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Chapter 1: the rules cited as the Kings County Local Rules of Court (100); rules governing all proceedings, compatible with California statutes and the California Rules of Court (101); definitions, among them a day as a calendar day and a meet and confer not satisfied only by an exchange of letters (102); sanctions, including expenses, counsel fees and dismissal, for a failure to comply without good cause (103); no one appearing in court, in person or by video, barefoot, shirtless, in a tank top or sunglasses, no gang-affiliated clothing or property in the courthouse (contempt under Penal Code section 166), and business attire for attorneys (104(A)); hands in plain sight, a search of all persons entering the court and no weapons except those of judicial officers and peace officers (104(B) and 104(C)); for remote video appearances, microphones on mute until the case is called, no disruptive behavior and a location affording privacy, failure to comply may result in revocation of authorization (104(D)); counsel courteous and respectful, an attorney appearing for another prepared and with authority, and no representation accepted without sufficient time to prepare (105); checks or money orders for fees, fines and bail drawn on a United States institution, in the exact amount and made out to the Clerk of the Kings County Superior Court, no two-party or post-dated checks (106); no papers, exhibits or evidence taken from the clerk’s office without a court order or subpoena duces tecum, and originals filed after November 4, 2014 destroyed after entry into the electronic case management system (107); no dangerous exhibit (explosives, flammable liquids, drugs, blood or tissue samples), a photographic record substituted, and civil exhibits retrieved after trial and preserved by the offering party until final disposition (108); a certified typed transcription of any sound recording offered as an exhibit, prepared before the trial or hearing, with copies for the jurors, judge, opposing parties and counsel, clerk and court reporter (109); a party requesting judicial notice of documents in other case files notifying the clerk, when filing the motion, of each file’s name and case number, and Department 4 family law matters governed by Local Rule 730 (110); documents filed the day received if before 4:00 p.m., documents for a next day appearance by 3:00 p.m. the day before, and in-custody criminal filings approaching a 48-hour deadline by 1:00 p.m. (11:00 a.m. for Friday hearings) (111); no fax filing (112); each exhibit separated by a designation page in type not smaller than 12 points, pages numbered sequentially, no exhibit stamps or tabs, and an index when more than one exhibit is attached (113); a commissioner acting as a temporary judge only by stipulation, deemed given by a failure to object before the proceeding begins, parties advised to file and serve objections at least five (5) court days before (114); ex parte documents filed at least two (2) court days before the hearing and the declaration of notice by 10:00 am the court day before, family law ex parte requests under Local Rule 707 (115); the Media Plan for High Profile Cases for media personnel (116); electronic devices off and stored in the courtroom, no photographing, recording or broadcasting in court except under rule 1.150 or by judicial order, and devices confiscated for violations (117); handwriting in black or blue-black ink, and the court’s preference for signatures in blue ink (118); notices of unavailability of counsel not binding on the court, parties appearing on all noticed dates (119); the original trial court file as the record in limited civil, misdemeanor and infraction appeals to the appellate division (120); complaints about subordinate judicial officers and temporary judges submitted in writing to the SJO/Pro Tem Program, 1640 Kings County Drive, Hanford, California 93230 (121); a failure to file a mandatory local form may result in delay, sanctions or dismissal (122); medical examiners and mental health experts appointed in rotation from the court’s approved list, which the Presiding Judge determines on each applicant’s Medical Provider/Expert Certification (123); and the name (with any DBA), Legal Document Assistant number, address and telephone number of a third-party preparer stated in the caption area of each pleading it prepares (124)
CHAPTER 1: GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE RULES RULE 100 – Citation of Rules These rules shall be known and cited as the “Kings County Local Rules of Court.” (Eff. 1/1/99) RULE 101 – Construction, Scope and Effect of Rules These rules shall govern all proceedings in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Kings. These rules are designed to promote efficient conduct of judicial busines
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-10-15 (California T4 Kings build 2026-10-15) from BenchPath custody ca/t4/ca-kings/docs/local-rules/kingscountylocalrules_07-01-26.pdf (the court's rule book, its cover “SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF KINGS Local Rules of Court (July 1, 2026)”, as fetched 2026-10-15; 1404126 bytes, sha256 5afc44ac2f5fa421cca2659bfcef2f97cc69851872a6b71f3834afa29c1bc7e3; 136 pages; this part PDF pages 8 to 22, page numbers 1 to 15) with the shared verbatim composer (v2 reflow): the rules and the appendix (PDF pages 8 to 112) composed as one text and cut at the chapter headings, and within Chapters 1, 3, 5 and 7 at a part or rule heading (“RULE 126 – Submission of Documents for Filing”, “RULE 310 – Joining Motions of Other Parties”, “Part 2 – Rules Applicable to Felony Cases and Misdemeanor Cases Joined or Consolidated with a Felony for Trial”, “RULE 710 – Applications for Family Law Court Orders”, “RULE 720 – Custody Orders and Agreements”, “RULE 732 – Experts Pursuant to California Evidence Code § 730”, “Part 2 – Child Support and the Kings County Department of Child Support Services”, “APPENDIX A”), each matched once as a whole line; the three rules whose instructions print example case numbers - Rule 125 (E-Filing Rules), Rule 309 (Legal Research Copy) and Rule 731 (Judicial Notice in Family Law Matters - Department 4) - cut out as parts of their own and held from publication (a case number's form, even an example's, is never published); every page's running head (“KINGS COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT – LOCAL RULES”, named) and footer lines (the chapter's name, “Appendix A” and “Page 1” to “Page 105”, named) removed as chrome - 314 chrome lines; lines reflowed into the rules' paragraphs, each rule number and lettered or numbered subdivision starting a line; the strike report (review/strike-report-2026-10-15.txt) finds one blank struck run in the book, on PDF page 115 (the Index by Number, outside the rules); 3 whitespace-only fixes (build/book-fixes.json: Rule 102's definition of “CASA” split from the definition before it; Rule 604's “within Rule 5.546 of the California Rules of Court” rejoined to its sentence; the Juvenile Court Rules' CASA contact's two lines split); the vertical-gap, short-line, page-break, false-break and structural-break audits (review/book-gap-audit-2026-10-15.txt, review/book-short-lines-2026-10-15.txt, review/book-extra-audits-2026-10-15.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 7), the Index by Number (113 to 119), the Subject Matter Index (120 to 126) and the List of Effective Dates (127 to 136) belong to no card.
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 > Fifth Appellate District > Kings County > Superior Court of California, County of Kings
CHAPTER 1: GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE RULES RULE 100 – Citation of Rules These rules shall be known and cited as the “Kings County Local Rules of Court.” (Eff. 1/1/99) RULE 101 – Construction, Scope and Effect of Rules These rules shall govern all proceedings in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Kings. These rules are designed to promote efficient conduct of judicial business in the Kings County Superior Court and facilitate the administration of justice. The rules are supplementary to and shall be construed and applied to be compatible with, California statutes, the California Rules of Court or other rules adopted by the Judicial Council of California. When a specific rule or code section referred to in these rules is amended or renumbered, the successor rule or code section shall apply. (Eff. 1/1/99; amended 7/1/08) RULE 102 – Definitions The definitions set forth in the California Rules of Court and other rules adopted by the Judicial Council shall apply with equal force and for all purposes to these rules unless the context or subject matter herein otherwise requires. Alternative Dispute Resolution: "Alternative Dispute Resolution" or "ADR" means a process, other than formal litigation, in which a neutral person or persons resolve a dispute or assist parties in resolving their dispute. Examples include mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluation, and mini-trial. CASA: “CASA” shall refer to any Court Appointed Special Advocate Program established in Kings County in accord with the requirements of California Rules of Court, rule 5.665. Clerk: “Clerk” means the Clerk of the Court and any deputy clerks. Complex Litigation: “Complex litigation” means cases that meet the definition of "complex case" found in Rule 3.400 of the California Rules of Court. Court: “Court” means the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Kings and includes and applies to any duly appointed or elected judge, to any duly appointed commissioner or referee, to any judge or retired judge who has been assigned by the Chairperson of the Judicial Council to serve, and is serving, as a judge of the court, and to any attorney who is a member of the State Bar of California designated by the Presiding Judge or any other judge as a temporary judge, while the attorney is serving as a judge. Court's Website: The court's website is http://www.kings.courts.ca.gov. CPS: “CPS” means the Child Protective Services Division of the Kings County Human Services Agency. Day or Days: “Day” or “days,” unless otherwise specified, shall mean calendar day or days. Department: “Department” means either a numbered courtroom or an administrative unit of a division. Elisor: “Elisor” means any judicial officer appointed to act in the stead of a sheriff when the sheriff and any other authorized official are unable or unqualified to act. Ex Parte: “Ex parte” means from or on one side only, with the other side absent or unrepresented. General Civil Case: “General civil case” means a limited or unlimited civil case, except probate, guardianship, conservatorship, family law, juvenile proceeding, other civil petition, complex litigation, unlawful detainer, and small claims cases. Judgment: “Judgment” includes and applies to any judgment and to any other order or decree from which an appeal lies. Judicial Council Rules: “Judicial Council Rules” mean any rules heretofore or hereafter adopted by the Judicial Council of the State of California for Superior Courts. Judicial Officer: “Judicial officer” means any duly appointed or elected judge of the court, any duly appointed commissioner or referee, any judge or retired judge assigned by the Chairperson of the Judicial Council to serve as a judge of the court, and any attorney designated to serve as a temporary judge, while so serving. Limited Civil Cases: “Limited civil case” means limited civil cases as defined in Code of Civil Procedure section 86. Meet and Confer: “Meet and confer” means a telephone conference between opposing parties or, whenever reasonably possible, a face-to-face meeting. A meet and confer obligation is not satisfied only by an exchange of letters. Paper: “Paper” includes all pleadings, notices, and other documents. Party: Unless otherwise indicated, “party” means the party litigant, but if the litigant is represented by an attorney, then “party” means the attorney. Person: “Person” shall include and apply to corporations, partnerships, proprietorships, associations, and all other entities, as well as natural persons. Plaintiff: “Plaintiff” means a plaintiff or petitioner; it also means cross complainant in those cases where the plaintiff is no longer an active party. Presiding Judge: “Presiding Judge” means the elected Presiding Judge of the Court, or the Presiding Judge’s designee. Short Cause Case: “Short cause case” means any case in which the time estimated for trial by all parties is five (5) hours or less. Subordinate Judicial Officer: “Subordinate Judicial Officer” refers to court commissioners, referees, and hearing officers. Unlimited Civil Case: “Unlimited civil case” means a civil action or proceeding other than a limited civil case. User: “User” refers to any party or non-party to a designated case who has not been excluded. Vendor: “Vendor” means a private entity approved by the court to provide electronic filing and service. The court is not a vendor. Vendors provide E-Service. The court does not provide E-service. (Eff. 1/1/99; amended 7/1/11) RULE 103 – Failure to Comply with Rules The failure of any person to comply with these rules, unless good cause is shown, or the failure of any person to participate in good faith in any hearing or conference required by these rules, is an unlawful interference with the proceedings of the court. The court may order the person at fault to pay the opposing party’s reasonable expenses and counsel fees, to reimburse or make payment to the county, may order an appropriate change in the calendar status of the case, and impose any other sanctions authorized by law, including dismissal of a pending action. To the extent permitted by law, sanctions may be imposed upon a party, the party’s attorney, or both, as the court deems appropriate under the circumstances. (Eff. 1/1/99; amended 7/1/08) RULE 104 – Court Attire, Conduct, Gang-Related Clothing and Personal Property A. No person shall appear in court, either personally or by video, barefoot, shirtless, wearing a tank top, wearing sunglasses or dress in any manner reflecting poorly upon the dignity of the court and its decorum. The bailiffs of the court are to remove any person violating this rule. This rule does not limit any judge from additionally prescribing appropriate attire or conduct rules in the courtroom. No person appearing in court, either personally or by video, shall wear gang-affiliated clothing or possess gang-affiliated personal property while inside the courthouse. This includes gang insignias, monikers, color patterns, bandannas, hats, jewelry, clothing, belts, or any item deemed gang-affiliated by court security personnel or law enforcement. Any person identified by court security personnel or law enforcement as wearing or possessing any item in violation of this rule will not be permitted inside the courthouse. Violation of this rule is punishable as contempt pursuant to Penal Code section 166, as well as additional remedies and/or penalties allowed by law. Attorneys appearing in court either in person or by remote video should be dressed in accordance with current customs for appropriate business attire. B. For reasons of safety and security, all persons appearing before the court are asked to keep their hands in plain sight. C. All persons entering the court, Family Court Services Division, or Jury Services area, will be subject to a search. No weapons are allowed within this court facility, except those legally possessed by judicial officers. Peace officers who are engaged in the duties of their employment while at a court facility will be allowed to possess employer approved firearms and other weapons in a manner consistent with their employment duties, requirements, and limitations. D. All parties appearing remotely by video, including incarcerated persons, are required to maintain any microphone device on the mute setting until the case is called. Similarly, all parties appearing remotely by video are required to refrain from disruptive behavior, including excessive movement and disruptions caused by accomplishing tasks unrelated to the proceedings, or verbal interruptions of court proceedings. Persons appearing remotely shall ensure that their remote location affords the required level of privacy and limited background noise and activity for the proceeding. Failure to comply with the requirements for remote appearances may result in revocation of authorization for remote appearances at the discretion of the judicial officer. (Eff. 1/1/99; amended 7/1/08; amended 7/1/19; amended 1/1/25; amended 7/1/25) RULE 105 – Appearance and Conduct of Counsel An attorney is expected to act in a professional manner at all times. Counsel shall comply with standard courtroom protocol and be courteous and respectful to all persons in the courtroom. Counsel should not interrupt opposing counsel except to state an appropriate objection. All objections and comments must be addressed to the court, and not to opposing counsel. Counsel shall refrain from making derogatory remarks about opposing counsel. An attorney who appears for another attorney is representing the party before the court. As provided by the California Rules of Professional Conduct such attorney is required to do so competently and is expected to be prepared to perform any duties required by the court, to have authority to make appropriate dispositions or calendar settings, and to communicate any orders the court may issue to the attorney of record. An attorney shall not accept representation of a client if the attorney does not have sufficient time to adequately prepare before the next scheduled court appearance and shall comply with all applicable case disposition standards unless otherwise ordered by the court. (Eff. 1/1/99; amended 1/1/25) RULE 106 – Payment of Fees and Fines A personal check, bank cashier’s check or draft, money order or traveler’s check offered in payment of any fee, fine or bail deposit may be accepted by the clerk as follows: A. Personal checks must be drawn on a banking institution located in the United States. B. Cashier’s checks or money orders may be drawn on any issuing institution located in the United States. C. The amount must be the exact amount of the fee, fine, or bail. Change will not be given. The date on the check must not be over one month before the date presented; post-dated checks will not be accepted. D. The original payee must be the Clerk of the Kings County Superior Court or its practical equivalent. E. Two-party checks are not acceptable. F. The numeric figures must agree with the amount written in words. The amount must be designated in U.S. currency. G. Any check or money order, which appears irregular on its face, may be refused. H. Personal checks from persons known to have previously tendered dishonored checks may be refused. I. Checks returned to the court are subject to applicable fees. J. The court is not required to accept payment in coin. (Eff. 1/1/99; amended 7/1/08; amended 7/1/22) RULE 107 – Custody of Court Files A. No papers, exhibits, or evidence on file with the clerk in any civil or criminal case shall be taken from the clerk’s office, except by order of the court or in response to a subpoena duces tecum. B. Except as otherwise required by law or order of the court, original documents filed with the Court after November 4, 2014 will be destroyed following their entry into the court’s electronic case management system. The electronic record created by the court’s electronic maintenance of pleadings and other documents, along with any documents and/or exhibits conventionally maintained by the court, shall constitute the official record of the court for all purposes. (Eff. 1/1/99; amended 7/1/15) RULE 108 – Exhibits/Dangerous Evidence A. Evidence admitted in any case before the court will be only those items required in the case and will be retained by the court for the minimum time required by law, unless good cause is shown to retain the evidence. No exhibit will be received by the court if the exhibit poses a security storage, safety, or health problem. A photographic record shall be substituted for said exhibit. B. Exhibits which will not be received include, but are not limited to: 1. Any type of explosive powder; 2. Explosive chemicals, toluene, ethane; 3. Explosive devices, such as grenades or pipe bombs; 4. Flammable liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, paint thinner, ethyl-ether; 5. Canisters containing tear gas or mace; 6. Rags which have been soaked with flammable liquids; 7. Liquid drugs such as phencyclidine (PCP), methamphetamine, corrosive liquids; pyrrolidine, morpholine or piperidine; 8. Samples of blood, urine, human or animal tissue or other items requiring refrigeration and/or humidity-controlled storage; and 9. Any controlled substance that requires special destruction under the State of California as being a hazardous material, which would include any cocaine, methamphetamine, or heroin; or any other controlled substance currently being accepted. All such substances will be returned to the District Attorney’s Office or the agency that confiscated the controlled substance and who has presented it as evidence in court in a criminal action or proceeding. It shall be returned by stipulation of counsel as provided in Penal Code section 1417.2. C. Unless specifically ordered by the court, all exhibits marked, identified and/or admitted into evidence in a civil case must be retrieved by the offering party at the conclusion of trial. The party introducing the exhibits is responsible for maintaining and preserving the exhibit pending any post-verdict proceedings and appeals, until there is a final disposition of the action or proceeding. All exhibit tags and other identifying markings or information concerning each exhibit must remain in place and not be disturbed. Each exhibit must remain intact and in the same condition as during trial. In the event further proceedings, or any court having jurisdiction of the matter, require the presence of any exhibit, the party introducing the exhibit must promptly deliver the exhibit to the court, with notice to all parties. (Eff. 1/1/99 as Rule 109; amended and renumbered 7/1/08) RULE 109 – Sound Recording Evidence/Transcripts to be Offered as Exhibits Prior to the commencement of any trial or hearing, a typed transcription of any sound recording which counsel expects to offer into evidence as an exhibit shall be prepared at the direction and expense of the proponent of the evidence and shall be certified by the preparer as containing a true transcription of such recorded statement. The proponent of such recording shall prepare enough copies of such transcript for each of the following persons to have a copy: each juror and alternate juror, the judge, each opposing party, each opposing counsel, the court clerk, and the court reporter. (Eff. 1/1/99 as Rule 110; amended and renumbered 7/1/08) RULE 110 – Judicial Notice A. In addition to complying with the requirements set forth in Rule 3.1306, subdivision (c) of the California Rules of Court, any party requesting that judicial notice be taken of documents in a file in a case in the Kings County Superior Court other than the case in which the motion is brought, shall, at the time of the filing of the motion, notify the clerk of the request and of the name and case number of the file containing the documents requested to be noticed. B. Family law matters scheduled to be heard in Department 4 of the Kings County Superior Court are governed by Local Rule 730. (Eff. 1/1/99; amended 1/1/07) RULE 111 – Time for Filing Public service demands upon staff are high and, therefore, all documents must be filed with the court in a timely manner. All standard filings – All documents will be filed with the date they are submitted or deposited in the court’s drop box when received before 4:00 p.m. that day. All documents submitted after 4:00 p.m. will be filed on the next court day. All filings in connection with next day appearances – All documents in connection with a next day appearance must be submitted to the court no later than 3:00 p.m. the day before the hearing is scheduled. Criminal filings for in-custody defendants approaching a 48-hour deadline for an arraignment and/or probable cause hearing – Hearings scheduled on Monday through Thursday: All documents must be submitted to the court no later than 1:00 p.m. Hearings scheduled on Friday: All documents must be submitted to the court no later than 11:00 a.m. The failure to include sufficient fees, required case-identification information, adequate number of copies and/or supporting documentation with any filing, may result in the court’s good cause delay of the filing of the document(s) to the next court day or the date on which the missing information, copies, and/or fees are received. Conformed copies of a filing will not be returned via mail to any individual failing to provide a return envelope with adequate postage thereon. (Eff. 7/1/08; amended and renumbered 1/1/13; amended 7/1/15; amended 1/1/2021) RULE 112 – Facsimile Machine (Fax) Filing The Kings County Superior Court does not accept direct facsimile filing of documents. (Eff. 1/1/08; amended 7/1/08; amended 7/1/19) RULE 113 – Filing Exhibits to Documents with the Court All documents filed with the court are entered by staff into its electronic case management system. To facilitate the easy cross-referencing of exhibits, all pleadings, motions, declarations, and other documents filed with the court must individually designate and separate each exhibit through the use of a single 8 1/2” by 11” page with the exhibit designation set forth thereon in type not smaller than 12 points. For example: EXHIBIT 1 All pleadings, motions, declarations, and other documents filed with the court which include attached exhibits must be numbered sequentially beginning on page 1 of the motion, declaration or pleading, and continuing in order until the last page of the last exhibit attached thereto. Exhibit designation pages shall be included in the sequential numbering. Exhibit stamps should not be used to create the exhibit designation. Exhibit designators must be typewritten or handwritten, as stamps are not able to be searched by optical character recognition (OCR). Since they cannot be easily scanned into the court’s electronic case management system, exhibit tabs should not be used to separate exhibits from pleadings, motions, declarations, or other documents. All pleadings, motions, declarations, and other documents filed with the court which include more than one attached exhibit must include an index which sets forth a description of the exhibit, its exhibit designation, and its page number. For example: Description Location Page Contract Exhibit 1 to Declaration by John Doe 23 Statement Exhibit 2 to Declaration by John Doe 25 The index should be located immediately before the first exhibit designation page and included in the sequential numbering provided for in paragraph (B). (Eff. 7/1/15; amended 7/1/22) RULE 114 – Stipulation or Objection to Superior Court Commissioner A. General civil, probate, ex parte orders and writs, bonds and undertakings, arraignments, bench warrants, conservatorships, juvenile, civil petitions, unlawful detainer, traffic and/or small claims matters are routinely assigned to a Superior Court Commissioner. As to those matters where the commissioner will be acting as a temporary judge, the parties must stipulate to the assignment. Any failure to object to the assignment of a commissioner acting as a temporary judge prior to the beginning of the proceeding is deemed a stipulation to the assignment until final determination of the case. Once given in writing, implied by conduct or orally stated on the record, a stipulation can only be withdrawn as set forth in California Rules of Court, rule 2.816(e). B. If a party objects to having a proceeding heard by a commissioner acting as a temporary judge, the matter will be re-assigned and continued to the next available calendar date. To avoid the undue consumption of judicial resources and to minimize the inconvenience to the litigants, parties are advised to file and serve any objection to the assignment of a commissioner acting as a temporary judge, at least five (5) court days before the scheduled proceeding. (Eff. 7/1/08) RULE 115 – Filing of Documents for Ex Parte Hearings Parties wishing to obtain an ex parte order from the court in any civil, criminal, or other matter should file all documents, except the declaration of notice, at least two (2) court days prior to the scheduled hearing. The declaration of notice must be filed no later than 10:00 am on the court day prior to the intended hearing. Late submitted ex parte papers will be accepted for filing and presentation to the appropriate judicial officer. However, parties are advised that the late submittal of documents may cause the hearing and/or decision thereon to be delayed to the next court day. For filing of ex parte requests in family law matters, reference Local Rule 707. (Eff. 7/1/08; amended 7/1/20; amended eff. 1/1/23) RULE 116 – News and Media The court has adopted a Media Plan for High Profile Cases at the Kings County Superior Court. All media personnel are expected to comply with the rules, requirements, and limitations set forth therein. A copy of the Media Plan is available on the court’s website at: Kings County Superior Court Media Plan (Eff. 1/1/09; amended 7/1/21) RULE 117 – Use of Computers, Electronic Equipment, and Recording Devices A. This rule is for the protection of the public, all parties, and court personnel to facilitate the fair and orderly resolution of cases. This rule is subject to modification based upon the specific circumstances and the discretion of an individual judicial officer in the judicial officer’s courtroom, the supervising judge of a division, or the Assistant Presiding Judge in the event of the unavailability of the Presiding Judge. B. All personal computers, tablets, cellular phones, pagers, wearable electronic devices, digital cameras, wearable cameras, recording devices, and all other electronic devices capable of visual and/or audio recording, forwarding of communications to other electronic devices and/or the transmission of information through the internet or by other digital means ("electronic device"), must be turned off and stored prior to entering the courtroom and must remain turned off at all times while inside the courtroom. Any electronic device that disrupts the proceedings or is used/possessed in violation of the rule, shall be subject to confiscation by the bailiffs of the court. C. No one may engage in photographing, recording, broadcasting, or activating any camera, microphone, recorder, or broadcasting device in the courtroom or court except as permitted by California Rules of Court, rule 1.150, or as authorized by judicial order or security personnel. For purposes of this subdivision, “court” includes all entrances, exits, lobbies, security checkpoints, hallways, elevators, stairwells, jury assembly rooms, Family Court Services, self-help center, file viewing rooms, and customer service windows. D. Those individuals who are parties to a hearing, trial or other court proceeding who require the use of electronic devices during their matter, including those individuals wishing to utilize the court’s wireless internet connection system, must be granted permission by the presiding judicial officer or his/her agent. Where permission has been given in connection with a specific action or proceeding, electronic devices must be turned off and stored immediately upon completion of the relevant matter. Except as allowed by the presiding judicial officer or his/her agent, electronic equipment may not be used to create a visual or audio recording or record of the proceedings before the court. E. Individuals selected to serve as jurors in a civil or criminal trial may not utilize electronic devices inside the courtroom and jury deliberation room. Consistent with the individual preference and policy of each presiding judicial officer, cell phones, and other electronic equipment may be subject to collection from jurors prior to their entry into the courtroom and jury deliberation room. Any juror found to be operating electronic equipment in violation of this rule and/or the advisements of the court, is subject to exclusion and those additional remedies and penalties allowed by law. F. Any individual failing to comply with this rule and/or otherwise determined by the presiding judicial officer to be acting in a manner that is disruptive of the proceedings, may be subject to additional use restrictions, those penalties set forth in Kings County Local Rule 103, exclusion/removal from the courtroom until their individual matter is called, and/or confiscation of electronic devices by the bailiffs of the court. Electronic devices confiscated by a bailiff will not be released until completion of the court's calendar. G. This rule does not prohibit law enforcement personnel from the wearing and use of department-issued dispatch radios of the type commonly worn by on-duty corrections, police, and sheriff department officers during appearances before the court. H. This rule shall not preclude any law enforcement officer from taking appropriate steps to ensure the orderly and peaceable conduct of court business, including the recording of criminal activity in progress. A law enforcement officer’s use of a body camera for passive recording is allowed provided it is in conformity with agency policies and the camera is set to automatically overwrite data within the timeframe prescribed by the officer’s department standards. I. This rule does not prohibit the use of portable scanners, cameras, or copiers, provided such devices are used solely for the permissive purpose of imaging documents consistent with these rules or by order of a judicial officer. J. Where such procedures conflict with this rule, media personnel shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the courthouse and Courtroom Media Plan for the Kings County Superior Court. K. This rule shall not apply to court employees as directed by the Presiding Judicial Officer and/or the Executive Officer of the Court. (Eff. 7/1/09; amended 7/1/19) RULE 118 – Color of Print/Original Signatures A. Handwriting and hand printing on all papers filed with the court must be in black or blue-black ink. (Cal. R. Ct., rule 2.106) B. To avoid uncertainty as to the original nature of any signature on a document presented for filing, it is the preference of the court and its judicial officers that signatures be scribed in blue ink of a permanent nature. It is also the preference of the court and its judicial officers that signatures be written using non-gel pens. C. Although the clerk may not reject for filing any document which fails to comply with this rule (Cal. R. Ct., rules 2.118, 2.135), the clerk reserves the right to reject the filing of any document that is rendered illegible by the color of ink used. The clerk may delay, pending confirmation from the submitting party, the filing of any document where the original character of a signature is in doubt. (Eff. 1/1/10; amended 7/1/20) RULE 119 – Notice of Unavailability of Counsel A. Notices of unavailability pursuant to Tenderloin Housing Clinic, Inc. v. Sparks (1992) 8 Cal.App.4th 299 are not statutorily binding on the court. Although Tenderloin compliant notices may provide recourse against a party to whom the provisions of the case are intended to apply, they do not preclude an otherwise calendared court proceeding. Therefore, absent a modifying order, all parties shall appear on all dates for which their presence has been noticed via order of the court. B. Any party causing a Tenderloin Housing Clinic notice to be filed with the court must include thereon the case number of each active case to which it is intended to apply. (Eff. 7/1/10) RULE 120 – Record on Appeals to the Appellate Division Pursuant to the following California Rules of Court, the court elects to use the original trial court file as the record of the written documents from the trial court proceedings for appeals to the appellate division of the superior court instead of a clerk’s transcript in the following types of case: (1) Limited civil appeals pursuant to Rule 8.830(a)(1)(B) and Rule 8.833 of the California Rules of Court; (2) Appeals from a misdemeanor conviction pursuant to Rule 8.860(a)(1)(B) and Rule 8.863 of the California Rules of Court; and (3) Appeals from infractions pursuant to Rule 8.910(a)(1)(B) and Rule 8.914 of the California Rules of Court. (Eff. 7/1/10; amended eff. 7/1/23) RULE 121 – Complaints Concerning Subordinate Judicial Officers A. All complaints against Subordinate Judicial Officers (“SJOs”) and Temporary Judges (“Pro Tems”) shall be submitted in writing. The court has adopted local procedures for the processing of complaints against SJOs and Pro Tems for conduct that does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Commission on Judicial Performance. A copy of such local procedures and an optional complaint form may be obtained from the Administrative Office of the Kings County Superior Court, 1640 Kings County Drive, Hanford, California 93230. B. Complaints must include the name, mailing address and contact information for the Complainant. Complaints should be addressed as follows: Kings County Superior Court Attn: SJO/Pro Tem Program 1640 Kings County Drive Hanford, California 93230 C. All complaints alleging conduct that is within the jurisdiction of the Commission on Judicial Performance will be processed in accord with California Rules of Court, Title Ten, Judicial Administration, Chapter 2, Trial Court Management of Human Resources, rule 10.703. Rule 10.703 may be found on-line at the Judicial Council’s website www.courtinfo.ca.gov/rules. (Eff. 7/1/11; amended 7/1/16) RULE 122 – Mandatory Local Forms Where a mandatory local form has been adopted or revised in accord with the requirements of California Rules of Court, rule 10.613, failure of a party to file or submit the form as directed may result in delayed processing of pleadings or other documents, sanctions and/or dismissal of the action. (Eff. 7/1/11) RULE 123 – Appointment of Medical Examiners A. The court appoints medical examiners and/or mental health experts for reports or testimony as provided by law. When the need for this arises, the court will appoint from the approved List of Medical Examiners/Mental Health Experts for the Kings County Superior Court. Individuals wishing to be included on the court’s List of Medical Examiners/Mental Health Experts, must complete, and submit a Medical Provider/Expert Certification. The Certification is available through the court’s website or may be obtained from the office of the Court Executive Officer. The completed Certification shall be forwarded to: Kings County Superior Court Attention: Court Executive Officer 1640 Kings County Drive Hanford, California 93230 B. The court may, for good cause, appoint an expert not on its approved List of Medical Examiners/Mental Health Experts. C. Upon receipt of a medical examiner’s certificate and all supporting documents, the court will confirm that the examiner’s license is valid and in good standing with appropriate licensing agencies. If the applicant’s license is in good standing, the certificate and supporting documents will be forwarded by court administration to each bench officer for review. Bench officers will thereafter forward to court administrators, all comments, and objections that they may have to the examiner’s inclusion on the court’s approved List of Medical Examiners/Mental Health Experts. D. The Presiding Judge shall make the final determination as to which individuals appear on the court’s approved List of Medical Examiners/Mental Health Experts. E. All medical examiners and mental health experts applying for inclusion on the court’s List of Medical Examiners/Mental Health Experts, shall be advised in writing by court administration of the final determination of the Presiding Judge. Court administration shall retain proof in writing that the examiner was provided with such notice. F. It is the responsibility of all individuals appearing on the approved List of Medical Examiners/Mental Health Experts, to update court administration regarding any changes/amendments to licensing status, contact information, or other information included on their certificate. G. The court’s approved List of Medical Examiners/Mental Health Experts shall be updated and distributed to all bench officers and appropriate court staff at an interval of not less than once per year. The list may, however, be updated more frequently as is deemed appropriate to provide bench officers and staff with information relevant to the appointment of experts in pending legal matters. H. Medical examiner/mental health expert appointments made by the court are made on a rotational basis unless the judicial officer presiding over a case determines that good cause exists for deviation from the rotation. (Eff. 1/1/13; amended 7/1/16) RULE 124 – Pleadings Prepared by Third Parties A. Parties who retain the services of third parties (e.g., typing services or paralegals) to prepare their pleadings, must provide the court with the following information concerning the third-party preparer. 1. Name, including Doing Business As (DBA); 2. Legal Document Assistant (LDA) number; 3. Address; and, 4. Telephone number. B. Third-party preparer information must be stated in the caption area of the prepared document or, in the case of Judicial Council Forms, the area designated for such information. C. This rule applies to all pleadings, including Judicial Council Forms. If a Judicial Council Form does not provide sufficient space to set forth the required information, parties must include the name of the preparer on the face of each prepared pleading. The remaining information required by this Rule may be submitted via a simultaneously filed declaration. (Eff. 1/1/14; renumbered 1/1/21)
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.