a CASA is required to report any reasonable suspicion that the child is a victim of child abuse or serious neglect as described by Penal Code section 273 that has not already been reported. Rule 7.4.8 Communication and Visitation (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) The CASA shall have the right to regular unsupervised contact with the child/nonminor. An advocate shall visit the child regularly until the child/nonminor is secure in a permanent placement. Thereafter, the advocate shall monitor the case as appropriate until the juvenile court matter is dismissed. (Effective 1/1/20) There shall be ongoing, regular communication concerning the child’s/nonminor’s best interests, current status, and significant case developments maintained among the CASA, the social worker and/or probation officer, the child’s attorney, attorneys for parents, relatives (to the extent permitted by law), caregivers (to the extent permitted by law), and any therapist for the child (to the extent permitted by law). (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) Rule 7.4.9 Right to Timely Notice and Right to Appear; Calendar Priority for Advocates (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (a) The CASA shall be properly and timely noticed for all proceedings held in cases to which the CASA has been appointed. (b) The CASA has the right to be personally present at all hearings and to be heard at all court hearings. A CASA shall not be subject to exclusion by virtue of the fact that he or she may be called to testify at some point in the proceedings. A CASA shall not be deemed to be a “party” as described in Title 3 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. However, the court, in its discretion, shall have the authority to grant the CASA amicus curiae status, which includes the right to appear with counsel. (c) The CASA shall have the right to participate in any chambers conferences which are held in the proceedings to which the CASA has been appointed, if deemed appropriate by the court. If the child is allowed to testify in chambers or to otherwise participate in any chambers conference, the CASA shall have the right to accompany the child. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (d) In light of the fact CASAs are rendering a voluntary service to children, nonminors and the court, matters on which they appear should be granted priority on the court’s calendar, whenever possible. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) Rule 7.4.10 Disclosure of Case Information by CASA, Confidentiality of Child’s Case File, Confidentiality of CASA Volunteer’s Personnel File (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (a) All information concerning children, nonminors, and families in the juvenile court process is confidential. A CASA shall not give case information to anyone other than the court, the parties, their attorneys, and CASA staff. Any request for access to these records must be made to the Presiding Juvenile Court Judge through a Petition for Disclosure of Juvenile Court Records pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 827 (Judicial Council Form JV- 570). (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (b) The child’s case file shall be maintained in the Kern County CASA office by a custodian of records. No one shall have access to that file except upon approval of the executive director of Kern County CASA. (c) A CASA volunteer’s personnel file is confidential. No one shall have access to the file or any of its contents except the volunteer, the Kern County CASA’s executive director (or his or her designee), and the Presiding Judge of the Kern County Juvenile Court. Parties to a proceeding may access the personnel records of a CASA volunteer appointed in that proceeding through use of the court’s subpoena power. All subpoenas are to be served on the CASA program’s executive director at the Kern County CASA program’s office. Rule 7.4.11 Filing and Distribution of CASA Court Reports (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) (a) In any case in which a CASA has been appointed by the court and is now serving on that case, the CASA must file and serve written reports to the court and on the parties and/or their counsel at least five (5) calendar days before each of the following hearings: those dispositional hearings that have been continued pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 358(a)(2) and (3); subdivision (a); six-month review; twelve-month review (permanency hearing); eighteen-month review (permanency review hearing); selection and implementation hearing (Welfare and Institution Code section 366.26 hearing); and post-permanency planning reviews. The court may excuse compliance with the above for good cause. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) If the CASA is appointed before jurisdiction is established the CASA may submit a written report to the court for consideration by the court at the jurisdictional hearing; any such report must be filed and served on the parties and/or their counsel at least two (2) court days before the jurisdictional hearing. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) Further, if the CASA is appointed before disposition, for those dispositional hearings in which the matter is continued pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 358(a)(1), where the child(ren) are detained, and the social worker is not alleging that subdivision (b) of section 361.5 is applicable, the CASA may submit a written report to the court for consideration by the court at the dispositional hearing; any such report must be filed and served on the parties and/or their counsel at least two (2) court days before the dispositional hearing. (Effective 1/1/20) The CASA may also submit reports for any special hearings for which they have been noticed, and if submitted, those written CASA reports shall be filed and served on the parties and/or their counsel at least two (2) court days before the hearing, unless the court excuses such for good cause. (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) Special hearings are defined as any hearing not already indicated in this section, as well as any hearing/continued hearing at which the court requests additional information. (Effective 1/1/20) (b) Only parties and their counsel are entitled to receive copies of CASA reports prepared in connection with pending hearings. De facto parents are entitled to receive copies of CASA reports only if there is a court order directing distribution of the report to the de facto parents. Relatives, foster parents, and service providers are not entitled to receive copies of CASA reports in the absence of a specific court order. (c) CASA court reports shall be copied and distributed by CASA of Kern County staff.
Rule 7.4 Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) (Welfare and Institute Code section 102, 104; California Rules of Court, rule 5.655) (Effective 7/1/03; rev. 1/1/20) In an action pursuant to the Welfare and Institutions Code sections 300 and 602 et seq., the court may, in an appropriate case appoint a CASA of Kern County volunteer to represent the best interests of the child. CASAs serve at the pl
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 93 to 98, printed pages 92 to 97) 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.