Mono County Superior Court Local Rules (last updated July 1, 2024) — Chapter 2: Administration of the Courts; Fairness; Courtroom Decorum

Summary

Chapter 2 (Rules 2.1 to 2.17): sessions of the court held in Bridgeport and Mammoth Lakes (2.1); an act required by the rules on a day that falls on a holiday performed with the same effect on the next succeeding court day after the holiday (2.2); the presiding judge selected as set forth in Rule 1.5 (2.3); a judge's day of vacation an approved absence from the court for one full business day, other absences listed in Rule 10.603 of the California Rules of Court excluded (2.4); the court to use gender neutral language in all local rules, forms and court documents (2.5); court employees, attendants and officers of the court not to engage in any conduct or activity that produces or contributes to bias or sexual harassment, any person who observes or believes they have been subjected to bias or sexual harassment to immediately report the incident to the court's Executive Officer, who is to investigate complaints promptly and thoroughly, ensure that the complainant's rights are protected, maintain confidentiality and a quarterly report on complaints received, and make recommendations for policy or procedure changes (2.6); the rules adopted to foster orderly proceedings, which apply in all superior court proceedings unless a judicial officer orders otherwise, a judicial officer able to waive the application of any particular rule or impose additional rules in a particular case, and each attorney who appears in court to maintain the respect due to the courts of justice and judicial officers, be polite and considerate toward opposing counsel, opposing parties, witnesses and members of the court's staff, be familiar with the rules and advise clients, witnesses and others accompanying them of these rules (2.7); attorneys, litigants, witnesses and spectators to dress and conduct themselves consistent with the traditional dignity of the superior court - no person to appear in court without a shirt, barefoot or with a bare midriff, no sunglasses, hats or clothing that displays inappropriate words or pictures worn in court, bailiffs to remove any person from court who violates the rule, attorneys in business attire (2.8); persons in the courtroom not to talk to clerks when the court is in session (except conversation necessary to the matter then before the court), converse with anyone in a manner that is distracting, eat, drink, chew gum or read newspapers, visibly or audibly display approval or disapproval of any testimony, ruling or statement, or communicate in any way with a prisoner (2.9); no communication with the court touching upon any subject of the pending litigation except on the record with all counsel or parties appearing in propria persona present, and no communication with any juror or alternate juror (2.10); no courtroom telephone used without the specific permission of the court, cellular phones and personal digital devices not used within the courtroom except for court related purpose by judicial officers, court staff, attorneys and self-represented litigants, and all noise alert devices turned to silent mode (2.11); no one traversing the area between the bench and counsel table without the express approval of the court (2.12); counsel and parties appearing in propria persona to remain at a lectern or behind the counsel table when examining a witness, without familiarity or first names (except children) during trial (2.13); a party to request permission from the court before approaching a witness (2.14); smoking, vaping and tobacco use prohibited throughout the courthouse, recesses during jury deliberation permitted at reasonable intervals for smoking, vaping or tobacco use outside the courthouse (2.15); all papers presented for filing to comply with California Rules of Court, Rules 2.100 to 2.119, the use of white-out not permitted (2.16); and court proceedings may be conducted remotely during times of hazardous weather, natural disasters or emergency situations as outlined in rule 5.1, the judicial officer to issue an order invoking the rule, court staff to notify justice partners and provide a copy of the order by fax or email, and the matter calendared when a defendant in a criminal matter who has a right to be personally present does not agree to proceedings held by phone or video conference (2.17).