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The juvenile court's order on admission to juvenile proceedings (Welfare and Institutions Code sections 346, 676 and 676.5; rule 5.530), media coverage (rule 1.150; Local Rules 180 and 906; only the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court may admit media or authorize coverage), the prohibition on publishing or disseminating information about juvenile proceedings (section 827(a)(4); Local Rule 903.3), and photography and recording; it supersedes the earlier juvenile orders on public and media access.
California > Fourth Appellate District > Orange County > Superior Court of California, County of Orange
Superior Court of California County of Orange Chambers of MARIA D. HERNANDEZ PRESIDING JUDGE OF JUVENILE COURT 341 THE CITY DRIVE ORANGE, CA 92868 PHONE: (657) 622-5502 Orange County Juvenile Court Administrative Order: A-100-2-2013 Juvenile Court Proceedings: Media and Public Access; Confidentiality; Photography/Audio/Video Recording. A. Applicability of Order: 1. This administrative order shall supplement Welfare and Institutions Code, Sections 346, 676, 676.5, and California Rules of Court, Rule 5.530, regarding the admittance of persons, agencies and organizations to juvenile court proceedings. (All statutory references shall be to the Welfare and Institutions Code, and all references to rules shall be to the California Rules of Court, unless otherwise noted.) To the extent that this order conflicts with Sections 346, 676, 676.5, or Rule 5.530, the statute or rule shall control. 2. This administrative order shall supplement California Rules of Court, Rule 1.150, and Orange County Superior Court, Local Rules 180 and 906, regarding media coverage of courtroom proceedings, and shall be applicable only as to the proceedings of the Orange County Juvenile Court. To the extent that this order conflicts with Rule 1.150 (as constrained by Sections 346 and 676, or Rule 5.530), or Local Rule 180, the rules shall control. 3. This administrative order shall supplement Section 827(a)(4), and Orange County Superior Court, Local Rule 903.3, regarding the non-dissemination of information relating to the content of the juvenile case file or proceedings, and shall apply to all persons who are permitted access to juvenile court proceedings. To the extent that this order conflicts with Section 827, or Local Rule 903.3, the statute or rule shall control. 4. This administrative order supersedes all prior Juvenile Court administrative orders addressing public and/or media access, including administrative orders number 11/010-903 and 11/009-906, the Juvenile Court Exchange of Information and Media Policy, signed September 23, 2010, and all such orders are rescinded. All prior miscellaneous orders authorizing access to specifically identified persons or organizations remain in full force and effect, unless expressly rescinded by the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court. B. Admission to Juvenile Court proceedings: 1. Except as otherwise addressed herein, the persons entitled to be present at Juvenile Court proceedings are those persons described in Sections 676 and 676.5, and Rule 5.530. No other person shall be admitted into a Juvenile Court proceeding, except upon express authorization of a judicial officer of the Juvenile Court, pursuant to this order. 2. All assigned judicial officers of the Juvenile Court shall have the discretion to admit into their assigned courtroom, only, any person who may be admitted, pursuant to Sections 346 and 676, and Rule 5.530. No Juvenile Court judicial officer, except the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court, shall have the discretion to admit such persons to any other courtroom other than the judicial officer’s own courtroom. 3. Members of the “media”, as defined in Rule 1.150, shall be admitted to Juvenile Court proceedings to the same extent and under the same limitations as members of the public are admitted, pursuant to Section 676(a), for the crimes listed in subdivisions (1) through (28). Members of the media shall be subject to all orders of the Court issued pursuant to subdivisions (b), (c), (d) and (e), of Section 676. a) No Juvenile Court judicial officer, except the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court, shall have the authority to authorize the admission of members of the media to any Juvenile Court proceeding, except pursuant to Section 676(a). b) No Juvenile Court judicial officer, except the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court, shall have the discretion to authorize “media coverage”, as defined in Rule 1.150 (regarding photographing, recording or broadcasting), as to any Juvenile Court proceeding, including public proceedings pursuant to Section 676(a). c) Authorization for media coverage, by the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court, shall be made pursuant to Rule 1.150, Local Rule 180, and this administrative order. 4. All persons with a direct and legitimate interest in the particular case or the work of the court desiring admission to Juvenile Court proceedings (except those admitted into a specific courtroom by the assigned judicial officer), including persons conducting research, students, public or private agencies and organizations, and members of the news media, shall seek authorization from the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court, by contacting Juvenile Court Administration. a) In the exercise of its sound discretion in determining whether to authorize admission, the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court considers and balances many competing factors, including: • The stated reason or purpose for seeking access; • The agency or organization with whom the person seeking access is associated with, if any, and the function, purpose, mission and goals of the agency or organization; • Whether the person is seeking information of a general nature about the Court or the juvenile justice system, or information regarding a particular case, minor, family or party to a matter; • The age of the minor[s] and the alleged facts and circumstances of the case or cases to which the requesting person is seeking admission; • The privacy and confidentiality rights of the children and caretakers before the court and the highly sensitive nature of the child and family issues involved in the cases before the Juvenile Court; • The stated concerns or objections of any party to the matters pending before the Court as to the admission of the requesting person; • The best interests of all minors with matters pending with the Court; • The feasibility of orders and measures to prevent or mitigate any negative impact to the child; • The beneficial societal values promoted by public access. (See: San Bernardino County v. Superior Court (1991) 232 Cal.App.3d 188, 210 – 203.) b) Persons seeking admission to Juvenile Court proceedings may submit a request in writing that addresses the factors listed in subparagraph (a). 5. Except for persons associated with a party to a particular case whose presence was requested by the parent, guardian or minor, all persons admitted into Juvenile Court proceedings, because they have been determined to have a direct and legitimate interest in the particular case or the work of the court, before attending a proceeding, shall be required to report to Juvenile Court Administration to sign an acknowledgement of the provisions of this administrative order. C. Prohibition against publication or dissemination of information regarding Juvenile Court proceedings: 1. Pursuant to Sections 300.2 and 827(a)(4), Local Rule 903.3 is reiterated, to wit: with the exception of cases involving offenses listed in Section 676, any member of the public admitted into a Juvenile Court proceeding shall not publish or disseminate any information regarding any matter heard by the Juvenile Court, including but not limited to: the identity of any party, attorney, probation officer, social worker, witness, therapist; the allegation made in the petition[s]; the facts and circumstances of the matter; the orders and findings by the Court, unless permitted by statute, rule or court order. a) The terms “publish or disseminate” means: revealing information to any person, by any means, including through television, radio, newspapers, magazines, email, the Internet, or any form of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, blogs, or any other form of personal communication. 2. News media, researchers, students or academic institutions may publish or disseminate of information regarding Juvenile Court proceedings only to the extent authorized and limited by an express order by the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court. D. Use of cellular telephones, recording or photographing Juvenile Court proceedings: 1. Use of cellular phones in a Juvenile Court courtroom by all persons is prohibited. Use of cellular phones includes: making or receiving phone calls, making or replying to text messages, accessing for any purpose the Internet, including posting messages on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, or playing games. a) Persons may utilize cellular phones in the public hallways of the courthouse, so long as such use does not disrupt the operation and business of the Court. b) Orange County Sheriff’s Department personnel are authorized to admonish or remove from the courtroom any person using a cellular device in a courtroom or disrupting the operation and business of the Court, immediately seize the cellular device, and/or remove the person from the courthouse. 2. The Court finds that use of cellular telephones in the courtroom by attorneys of record for parties to Juvenile Court proceedings, social workers, probation officers and court staff is necessary for the efficient operation and conduct of Court proceedings. Therefore, such persons are authorized to use such devices in the courtroom, so long as such use is related to Court proceedings and operations, the proceedings and operations of the business of such person’s agencies and firms, or other business related matters. a) Use of cellular devices by attorneys of record for parties to Juvenile Court proceedings, social workers, probation officers and court staff may not disrupt the proceedings before the Court. b) All judicial officers of the Juvenile Court may make orders further limiting or prohibiting the use of cellular devices by attorneys of record for parties to Juvenile Court proceedings, social workers, probation officers and court staff in the judicial officer’s assigned courtroom. 3. No person (including attorneys of record for parties to Juvenile Court proceedings, social workers, probation officers and court staff) may take photographs or make audio and/or video recordings of any Juvenile Court proceedings. a) Juvenile Court adoption proceedings may be photographed and/or recorded, solely for the personal use of the family. All judicial officers of the Juvenile Court may make orders further limiting or prohibiting such recording in the judicial officer’s assigned courtroom. 4. Photography, audio or video recording, by any means, by members of the public and the media is prohibited in any part of the Lamoreaux Justice Center, including the lobby areas, hallways, stairs, elevators, conference rooms or areas, unless expressly authorized by the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court. E. Media admission and coverage of Juvenile Court proceedings: 1. Requests for admission of media: Other than members of the media admitted pursuant to Section 676(a), all requests by members of the media to be admitted to Juvenile Court proceedings shall be directed to the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court. a) Members of the media seeking admission to Juvenile Court proceedings may make such requests in writing, addressing the factors the Court considers and balances concerning the admission of persons with a direct and legitimate interest in a particular case or the work of the Court. 2. Requests for “media coverage”: All requests for “media coverage” (for photographing, recording or broadcasting) of any Juvenile Court proceeding, including proceedings under Section 676(a), shall be made in compliance with Rule 1.150, Local Rule 180 and this administrative order, and by submitting to the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court Judicial Council forms MC-500 and MC-510. a) Forms MC-500 and MC-510 shall be filed at Juvenile Court Administration (Lamoreaux Justice Center, second floor), in person or by facsimile (622-657-8384). Requests for media coverage of a matter set for a morning hearing shall be filed by 4:00 p.m. of the prior business day, and requests coverage of an afternoon hearing shall be filed by 10:00 a.m. the day of the hearing. Failure to timely file a request may result in the denial of coverage for that reason. b) Upon receipt of a request for media coverage, Juvenile Court Administration shall immediately deliver the request to the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court and to the Court Public Information Office. c) The clerk must promptly notify the parties that a request has been filed. 3. Limitations on coverage: Unless expressly authorized by order of the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court, in addition to the limitations on coverage set forth in Local Rule 180, the following limitations shall apply to authorized media coverage at the Juvenile Court: a) Photography or video recording of minor shall be restricted to the back of the individual, from the shoulders and below. The face, profile and back of the head of the minor, or any member of the minor’s family, shall not be recorded. b) Photography or audio or video recording in a courtroom when the Court is not in session and formally on the record is prohibited. c) Photography or audio or video recording of the minor and/or the family that is the subject of a Juvenile Court proceeding in the plaza area, sidewalks, streets and parking lots immediately adjacent to the Lamoreaux Justice Center is prohibited. d) When authorized, photography or audio or video recording of any person, whether within the interior or at the exterior of the Lamoreaux Justice Center, must be restricted so as to preclude any recording of persons in the background and not part of the authorized recording. 4. Pooling media coverage: Media coverage inside of a Juvenile Court courtroom shall be limited to one still camera and one video camera. Therefore, media organizations and agencies shall make arrangements for the pooling of photographic and video recording resources. a) Members of media organizations and agencies permitted to photograph and/or make video recordings of proceedings shall share any photographs or video with other media organizations or agencies. 5. Media identification: All members of the media must prominently display identification identifying the person as a member of the media, while inside or at the plaza area, sidewalks, streets and parking lots immediately adjacent to the Lamoreaux Justice Center. 6. Check-in: Upon arrival at the Juvenile Court, all members of the media shall inform the Juvenile Court receptionist (located on the second floor) of their presence, and the purpose for their presence, including the name of the case or minor that they seek to cover. a) In addition to checking in with Juvenile Court reception, upon arrival at the Lamoreaux Justice Center, all members of the media with cameras or other audio or video recording equipment shall advise officers of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and shall obey their instructions regarding the movement, staging and use of such equipment. b) Members of the media must arrive at the Juvenile Court in sufficient time so as not to delay the calling of a matter, including time to set-up any cameras or recording equipment. The Court will not delay calling a matter to wait for the arrival of members of the media or for the set-up of equipment, regardless of an order granting media admission and/or coverage. c) When a member of the media checks-in, the Juvenile Court receptionist shall immediately advise the courtroom clerk where the matter is calendared and the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court. 7. Admission into the courtroom: When authorized by order of the assigned judicial officer or the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court, when advised of the presence of the media, courtroom staff, including Sheriff’s personnel, shall facilitate the admission of the media into the courtroom for the matter they are authorized to cover. a) Courtroom staff, including Sheriff’s personnel, shall admit members of the media into the courtroom in sufficient time for equipment set-up so as not the delay the calling of the matter. F. Minors in juvenile institutions: 1. The term “juvenile institution” means: any jail, lock-up, juvenile hall, secure and non-secure detention facilities used to house juveniles; any juvenile day centers, ranches and camps; any emergency shelter home, group home, or foster home; operated by or on behalf of the Orange County Probation Department and/or Orange County Social Services Agency. 2. Except as expressly authorized by the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court, interviews by the media of any juvenile housed in or attending a juvenile institution is prohibited. 3. Except as expressly authorized by the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court, photography, audio or video recording, by any means, by members of the public and the media of any juvenile housed in or attending a juvenile institution is prohibited. SO ORDERED. Date: 1/21/14 Maria D. Hernandez Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court [The date is handwritten. Pages 2-6 carry a running header (Superior Court of California, County of Orange; January 21, 2014; Page n), not transcribed.]
Superior Court of California County of Orange Chambers of MARIA D. HERNANDEZ PRESIDING JUDGE OF JUVENILE COURT 341 THE CITY DRIVE ORANGE, CA 92868 PHONE: (657) 622-5502 Orange County Juvenile Court Administrative Order: A-100-2-2013 Juvenile Court Proceedings: Media and Public Access; Confidentiality; Photography/Audio/Video Recording. A. Applicability of Order: 1. This administrative order shall
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-09-29 (California T3 Orange build 2026-09-29) from BenchPath custody ca/t3/ca-orange/docs/admin-order-100-2-2013.pdf (411653 bytes, sha256 fe13d42d1b9da4541921868e70f56b516849643bd227e2cdfc6ea96520cf35ec; 6 pages) - the court's own posted PDF, a scan: transcribed by eye from the rendered page images, every page read against the image; a local machine reading (RapidOCR) served only as a second reader for a word-level diff, every difference classified and checked on the page; every quotation mark, apostrophe and dash checked in full-resolution crops; file stamps, handwritten dates and pages not transcribed are recorded in bracketed notes; printed irregularities are kept as printed.
9 verbatim requirements from 4th Circuit Administrative Order 1997-10.
6 verbatim requirements from 4th Circuit Administrative Order 1997-13.