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Chapter 1 of the court's local rules (General Rules; rules 1.00–1.28): citation and effect of the rules and failure to comply; self-represented parties; master calendar departments; Presiding Judge law and motion proceedings and the posting of civil tentative rulings (rules 1.05 and 1.06); ex parte applications in the Presiding Judge's department; the voir dire juror questionnaire; waiver of court fees and jury fees; court reporting services and requests for them; lost papers, typing services and non-attorney document preparers, and the drop box; writs and abstracts; sexually violent predator cases; conflicting protective orders; the electronic filing program, process and inquiries (rules 1.20–1.23); photographing, recording and broadcasting in courthouse facilities (Rule 1.24); the Digital Evidence Policy (Rule 1.25); claims under the California Environmental Quality Act (Rule 1.27); and the use of AI by counsel (Rule 1.28).
California > Third Appellate District > Sacramento County > Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento
CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL RULES 1.00 Citation and Effect of Rules. These Local Rules of Court apply to the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, and shall be known and cited as the "Local Rules for the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento." These rules shall be construed and applied in such a manner as to not conflict with statutes or California Rules of Court and shall be liberally construed to facilitate and promote the business and administration of justice by the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento. (Adopted 1/1/2013) 1.01 Failure to Comply with Rules. Any counsel, party represented by counsel, or party appearing in pro per, who fails to comply with any of the requirements set forth in these rules, shall upon motion of a party or the court be subject to the sanctions set forth in Code of Civil Procedure section 575.2. (Adopted 1/1/2013) 1.02 Self-Represented Parties Acting as Counsel. For purposes of these rules, the term counsel shall include self-represented parties. (Adopted 1/1/2013) 1.03 Definition of Day of Vacation In accordance with the obligation in the California Rules of Court, Rule 10.603(c)(2)(H) to define a day of vacation, a day of vacation is defined as follows: (A) For judges working a compressed schedule of four 10-hour days per week – 10 hours; and (B) For all other judges – 8 hours (Adopted 1/1/2026) 1.04 Master Calendar Departments. The Department of the Presiding Judge is designated as the primary Master Calendar Department and includes duties as set forth in California Rules of Court, rule 10.603. (Adopted 1/1/2013) 1.05 Presiding Judge Law and Motion Proceedings and Tentative Rulings (A) Law and motion matters in the Master Calendar Department will be called at a date, time and department to be designated by the Presiding Judge and posted on the Court’s website. (B) Unless otherwise directed by the Presiding Judge, in civil and limited civil actions, all motions for consolidation, severance, bifurcation, intervention, pretrial conference, coordination and to advance or for continuance of trial, a setting conference, or pretrial conference shall be heard by the Presiding Judge. All motions for change of venue in civil, limited civil and criminal actions shall be heard by the Presiding Judge or his/her designee. All other change of venue motions shall be heard by the judge assigned to hear the case. The notice shall be given and the motion made promptly upon the necessity for the continuance, change of venue, consolidation, coordination, intervention, severance, pretrial conference, or bifurcation being ascertained. (C) A tentative Ruling System is used in the Law and Motion calendar in the Presiding Judge’s department. The Presiding Judge will publish a tentative ruling at 2:00 p.m. two court days prior to the matter being heard. Tentative rulings are available by accessing the public portal. If the party does not have online access, they may call the dedicated phone number for the department as referenced in the local telephone directory before 12:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing and receive the tentative ruling. (D) The tentative ruling shall become the ruling of the Court, unless a party desiring to be heard so advises the department clerk of their intent to appear at the hearing by calling 916-874-5487 no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) on the court day preceding the hearing. Further, the party must advise the clerk that such party has notified the other side of its intention to appear. Where appearance has been requested by counsel or invited by the Court, limited argument will be entertained. (E) All noticed motions in the Presiding Judge’s department shall include the following information in the notice: "Pursuant to Local Rule 1.05, the Court will make a tentative ruling on the merits of this matter by 2:00 p.m., two court days before the hearing. The complete text of the tentative ruling may be accessed on the public portal. If the party does not have online access, they may call the dedicated phone number for the department as referenced in the local telephone directory and receive the tentative ruling. If you do not call the Court and the opposing party by 12:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing, no hearing will be held." (Adopted 1/1/2013; Revised 1/1/2025, 7/1/2026) 1.06 Posting of Civil Tentative Rulings. (A) A Tentative Ruling System is utilized in civil law and motion, writ, probate, complex, Case Management, and other departments as designated. On the afternoon of the court day before each calendar, the judge will publish a tentative ruling on each matter on the next day's calendar. The tentative rulings will be available after 2:00 p.m. on the court day before the matter is heard by accessing the public portal. If the party does not have online access, they may call the dedicated phone number for the department as referenced in the local telephone directory between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing and receive the tentative ruling. (B) The tentative ruling shall become the ruling of the Court, unless a party desiring to be heard so advises the department clerk no later than 4:00 p.m. on the court day preceding the hearing, and further advises the clerk that such party has notified the other side of its intention to appear. Notification to the clerk shall be made pursuant to instructions in the tentative ruling. (C) Where appearance has been requested by counsel or invited by the Court, limited argument will be entertained. (D) All noticed motions in the designated department shall include the following information in the notice: "Pursuant to Local Rule 1.06 (A), the Court will make a tentative ruling on the merits of this matter by 2:00 p.m., the court day before the hearing. The complete text of the tentative ruling may be downloaded off the Court’s website. If the party does not have online access, they may call the dedicated phone number for the department as referenced in the local telephone directory between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing and receive the tentative ruling. If you do not call the Court and the opposing party by 4:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing, no hearing will be held." (Adopted 1/1/2013; Revised 1/1/2016, 1/1/2024, 1/1/2025.) 1.07 Ex Parte Applications in Presiding Judge's Department. (A) All ex parte applications for temporary relief, orders to show cause, orders shortening or extending time, or other ex parte applications shall be heard in the department of the Presiding Judge or his/her designee. Ex Parte Applications and supporting documents shall be paid for and submitted with the date and time of the hearing set as TBD. All applications must include a written supporting declaration, stating whether the opposing party is represented by counsel, whether that party has been contacted and has agreed to the requested order, or why the order should be issued without notice. The adequacy of the application for temporary relief will be determined on the papers submitted. If the application is deemed adequate, the Court may allow supplemental argument, either oral or written. All documents shall be served and filed as required by California Rules of Court, rules 3.1203, 3.1205, and 3.1206. (B) Except by order of the Court, upon a showing of good cause, all ex parte applications presented to the Court seeking to set a matter on shortened time must provide for opposition papers to be filed and served five court days and reply papers to be filed and served two court days prior to the hearing date. The Court, in its discretion, may order a shorter time or that there be no reply, but in no event shall the last paper be filed later than 9:00 a.m. two court days before the hearing. The moving papers must be accompanied by a copy of the order and all papers, including subsequent papers filed in the matter, must indicate on the caption page that the matter was brought on an order shortening time with specific identification of the date of the order and name of the judge. (Adopted 1/1/2013; Revised 1/1/2018, 1/1/2025) 1.08 Voir Dire Juror Questionnaire. The Jury Commissioner shall cause prospective jurors to complete juror questionnaire forms before such jurors leave for their assigned trial department. The court shall retain all originals of any questionnaire completed by a juror who is sworn to hear the cause (herein “sworn jurors”). For all criminal cases, the following shall apply: Upon a verdict being rendered in a criminal case, counsel shall return to the court clerk all of their copies of the juror questionnaire forms of the sworn jurors. After discharge of the jury in a criminal case, and upon written request from counsel, counsels’ respective copies of the such forms will be returned to them, provided that all personal identifying information shall be redacted from such juror questionnaire forms, and provided further that the court does not elect to seal such forms for good cause shown. This procedure for the use, handling and retention of these questionnaire forms is subject to modification by the trial judge. (Adopted 1/1/2013) 1.09 Waiver of Court Fees and Costs. If the relief sought is the waiver of jury fees, the application shall be made at least 25 days prior to the commencement of the trial for which the relief from fees imposed is sought, or at least five days in unlawful detainer proceedings. (Adopted 1/1/2013) 1.10 Jury Fees. (A) Advance jury fees shall be paid pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 631. (B) At the commencement of the second day of voir dire examination, and on each succeeding day of voir dire, such party shall deposit with the Clerk of the Court a sum equal to the panel's one-day jury fees and mileage. (C) When the trial commences after voir dire, and on each succeeding day of the trial, such party shall deposit with the Clerk of the Court a sum equal to one day's jury fees and mileage for the jurors and alternates. (D) If, during voir dire or trial, the party responsible for jury fees waives the jury or fails to pay jury fees as prescribed in (C) or (D), any other party may preserve their right to jury trial by depositing fees as therein required. If no other party deposits jury required jury fees, the jury is waived and the trial shall proceed without a jury. (Adopted 1/1/2013) 1.11 Court Reporting Services. In civil and family law cases, the parties requesting reporting services shall pay in equal proportion the appropriate fee to the Clerk of the Court prior to the commencement of each day of trial. Should any party refuse to pay the pro rata fee, the other party may elect to pay the entire fee. In either case, all amounts so paid may be recovered as taxable costs. If the entire fee is not paid, reporting services shall be deemed waived. The party(ies) requesting a daily transcript in a civil case shall pay the fees therefore to the Clerk of the Court prior to the commencement of each day of trial. (Adopted 1/1/2013) 1.12 Requesting Reporting Services. (A) The services of official court reporters for civil matters are very limited. The available services of official court reporters for civil matters may be found on the Court’s website. Arrangements for available official court reporter services can be made by contacting the clerk in the assigned courtroom prior to the date set for hearing in accordance with section (B). The Court Reporter will not report any proceeding unless a request is made and the requisite fees are paid, or a fee waiver has been granted, in advance of the hearing. (B) Any party desiring official court reporter services in a civil proceeding shall make arrangements by contacting the clerk in the assigned courtroom not later than 4:00 p.m. the court day prior to the date set for hearing. (C) The services of official court reporters are not available for unlawful detainer hearings at the Carol Miller Justice Center or for limited civil cases in those courtrooms at the Tani Cantil Sakauye Courthouse with electronic recording equipment. (D) The services of official court reporters in family law and probate proceedings at the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse are very limited. Any party desiring an official record of a proceeding shall make arrangements no later than 4:00 p.m. at least five court days prior to the date set for hearing or trial by contacting the court reporter’s office at familylawprreporters@saccourt.ca.gov. (Adopted 1/1/2013; Revised 1/1/2014, 1/1/2017, 1/1/2019, 1/1/2020, 1/1/2023, 1/1/2025, 7/1/2026) 1.13 Contacting Court’s Legal Research Staff. Unless specifically authorized by these Local Rules, by prior approval or authorization of the judicial officer assigned to the matter, or, if the matter is unassigned, by prior approval of the Presiding Judge, no party, or attorney for a party, in any action or proceeding pending in this court shall contact or attempt to contact any member of the court's legal research staff concerning such pending matter. (Adopted 1/1/2013, Revised 1/1/2025) 1.14 Replacing Lost Papers. If an original pleading or paper previously filed with the court is lost, an order authorizing the filing of a copy in lieu of the original is required, and may be based upon declaration of the requesting counsel, or the certificate of the clerk. (Adopted 1/1/2013) 1.15 Typing Services or Non-Attorney Court Document Preparers. (A) The name, address and phone number of the litigant who is representing him/herself must appear at the top of all filed pleadings. (B) Non-attorney court document preparers shall comply with the requirements of Business and Professions Code section 6408. The clerk shall not accept for filing any document presented by a non-attorney court document preparer that does not comply with these requirements. (C) A litigant in a family law or probate case designating a non-attorney court document preparer to act as a courier to submit documents for processing or to receive endorsed copies of documents from the court shall file an Authorization for Non-Attorney Court Document Preparer (local form FL/E-LP-609 or local form PR/E-LP-021). (D) Notices of Entry shall be sent directly to the litigant, even when presented for filing by a non-attorney court document preparer. (E) Nothing in this rule is intended to encourage or condone the unauthorized practice of law. In the event it appears that a preparer is engaging in the unauthorized practice of law under the guise of this rule, that matter will be reported to the appropriate authorities. (Adopted 1/1/2013; Revised 1/1/2018) 1.16 Drop Box. A depository is available to file documents with the court but shall not be used to file documents that must be filed in a specific department. Documents placed in the drop box must be time-stamped on the back of the last page of the document except for items deposited at the Carol Miller Justice Center. If time-stamped before 5:00 p.m., the document will be filed on the date of deposit. Any document date/time stamped after 5:00 p.m., will be deemed filed the next court business day. (Adopted 1/1/2013) 1.17 Issuance of Writs and Abstracts. Except as to matters subject to the Electronic Filing Program, a file-endorsed copy of the judgment(s) and memos of costs, if applicable, shall be submitted for issuance of writ of execution or possession and/or abstract of judgment. (Adopted 1/1/2013) 1.18 Sexually Violent Predator Cases. (A) As petitions requesting that a respondent be committed as a sexually violent predator pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 6600 et seq. are civil matters, each party is entitled to six peremptory challenges. (B) All such petitions filed by the District Attorney’s office shall be numbered sequentially with the last two digits of the year the petition was filed, followed by the letters “SVP,” followed by a three-digit sequential number representing the number of cases filed in the year in question. Thus, 03SVP001 would be the civil number assigned to the first such case filed after January 1, 2003. All such petitions shall make reference in the text of the heading for the case to the Sacramento County felony case file number the respondent was originally confined under, i.e., such as: The People of the State of California, Petitioner, Case No. 03SVP001 vs. (underlying felony case number 00F01234) John Doe, Respondent (D) There is a general discovery cut-off date of 15 calendar days before the date initially set for trial. Absent a court order, discovery shall not be allowed within 15 days of trial in any Sexually Violent Predator proceeding. No later than the 15th day before the date initially set for trial of the action, each side is required to submit and exchange their list of witnesses they plan to call at trial. Included with this submission shall be a brief statement of the subject of each witness’s testimony and an estimate of the time required for direct examination of each witness. Separate and apart from the above requirement, no later than the 15th day before the date initially set for trial of the action, each side is required to submit and exchange a list of all expert witnesses they plan to call at trial. Included with this submission shall be a declaration from the expert stating the expert’s qualifications, the general substance of the expert’s expected testimony, and a copy of all written reports, writings, and testing data made by the designated expert in the course of preparing their opinion. (E) If a trial is rescheduled after the date initially set for trial and the rescheduled date is more than 30 days after the date previously set for trial, discovery shall reopen until a new cut-off date of 15 calendar days before the newly set trial date and each side shall be required to submit a new witness list and a new expert witness list/data. If a prior exchange has already taken place and nothing has changed in regard to discoverable matters, a party may comply with this new list requirement by informing the other side in writing that a previous witness list and/or a previous expert witness list/data remains unchanged. (Adopted 1/1/2013) 1.19 Resolving Conflicting Protective Orders. Courts issuing criminal protective orders shall make reasonable efforts to determine whether there exists any child custody or visitation orders that involve any party to the pending criminal action. At a minimum, this would include court staff checking reasonably available resources to determine such information. Courts issuing orders involving child custody or visitation shall make reasonable efforts to determine whether there exists a criminal court protective order that involves any party to the pending civil action. At a minimum, this would include court staff checking reasonably available resources to determine such information. Judges in either criminal or civil actions are expressly authorized (1) when necessary, to directly consult with another judge that has issued a subsequent order involving or impacting child custody or visitation, and (2) to modify any protective order to allow or restrict contact between the person restrained by the order and his or her children any time such actions appear to the judge to be in the best interest of any child concerned. (Adopted 1/1/2013) 1.20 Electronic Filing Program/Scope. The Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento allows the electronic filing of documents in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6 and California Rules of Court, rules 2.255 et seq. for specific case types as listed on the Court’s website. The Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento allows and is phasing in the ability for electronic filing in criminal cases. Additional technical details will be made available on the Court’s website as electronic filing services are expanded. (Adopted 1/1/2013; Revised 1/1/2016, 1/1/2025) 1.21 Electronic Filing Process. Electronically transmitted documents must be both submitted to the court and accepted for filing by the court in order to be considered duly filed with the court in accordance with these rules. (A) Date/Time of Filing. A document may be electronically transmitted to the court at any time of the day. Acceptance of the document for filing with the court shall be deemed to occur (1) on the date the document was submitted to the court if the submission occurred during normal business hours of the clerk’s office, and (2) on the next business day the clerk’s office is open for business if the submission occurred after normal business hours of the clerk’s office. For purposes of this section, normal business hours shall be 8:30 a.m. through 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding court holidays. Nothing in this section shall limit the clerk’s ability to reject filings. (B) Receipt of Data. Upon receiving a document submitted electronically for filing with the court, a Notice of Acknowledgment of Receipt shall be electronically transmitted to the filer. The Notice of Acknowledgment of Receipt shall confirm the date and time of receipt of the document by the court for review and filing. The clerk shall thereafter determine if the document is acceptable for filing with the court. (C) Errors or Malfunctions in Submissions. If for any reason the court does not receive an electronically transmitted document for submission and filing with the court, the filer will not receive an electronically transmitted Notice of Acknowledgment of Receipt of the document from the court. The filer shall be solely responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in the filing and for obtaining confirmation of the filing of the document by the court. (D) Acceptance of Filing. Documents electronically submitted to the court for filing may be reviewed by the clerk for required data elements. Upon acceptance of the document submitted for filing, an endorsed copy of the document confirming the date and time the document was in fact filed with the court shall be electronically transmitted to the filer. The confirmation of filing shall include the transaction number associated with the filing, the titles of the documents as filed by the court, and the fees (if any) assessed for the filing. The court, in its discretion, may elect to automatically accept electronically filed documents. The court’s system will electronically transmit an endorsed copy of the document to the filer confirming the date and time the document was in fact filed with the court. The confirmation of filing shall include the transaction number associated with the filing, the titles of the documents filed by the court, and the fees (if any) assessed for the filing. (E) Rejected Filings. If an electronically transmitted document is submitted to the court but subsequently determined to be unacceptable for filing, the clerk shall cause to be electronically transmitted to the filer a notice of rejection of the document for filing with the court. The notice shall set forth the grounds for rejection of the document. It shall be the responsibility of the filer to resubmit rejected documents, with appropriate corrections and any required filing fee, to the court for filing. The court will retain a log confirming the rejection of electronically transmitted documents. (F) Confirmation of Submission. The confirmation of submission, subsequent resubmission of rejected documents with corrections and/or fees, as well as the filing of documents with the court electronically is the sole responsibility of the filer. In the absence of confirmation of receipt and filing, there is no presumption that the court received and filed the document. (G) Endorsement. The clerk’s endorsement of documents electronically filed shall consist of the words “Electronically filed by the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento” followed by the date and time of filing and the printed name of the court clerk. Electronically filed documents so endorsed carry the same force and effect as a manually affixed endorsement stamp with the clerk’s signature and initials. (H) Payment. All applicable filing fees shall be paid as a condition for electronically filing a document. Any applicable refunds shall be made in the same manner as fees were originally paid. (I) Waiver of Fees/Costs for Party in Forma Pauperis. The court will permit a party or attorney to file an application for waiver of court fees and costs, in lieu of requiring the payment of the filing fee, as part of the process involving the electronic filing of a document. The court will consider and determine the application in accordance with Government Code section 68511.3 and will not require the party or attorney to submit any documentation other than that set forth in Government Code section 68511.3. Nothing in this section requires the court to waive a filing fee that is not otherwise waivable. (J) Signed Documents. A party who electronically files a document represents that a signed copy of the document is in his or her possession or control. At any time after filing or service of an electronically filed document, the court, or any party to the action, may require the filing party to produce the signed copy of the electronically filed document. The demand shall be served on all other parties but shall not be filed with the court. (K) Change of Electronic Mail Address. An attorney, electronic service provider or in pro per party appearing whose electronic mail address changes while an action is pending shall serve and file written notice of the change of address. (Adopted 1/1/2013; revised 1/1/2016) 1.22 Responsibility for Errors in Electronically Filed Data. In those instances where a document is submitted for e-filing in conjunction with data imbedded in an XML header format (data which creates the filer’s information utilized by the court for initial and subsequent filings), the data in the header will be presumed to be correct and may be imported into the court’s database. The filing party shall be solely responsible for the accuracy of such data. In the event that an inaccuracy in the data is discovered subsequent to submission, any interested party may request that the data be corrected by filing a "Request for Correction" with the court. Such errors may be corrected without notice and shall not constitute an amended filing. There shall be no fee for filing a request for correction. (Adopted 1/1/2013) 1.23 Electronic Filing System Inquiries Inquiries, disputes or complaints regarding any aspect of the Electronic Filing System may be directed to: For Small Claims Cases Only: Small Claims Electronic Filing Help Desk 301 Bicentennial Circle Room 200 Sacramento, CA 95826 Telephone: (916) 875-7746 E-mail: scefile@saccourt.ca.gov For Limited Civil Unlawful Detainer Cases Only: Unlawful Detainer Electronic Filing Help Desk 301 Bicentennial Circle Room 200 Sacramento, CA 95826 Telephone: (916) 875-7746 E-mail: udefile@saccourt.ca.gov For Probate Cases Only: Probate Electronic Filing Help Desk 3341 Power Inn Road Room 214 Sacramento, CA 95826 Telephone: (916) 875-3400 For Domestic Violence and Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Cases Only: Domestic Violence and Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Electronic Filing Help Desk 3341 Power Inn Road Room 100 Sacramento, CA 95826 Telephone: (916) 875-3400 For Civil Limited and Unlimited Cases Only: Civil Limited and Unlimited Electronic Filing Help Desk 500 G Street Civil Division Sacramento, CA 95814 Telephone: (916) 874-5522 For Civil Harassment, Gun Violence, Workplace Violence, and School Violence Restraining Orders: Restraining Order Electronic Filing Help Desk 500 G Street Civil Division Sacramento, CA 95814 Telephone: (916) 874-5522 The court may implement and/or expand its use of electronic filing in case types not listed here. Additional information for these case types will be posted on the Court’s website. (Adopted 1/1/2013; Revised 1/1/2016, 1/1/2018, 1/1/2024, 1/1/2025, 7/1/2026) 1.24 Photographing, Recording, and Broadcasting in Courthouse Facilities. The procedures set forth herein have been developed for the protection and privacy of all, and to ensure the secure and efficient handling of judicial proceedings and business in the Superior Court, County of Sacramento. No photographing, recording, or broadcasting is permitted at any courthouse facility except as provided in California Rules of Court, rule 1.150 and this local rule. Additional special local rules further govern photographing, recording, or broadcasting at the Juvenile Courthouse, B.T. Collins Juvenile Center building, and the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse. (See Local Rules 6.02-6.09.) (A) Definitions (1) Courthouse facility means all court buildings and associated real property, including but not limited to: courtrooms, lobbies, front counter filing areas, juror lounges, cafeterias, restrooms, hallways, stairwells, and elevators. (2) Photographing, recording and broadcasting are specifically defined in California Rules of Court, rule 1.150(b), and those definitions apply to this rule. Device means any device capable of photographing, recording or broadcasting. (3) “Media” or “media agency” means any person or organization engaging in news gathering or reporting and includes any newspaper, radio or television station or network, news service, magazine, trade paper, in-house publication, professional journal, or other news-reporting or news-gathering agency. (4) “Media coverage” means any photographing, recording, or broadcasting by Media of court proceedings, and photographing or visually recording the interior of a courtroom or persons as they enter and exit a courtroom. (B) A member of the public, who is not Media, who seeks to photograph, or record in a courthouse facility must request and receive prior written permission by submitting a completed request form to the Public Information Office/Court Executive Office in a timely manner at 720 Ninth Street, Room 611 or by email at SSCPIO@saccourt.ca.gov to seek prior approvals. Public request forms, additional information and reference materials are available on the court’s website. (C) Upon submission of a public request form, the Public Information Officer will present the request to the Presiding Judge or responsible supervising judge assigned to the affected facility, and will promptly communicate any decision or orders by the judge to the requesting party. (D) Media or media agency seeking to perform Media coverage must strictly comply with California Rules of Court, rule 1.150(e), including the timely filing of a fully completed Judicial Council form MC-500 Media Request to Photograph, Record, or Broadcast, accompanied by a form MC-510 Order on Media Request to Permit Coverage. (E) Media or a media agency that intends to photograph, visually record, or broadcast from the interior of a Courthouse facility, other than Media coverage, must notify the Public Information Office describing the intended activity no less than 24 hours in advance of the intended activity. Such activities shall not be conducted in a manner that disrupts or interferes with a court proceeding, obstructs free travel in a public hallway or area, or otherwise impedes the Court’s business or personnel. The Presiding Judge, and their delegates, reserve the authority and discretion to restrict or prohibit photographing, recording, or broadcasting from the interior of a Courthouse facility, subject to a judge’s specific order permitting Media coverage within that judge’s courtroom pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 1.150. (F) Violation of this rule, or a related order of this court, may result in seizure of the violator’s device, and an order to destroy all prohibited recordings or photographs. Violations may also result in contempt proceedings and resulting punishment. (G) Law Enforcement Use of Body-Worn Cameras. (1) Definitions. For purposes of this rule: (a) “Body-worn camera” means an electronic device used to photograph or record the performance of a peace officer or security officer in the course of their official duties. (b) “Peace officer” has the meaning specified in Penal Code section 830. (c) “Security officer” is a uniformed officer employed by the sheriff’s department to provide court security. (2) Permitted Use. A peace officer or security officer may use a body-worn camera in a Courthouse facility to create a recording if the peace officer (i) is conducting an arrest, (ii) is assisting in an arrest, (iii) is interacting with an individual who is not complying with a command from the peace officer, security officer, or judicial officer (iv) is responding to an emergency situation, or (v) has received prior authorization from the Presiding Judge. (3) Limitations on activation of body-worn cameras: (a) If law enforcement or security personnel are present in a courthouse facility where juvenile matters are heard, they must comply with Welfare and Institutions Code section 827 and California Rules of Court, rule 5.552. Disclosure of juvenile court matter that was recorded pursuant to this rule must comply with Welfare and Institutions Code section 827 and California Rules of Court, rule 5.552. (b) Except as allowed in subsection (2), a peace officer or security officer may not use a body-worn camera in the Courthouse facility to create a recording. (Revised 1/1/2025) 1.25 Digital Evidence Policy. Parties presenting digital evidence must comport with the court’s Digital Evidence policy. The policy is located on the court’s website on the Exhibits webpage. (Adopted 1/1/2020; Revised 9/30/2021, 1/1/2025) 1.26 Community Engagement and Fairness Committee. The Presiding Judge shall appoint a standing committee that: (1) is composed of representative members of the court community; (2) sponsors and supports educational programs designed to eliminate unconscious and explicit biases within the court and legal communities; and (3) engages in regular outreach to the local community to learn about issues of importance to court users. (Adopted 1/1/2023) 1.27 Claims Filed Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (A) The caption page of the first pleading in any case that alleges one or more claims pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Pub. Res Code, §§ 21000, et seq.) must be labelled with the words “CEQA CASE.” (B) If one or more CEQA claims pertain to a “streamlined CEQA project” within the meaning of California Rules of Court, Rule 3.2220, the caption page must also state (1) the code sections under which the CEQA cause of action is litigated, and (2) “STREAMLINED CEQA PROJECT”. (See CRC Rule 3.2223). (C) At the time the pleading is filed, the person presenting the pleading for filing must notify the clerk processing the filing that the case is a CEQA case and, if warranted, that it is entitled to expedited review as a streamlined CEQA project. Once a notice of case assignment is generated, the petitioner must immediately deliver a courtesy copy of the pleading to the assigned department and contact the department clerk regarding scheduling a case management conference. (See CRC Rule 3.2226). (Adopted 1/1/2024; Revised 07/01/2024, 7/1/2026) 1.28 Use of AI by Counsel An attorney or self-represented party filing a brief, pleading, motion, or other document in this court must personally read and verify every citation contained therein before filing to ensure it is a valid citation that accurately supports the proposition for which it is cited. This requirement applies regardless of whether the citation was obtained through generative artificial intelligence, research services, or any other source. Violation of this rule may result in sanctions. (Adopted 7/1/2026)
CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL RULES 1.00 Citation and Effect of Rules. These Local Rules of Court apply to the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, and shall be known and cited as the "Local Rules for the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento." These rules shall be construed and applied in such a manner as to not conflict with statutes or California Rules of Court and shall be li
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-10-02 (California T3 Sacramento build 2026-10-02) from BenchPath custody ca/t3/ca-sacramento/rules/local-rules-eff-2026-07-01.pdf (3180294 bytes, sha256 587ca045cccb69dd5c0f85da27a3e78bff24c2596da618be9f066e5f6cbb5ff6; 196 pages; this chapter is pages 21 to 34) with the shared verbatim composer (v2 reflow): the running header (Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento) and the centred page numbers removed as chrome; the book's front matter (title page, the list of effective rules, the table of contents), index and forms list are finding aids and belong to no chapter card; lines reflowed into the court's paragraphs; proof 1 (whitespace-only) and proof 2 (same character multiset as the text layer minus chrome) pass. One documented layout fix (whitespace or line order only; the proofs hold): an inline enumeration in Rule 1.24(G)(2) rejoined.
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.