Kings County Superior Court Local Rules of Court (July 1, 2026) — Chapter 5, Criminal Rules, Part 1 (Rules Applicable to All Criminal Proceedings) (Rules 500 to 514)

Summary

Chapter 5, Part 1: appointment of contract counsel for indigent defendants or, if no such counsel is available, of counsel from the court's appointment list (500); a standing order for reciprocal discovery under Penal Code sections 1054 through 1054.7, an informal request of opposing counsel under section 1054.5(b), in writing, before a discovery motion, which may be denied without one, and remedies and sanctions under section 1054.5 (501); expert and investigative fees for indigent defendants not normally paid without a prior court order, which may issue ex parte and be kept confidential, a copy of the order attached to each claim form disclosing the fees previously requested (502); counsel responsible for having witnesses available and arranging interpreters for them before trial, no trial delayed for incorrect scheduling of witnesses unless counsel can show due diligence, and a certified typed transcription of any sound recording to be offered, prepared at the proponent's expense with copies for each juror and alternate juror, the judicial officer, each opposing party and counsel, the court reporter and the clerk (503); motions for modification of sentence or probation in writing to the sentencing judge, with notice to the District Attorney and a copy to the Probation Office at least fifteen (15) days before the hearing (504); motions decided before trial renewed only on new facts or law that could not with due diligence have been known, with a supporting declaration (505); a verbatim record of misdemeanor or infraction proceedings, not generally required, on a written request and deposits to the clerk at least five (5) days before the hearing, at the requesting party's entire cost (506); no negotiated plea agreement accepted after the final trial readiness hearing absent exceptional circumstances (507); jury instructions prepared under rules 2.1055 and 2.1058, CALCRIM blanks typed in, and proposed instructions submitted to the trial judge on the first day of trial or an earlier date set (508(A) to 508(D)); at the trial readiness hearing, witness lists, proposed instructions, verdict forms from the prosecuting attorneys, motions in limine with proof of service and any joint statement for written jury questionnaires, and opposition to a motion in limine filed and served not less than five (5) court days before trial confirmation (508(E) to 508(G)); petitions for relief under Penal Code section 1170.18 and Health & Safety Code section 11361.8 on the court's optional forms, whose use is preferred, served on the Kings County District Attorney's Office, which has thirty (30) days to respond, letters or notes may not be considered, and hearings set by the court clerk (509); a courtesy copy of each law and motion filing delivered to the courtroom clerk of the assigned Department during an open session (510); requests for dismissal under Vehicle Code section 41500 including a verified statement or official document confirming the date of the defendant's commitment (511); the respondent to a Pitchess motion to submit copies of all records produced for in camera inspection on a digital storage device by the time set for the in camera proceedings, the notice of motion referencing this requirement (512); circumstances in aggravation that may be bifurcated from trial consistent with Penal Code §1170(b)(2), the Defendant to inform the People and the court on or before trial readiness whether bifurcation is requested, disputes submitted as motions in limine, and a separate verdict form prepared by the People (513); and the District Attorney or Attorney General, when it files a criminal complaint, information or indictment in a case in which a search warrant was previously executed, to notify the Court of the warrant number and date signed so it is placed in the criminal file (514)