Lassen County Superior Court Local Rules of Court (effective July 1, 2026) — Rule 6: Remote Appearance Rules

Summary

Rule 6 (Rules 6.1 and 6.2): the CourtCall Telephonic Appearance Program, fully voluntary and available at a fixed fee or on a fee waiver in certain civil, unlawful detainer, probate, and Title IV-D family support cases, the appearance scheduled by serving the parties and delivering to CourtCall, not less than 5 court days before the hearing, LSC-MIS-025, Request for CourtCall Telephonic Appearance, with the fee or a copy of the fee waiver, the parties to understand that there may be waiting periods of up to an hour (6.1(A)); the conferences, hearings, and proceedings at which a party may appear by telephone in general civil cases (law and motion matters except motions in limine, case management and trial setting conferences, discovery motions, arbitration or mediation status, dismissal review, Title IV-D family support matters), the court’s authority to require a personal appearance or to reject a request, and attorneys and self-represented litigants to place the phrase “CourtCall Telephone Appearance” below the title of the moving or opposing papers (6.1(B)); a call to the courts designated toll-free teleconference line approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled hearing time to check in with the clerk, an attorney or self-represented litigant calling after the check-in period sanctioned as if personally late, the person appearing telephonically to state his or her name for the record each time he or she speaks and not to utilize the “hold” button (6.1(C)); remote appearances via Zoom under Code of Civil Procedure §§ 367.75 and 367.76, California Rules of Court, Rule 3.672, Penal Code §§ 977, 977.3, 1043.5, and 1428.5, and Welfare and Institutions Code § 679.5 - contested hearings by video only, no recording without permission (Rule 1.150(c) & (d)), no technical support from the court, conduct as if in person, and a personal appearance required where the judicial officer determines that it is necessary or where technology or audibility issues cannot be resolved (6.2(A)); the Court generally allows remote appearances in Traffic Infraction cases without judicial approval, a remote arraignment on the electronic Traffic Calendar Add-On Request form no later than the Friday before the appearance date, an officer’s remote appearance on Judicial Council form RA-010 (the Defendant’s consent required), which a defendant may oppose on form RA-015 (6.2(B)); in criminal cases defendants may appear remotely in all misdemeanor proceedings except jury and court trials and in all felony proceedings except trials and sentencing, attorneys if the court finds it appropriate and practicable, and witnesses (except for felony trials) only with the consent of both parties and the court (6.2(C)); in juvenile dependency cases requests on forms RA-025, RA-030, and RA-015, a witness’s request made by filing form RA-025 no later than three (3) court days before the hearing, and a remote appearance without notice on good cause (6.2(D)); in adoption, civil, small claims, family law, and probate proceedings requests on forms RA-010 and RA-015, the court to presume that parties will be appearing in person unless a party requests or notifies the court of an intention to appear remotely, no remote appearance where the tentative ruling or probate notes require a personal appearance, and an expert witness allowed to appear remotely absent good cause to compel in-person testimony (6.2(E)); remote appearances permitted at a hearing on a petition for a domestic violence restraining order (Family Code § 6308) or a gun violence restraining order (Penal Code § 18123) (6.2(F)); and remote appearances in proceedings identified in Code of Civil Procedure § 367.76(a)(1) and in juvenile justice proceedings under Welfare and Institutions Code § 679.5, the instructions and connection details on the Zoom Appearance page (6.2(G), 6.2(H)).