Plumas Superior Court Local Rules of Court (effective July 1, 2026) — Rule 7: Juvenile Law Dependency Proceedings

Summary

Rule 7 (Rules 7.1 to 7.14): the rule adopted to comply with Division 3 of the California Rules of Court (7.1); all attorneys appearing in juvenile dependency proceedings must meet the minimum standards of competence, including attorneys representing or employed by public agencies and attorneys appointed by the court (7.2(a)); every party represented by counsel entitled to competent counsel (7.2(b)); attorneys expected to meet regularly with clients, contact social workers and adhere to mandated timelines (7.2(c), 7.2(d)); each attorney appointed shall complete eight hours of education and training in juvenile dependency law, or have previous experience in dependency proceedings in which the attorney has demonstrated competence, a Certificate of Competency obtained from the Court Clerk (7.3(a)); a Certificate of Competency completed by the attorney of record and submitted within 20 days of the first appearance in a dependency matter (7.3(b)); failure to submit it will cause the court to notify the attorney that the right to practice in dependency proceedings is revoked, the attorney shall have 30 days from mailing of the notice to submit it, then an order prohibiting the attorney from practicing in dependency proceedings (7.3(c)); the attorney for a child must have a caseload that allows the duties of Welfare and Institutions Code 317(e) (7.3(d)); the court will only appoint counsel certified by the Court, billing forwarded to the court with documentation for approval (7.4); the attorney shall thoroughly investigate the allegations and reports and conduct a comprehensive interview with the client (7.5(a)); the attorney not required to meet a client incarcerated or committed out of Plumas County (7.5(b)); a written complaint about an appointed attorney lodged with the Court, the Court to give the attorney 15 days from the date of the notice to respond, the Court’s determination final (7.6); any interested person may notify the Court that a dependent minor may have an interest or right to be protected or pursued in another forum, by filing Judicial Council form JV-180 or a declaration, the Court then to authorize the minor’s attorney, appoint an attorney or a guardian ad litem, notice a joinder hearing pursuant to W & I 632 or take other action (7.7); the discovery provisions of California Rules of Court, rule 5.546 adopted (7.8(a)); pre-hearing discovery conducted informally (7.8(b)); formal discovery only by noticed motion served on all parties at least 5 judicial days before the hearing date (7.8(c)); no depositions, interrogatories or similar civil discovery without approval of a Judge of the Juvenile Court upon noticed motion (7.8(d)); the social worker’s narratives made available to all counsel at least 10 calendar days before a contested hearing and any updated records 2 calendar days before (7.8(e)); jurisdictional and dispositional reports due at least 48 hours before the hearing (7.9(a)); status review reports at least 10 calendar days before (7.9(b)); all other reports not less than 48 hours before (7.9(c)); proposed modifications to the petition exchanged 48 hours prior to the jurisdiction hearing (7.9(d)); the names and reports of experts at least 10 days before the hearing (7.9(f)); reports of a CASA advocate not less than 48 hours before (7.9(g)); a Settlement Conference held prior to every contested hearing (7.10(a)); the attorneys, all parties and a representative of Children's Services with authority to settle present (7.10(b)); detention hearings no later than the end of the next Court day after a petition has been filed (7.11(a)); a jurisdiction hearing begun within 30 calendar days from the date the petition was filed, or within 15 Court days from the date of the detention order if the child is detained (7.11(b)); the disposition hearing begun within 10 days from the date the petition was sustained if the child is detained, and if the child is not detained no later than 30 calendar days after jurisdiction is found (7.11(c)); the Court required to review the status of every dependent child within six months and at least every 6 months thereafter, the removed child within 12 months, and a review no later than 18 months (7.11(d), 7.11(e), 7.11(f)); a Notice of Intent to file a writ petition filed within 7 days of the order setting a hearing under W & I 366.26, with an extension of 5 days if the party received notice only by mail (7.11(g)); the writ petition within 10 days after the filing of the record (7.11(h)); a response within 10 days (7.11(i)); the selection hearing within 120 days (7.11(j)); a Notice of Appeal within 60 days after the judgment (7.11(k)); juveniles issued citations for infractions ordered to appear in traffic court, their parents notified prior to the traffic court date if a petition is to be filed in the Juvenile Court (7.11); infractions those defined in Penal Code 19.6 and 19.8 (7.12); the Juvenile Court will require the appearance of the juvenile and at least one parent, which may be excused for good cause shown (7.13); and such infraction proceedings excluded from the rules of confidentiality usually applicable to juvenile matters under Welfare and Institutions Code 603.5 (7.14).