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Policy making authority, vested in the Executive Committee - the Presiding Judge, the Assistant Presiding Judge, and the Court Executive Officer (2.1); administrative authority (2.2); the Presiding Judge, Assistant Presiding Judge, and Acting Presiding Judge, elected for a two-year term (2.3); the location and schedule of court sessions - Courtrooms A, B and C at the Historic Courthouse, 825 Brown Street, Courtrooms 1 to 6 at the Criminal Courthouse, 1111 Third Street, and the Juvenile Courthouse, 2350 Old Sonoma Road (2.4); applications for ex parte orders - civil and probate applications at 11:30 a.m. each court day by appointment made no later than 10:00 a.m. the preceding court day, family law, juvenile and guardianship applications filed by 10:00 a.m. for a decision on the papers or a calendar the following court day, and the Family Law Ex Parte Status Information page posted by 3:00 p.m. (2.5); the duty judge (2.6); compensation of court-appointed counsel and investigators, the current rates on the Court's website (2.7); remote appearances by Zoom, joined approximately five (5) minutes before the hearing by the instructions on the Court's website (2.8); the tentative ruling system in civil law and motion and probate matters - rulings by 3:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing and oral argument only on notice by 4:00 p.m. (2.9); electronic filing in Civil, Family, Probate, Criminal, Traffic, Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Dependency cases through an electronic filing service provider (2.10); sealing of juror information (2.11); courtroom security (2.12); court reporting services - the chart of the case types for which the Court provides an official court reporter, electronic recording, private court reporters and the exceptions for parties with fee waivers (2.14); audio and video recording and transmission (2.15); the master calendar system for civil and criminal matters (2.16); communication with court staff (2.17); and the Clerk's ability-to-pay determinations in traffic infraction cases when the criteria posted on the Court's website are met (2.18).
California > First Appellate District > Napa County > Superior Court of California, County of Napa
RULE 2: COURT ORGANIZATION 2.1 Policy Making Authority Responsibility for formulating policy, including regulations concerning court administration, is vested in the Executive Committee of the court system with advice from all judges of the Court. The Executive Committee is comprised of the Presiding Judge, the Assistant Presiding Judge, and the Court Executive Officer. (Effective 1/1/99; revised 1/1/11; revised 1/1/12) 2.2 Administrative Authority The Court Executive Officer is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, a simple majority of the judges. (Effective 7/1/02; revised 1/1/11) 2.3 Presiding Judge, Assistant Presiding Judge, and Acting Presiding Judge A Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge shall be elected by a simple majority of the judges, not later than August every other year, to serve a two-year term beginning the following January 1. If the Presiding Judge is absent or unable to act, the Assistant Presiding Judge shall be the Acting Presiding Judge. If both the Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge are absent or unable to act, the Judge with the most seniority shall be the Acting Presiding Judge. (Effective 7/1/02; revised 7/1/06; revised 7/1/08; revised and renumbered 1/1/11; revised 7/1/24.) 2.4 Location and Schedule of Court Sessions Sessions of the Court shall be held in the courtrooms in the Historic Courthouse, Criminal Courthouse, and Juvenile Courthouse. In addition, the Court may conduct sessions at any appropriate location within the county of Napa at the direction of the judicial officer presiding at such hearing. Courtrooms are at the following locations: Historic Courthouse, 825 Brown Street, Napa Courtroom A Courtroom B Courtroom C Criminal Courthouse, 1111 Third Street, Napa Courtroom 1 Courtroom 2 Courtroom 3 Courtroom 4 Courtroom 5 Courtroom 6 Juvenile Courthouse, 2350 Old Sonoma Road, Napa Courtroom JH (Juvenile Hall) (Effective 7/1/02; revised 1/1/06; revised and renumbered 1/1/11; revised 1/1/16; revised 1/1/20) 2.5 Applications for Ex Parte Orders Except as otherwise specifically preempted by California Rules of Court, rule 3.20, ex parte applications shall conform with these rules: A. Civil. Applications involving civil matters shall be presented to a judicial officer of the civil division at 11:30 a.m. each Court day. An appointment must be made by calling the clerk of the Court no later than 10:00 a.m. the preceding court day. Unless the nature of the application precludes giving notice to the other side, such notice must be given. The Court may waive notice for good cause. Ex parte applicants must check in with the civil division no later than 10:30 a.m. the day of the hearing. (Revised 1/1/13 and 7/1/24.) B. Family Law/Juvenile/Guardianships. Applications involving family law, juvenile, and guardianship matters shall be filed at the civil division filing counter by 10:00 a.m. for a judicial decision to be issued the same day on the papers alone, or for the matter to be placed on calendar the following court day. No drop box filing is allowed. By 3:00 p.m. each court day, a Family Law Ex Parte Status Information page will be posted on the Court’s website at http://www.napa.courts.ca.gov indicating as to each matter filed by 10:00 a.m. that day, whether a decision has been made on the papers, or whether the matter will be placed on calendar for clarifying questions at 11:30 a.m. the following court day. Orders will be available for pick up from the civil division by 3:00 p.m. the day orders are issued. Unless the nature of the application precludes giving notice to all parties (and to the Probation Department in Welfare & Institutions Code sections 300 and 602 matters), such notice must be given no later than 10:00 a.m. the court day before the application is filed with the court. (Revised 7/1/15) C. Probate. With the exception of guardianship ex partes, which shall be heard as set forth in subdivision B above, applications involving probate matters shall be presented to a judicial officer of the civil division at 11:30 a.m. each court day. Unless the nature of the application precludes giving notice to the other side, such notice must be given and an appointment must be made by calling the clerk of the Court no later than 10:00 a.m. the preceding court day. The Court may waive notice for good cause. D. Unavailability or Disqualification. If the judge to whom an application should be presented under this rule is unavailable (i.e., not physically present) or is disqualified, or in cases of emergency, the application may be presented to any available judge of the Court. (Effective 7/1/02; revised 7/1/03; revised 7/1/05; revised 1/1/06; revised and relettered 7/1/06; revised 1/1/07; revised and renumbered 1/1/11) 2.6 “Duty” Judge One judge shall at all times be designated the duty judge. Duty judges serve in two-week rotations. The duty judge shall be responsible for the handling of emergency protective orders, off-hours search warrants, off-hours writs, and other matters requiring judicial attention off-hours. The judges shall annually designate which weeks each will serve and will notify Napa County Central Dispatch of these designations. A duty judge unable to act will arrange for a substitute and will notify dispatch accordingly. In the event the duty judge cannot be reached, any judge may be contacted for off-hours judicial business. Judges can be reached through Napa County Central Dispatch at (707) 253-4451 during non-court hours. (Effective 7/1/02; renumbered 1/1/11; revised 7/1/24.) 2.7 Compensation of Court-Appointed Counsel and Investigators Current compensation rates for appointed counsel and investigators are available on the Court’s website at http://www.napa.courts.ca.gov. (Effective 1/1/99; revised 7/1/04; revised 7/1/07; renumbered 1/1/11) 2.8 Remote Appearances A. Program Overview. The Napa Superior Court permits remote appearances, telephonic or video, as set forth in Code of Civil Procedure, section 367.75, and California Rules of Court, rules 3.670, 3.672, and 5.324. 1. Preference may be given to cases with remote appearances. 2. While Court hearings are generally open to the public, certain confidential proceedings are permitted, by law, to be conducted in closed session. 3. All remote appearances are made via the Zoom web-based application. Attorneys and/or parties remain on the in-court audio-visual system and hear matters open to the public to the same extent as those present in court. All present in the courtroom hear and, if remote appearance is by video, see those appearing remotely; unless the case is confidential and heard in closed session. B. Appearance Procedure. 1. An attorney or party making a remote appearance must join through the Zoom web-based application approximately five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled hearing time by following the instructions on the Court’s website: https://www.napa.courts.ca.gov/general-information/remote-appearance/courtroom-remote-appearances. The party will be placed in a virtual “waiting room” until permitted entrance to the hearing by the Court Clerk. An attorney or party calling after the check-in period shall be considered late for the hearing and shall be treated by the Court in the same manner as if the attorney or party had personally appeared late for the hearing. 2. Attorney’s and parties appearing remotely shall exhibit the same degree of courtesy and courtroom etiquette required of those personally appearing. Persons appearing remotely are encouraged to mute their microphones and disable their video feeds until their matter is called. However, all persons appearing remotely must be able to hear the proceedings at all times as the Court’s policy does not anticipate the Court and other parties waiting for an attorney or party to rejoin. (Effective 7/1/02; revised 7/1/03; revised 7/1/06; revised 1/1/07; revised 7/1/08; renumbered 1/1/11; revised 7/1/14; revised 1/1/23 and 7/1/24) 2.9 Tentative Ruling System The Court has adopted a tentative ruling system in civil law and motion and probate matters. Tentative rulings will be available no later than 3:00 p.m. on the court day before the scheduled hearing, and may be obtained on the Court’s website at http://www.napa.courts.ca.gov. Rulings may also be obtained by calling (707) 299-1270. Generally, oral argument on matters for which a tentative ruling has been posted will be permitted only if a party notifies all other parties and the Court by 4:00 p.m. on the Court day before the hearing that the party intends to appear and argue. Notice to the Court shall be given by either: (a) calling (707) 299-1270 (when recording begins, press “0”); or (b) submitting an email to JudicialReception2@napa.courts.ca.gov. Notice to the Court by either method must include the case name and number, the matter (e.g. name of motion) for which oral argument is requested, the party requesting oral argument, and the time when and means by which notice of the request for oral argument was communicated to all other parties to the action. If notice of intent to appear has not been given to all parties and to the Court by 4:00 p.m., no oral argument will be permitted and the tentative ruling will become the Court’s ruling unless all other parties are present and the Court exercises its discretion to permit argument. If no tentative ruling is posted on a particular matter, or if the tentative ruling indicates that an appearance is required, then the parties must appear at the hearing. (Effective 7/1/02; revised 7/1/03, 1/1/07, 1/1/09; renumbered 1/1/11; revised 7/1/24 and 1/1/26.) Each noticed motion or petition must include the following information, in bold type and placed in a conspicuous location on the notice, motion, or petition: “The Napa Court uses a Tentative Ruling System. To receive the tentative ruling, visit the Court’s website at http://www.napa.courts.ca.gov or telephone the Court at (707) 299-1270 after 3:00 p.m. the court day before the scheduled hearing date. Unless the Court directs otherwise, no oral argument will be permitted unless a party or counsel for a party requests a hearing by calling the Court at the number above, or emailing the Court, at JudicialReception2@napa.courts.ca.gov, and notifying all other parties or counsel no later than 4:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing.” (Effective 7/1/13; revised 1/1/26.) 2.10 Electronic Filing The Court accepts electronic filings in Civil, Family, Probate, Criminal, Traffic, Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Dependency cases. Parties wishing to e-file are required to visit the Court’s website to select an electronic filing service provider (EFSP) from the options provided: https://www.napa.courts.ca.gov/online-services/efile. It is the sole responsibility of the filer to ensure that all documents containing social security numbers, driver's license numbers, and other sensitive information, are properly redacted prior to electronically filing to the Court. The Court cannot redact documents that are electronically file. (Effective 7/1/02; revised 1/1/07; renumbered 1/1/11; revised 1/1/23) 2.11 Sealing of Juror Information The addresses and telephone numbers of jurors may be sealed at the time the jurors are impaneled. Upon petition to the Court, the information may be unsealed upon 20 days’ notice to any juror who may be affected by a court order unsealing the information. Upon recording of the verdict in a criminal case, the Court shall follow the procedure specified in Code of Civil Procedure section 237. (Effective 7/1/02; renumbered 1/1/11) 2.12 Courtroom Security To ensure the security of the courthouses and courtrooms, no person, except those authorized to do so, shall enter any courthouse or courtroom carrying, or in possession of, any weapon or device as described in Penal Code section 171b, or any other thing that may reasonably be used as a weapon. “Weapon” includes any knife, even if less than four (4) inches in length. Court security staff may search any person entering any courthouse or courtroom for possession of weapons. (Effective 7/1/02; renumbered 1/1/11) 2.14 Court Reporting Services A. General Provisions. The Napa Superior Court provides court reporting services at the Court’s expense in all proceedings for which such services are required by law. Official court reporters will not be provided in proceedings for which such services are not legally mandated. The following chart sets forth the types of proceedings for which official court reporters will be provided by the Court. Case Type Shorthand Reporter Provided by Court? Felony Case Yes Misdemeanor Case No Infraction Case No Juvenile 300 Yes Juvenile 602 Yes Unlimited Civil incl. Unlimited UDs No Limited Civil incl. Limited UDs No Small Claims No Family Law No Adoption No Probate No Guardianship No Conservatorships No Civil Ex Parte No Domestic Violence No Civil Harassment No B. Electronic Recording of Proceedings. In Small Claims and Unlawful Detainer matters only, where an official reporter or an official reporter pro tempore is unavailable to report an action or proceeding, the Court will make an electronic audio recording of the proceedings. C. Private Court Reporters. If a party wishes to have a record made by a court reporter for a proceeding for which court reporter services are not legally mandated, that party must arrange for a private court reporter of the party’s choosing to be present. Except as provided in subdivision (D), the party arranging for the private court reporter is responsible for paying that reporter’s fees. D. Exceptions for Parties With Fee Waivers. In case types for which an official court reporter is generally not provided by the Court (see subdivision (A) above) and electronic recording is not available (see subdivision (B) above) , a party may request that the Court arrange for and provide the services of an official court reporter for a specific hearing / proceeding where: (a) the requesting party has a current fee waiver on file with the Court in the action; or (b) the requesting party files, at the same time as the request for court reporting services, a Request to Waive Court Fees (FW-001), and that Request to Waive Court Fees is granted. The Court will waive the official court reporter fees under these circumstances; however, parties will still be required to pay fees and costs charged by the court reporter to produce any transcript for the reported proceeding. To request an official court reporter pursuant to this rule, parties must submit either the Napa Superior Court Request for Court Reporter Services form (NC-1) or the Judicial Council Form FW-020 (Request for Court Reporter By Party With Fee Waiver) to the clerk’s office as soon as they become aware of the proceeding they wish to be reported. A separate request is required for each hearing / proceeding for which a reporter is desired. (Effective 1/1/19; revised 7/1/24, 1/1/26.) (All sections/subsections without parenthetical history effective 7/1/04; revised 1/1/06; revised 1/1/07; section renumbered 1/1/11; revised 1/1/12, 7/1/24 and 1/1/26.) 2.15 Audio and Video Recording and Transmission Audio and video recording and transmission is permitted only inside a courtroom, and only when authorized by the judicial officer presiding in that courtroom. Audio and video recording and transmission is forbidden anywhere else within any courthouse, unless authorized in writing by the Presiding Judge. Sworn law enforcement personnel acting within the course and scope of their duties are exempt from this rule. (Effective 7/1/06; renumbered 1/1/11; revised 1/1/17 and 7/1/24.) 2.16 Master Calendar System The Napa Superior Court uses a Master Calendar system for civil and criminal matters. Unless otherwise ordered, cases are not assigned to a single judge for all purposes. (Effective 7/1/13) 2.17 Communication With Court Staff Neither the parties nor their counsel shall initiate communications with the research staff, but shall promptly respond to inquiries directed to them by staff members. (Effective 7/1/03; renumbered 1/1/06 and 7/1/17; revised 7/1/24.) 2.18 Traffic Infraction Ability-to-Pay: Clerk Determinations The Clerk of the Court may make ability-to-pay determinations in traffic infraction cases as authorized in Government Code section 68645.3, subdivision (e), when the criteria posted on the Court’s website are met. (Effective 1/1/25)
RULE 2: COURT ORGANIZATION 2.1 Policy Making Authority Responsibility for formulating policy, including regulations concerning court administration, is vested in the Executive Committee of the court system with advice from all judges of the Court. The Executive Committee is comprised of the Presiding Judge, the Assistant Presiding Judge, and the Court Executive Officer. (Effective 1/1/99; revised
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-10-09 (California T4 Napa build 2026-10-09) from BenchPath custody ca/t4/ca-napa/docs/general/local-rules-effective-january-1-2026.pdf (the court's rule book, its cover “Local Rules Effective 1/1/26”, as fetched 2026-10-09; 1160403 bytes, sha256 59a4b9c75779cee0fc7cfd9117a7ca5fd4fecfacf7ff354754e0f717151b6f86; 74 pages) with the shared verbatim composer (v2 reflow) rule by rule - the eleven rules (PDF pages 7; 8 to 15; 16 and 17; 18 to 20; 21; 22 to 29; 30 to 44; 45; 46 to 49; 50 to 56; 58 and 59), each beginning at the top of a page: each page's running header (“Superior Court of California, County of Napa”) and footer (the page number) removed as chrome; lines reflowed into the rules' paragraphs; no struck run on any of the 74 pages (review/strike-report-2026-10-09.txt); 9 whitespace-only fixes (build/book-fixes.json: Rule 2.4's list of the Criminal Courthouse's courtrooms, Rule 6.11's attorney fee schedule rows and the history note that closes Rule 4.7, each set back to a line of its own as the page prints them, and one line of Rule 7.10(A)(2) the reflow broke inside a sentence set back to a space; the vertical-gap, short-line and false-break audits find no other); 1 same-character fix (build/book-captions.json: Rule 2.14 A's chart of the case types for which the Court provides an official court reporter set as printed by rows - the header, then each case type with its answer on a line of its own); proof 1 (whitespace-only) and proof 2 (same character multiset as the text layer minus chrome) pass. The cover, the list of currently effective rules, the table of contents, the list of local forms, Appendix A (locating a qualified private child custody evaluator) and the index belong to no card. Review note: The book prints no Rule 2.13: its list of currently effective rules names Rule 2.13 (1/1/11) and its table of contents lists "2.13 Court Reporter Fees" with a broken page reference ("Error! Bookmark not defined."), while the rules run from 2.12 to 2.14. The court's Court Reporters page states reporter fee rules (a half-day fee for a matter lasting more than one hour, a full day for more than four hours) and cites "Napa Local Rules" for them, and it offers electronic recordings of misdemeanor and infraction proceedings where Rule 2.14(B) provides electronic recording in small claims and unlawful detainer matters only. The table of contents also carries earlier titles ("2.8 Telephonic Appearances", "2.10 Facsimile Filing") for Rules 2.8 and 2.10.
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.