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Division Six (Juvenile Court Rules; Rules 6.1 to 6.4): the Juvenile Court Clerk’s Office at 1 Second Street, Watsonville, and the viewing of files; the confidentiality warning on juvenile court documents; motions with a proof of service; ex parte applications under California Rule of Court 3.1200; input on placement in a short-term residential therapeutic program on form JV-236, at least two court days before the hearing (Rule 6.1); dependency matters - the collaborative court, confidentiality, settlement conferences before every contested hearing, access to minors, the presence of children, attorneys with at least 12 hours of training and 8 hours of continuing education every year, client complaints, contested hearings, dependency mediation through Family Court Services, and the Mexican Consulate’s access to juvenile court records (Rule 6.2); the Court Appointed Special Advocate program (Rule 6.3); and juvenile justice attorneys' qualifications - 12 hours of training or 50% of practice, 8 hours of continuing education every year, and Judicial Council Form JV-700 (Rule 6.4).
California > Sixth Appellate District > Santa Cruz County > Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz
DIVISION SIX - JUVENILE COURT RULES Rule 6.1 GENERAL PROVISIONS Rule 6.1.01 Supplement to Statutes and Rules These local rules are intended to supplement state statutes which are principally found in the Welfare & Institutions Code. In addition, they supplement the California Rules of Court relating to Juvenile Court matters (see California Rule of Court 5.501). Unless otherwise expressly stated, all local rules of civil procedure apply to juvenile matters. These rules cover juvenile court law, but not juvenile traffic hearings or traffic hearing appeals. (Eff. 1/1/93) (Rev. 7/1/95) (Rev. 7/1/07) Rule 6.1.02 Judicial Administration (a) Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court. There shall be a Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court. (b) The Juvenile Court Clerk’s Office is located at 1 Second Street, Watsonville, California. (c) Viewing of Files. Juvenile court case files may be viewed in the Juvenile Court Clerk’s Office during regular court hours. Advance arrangements to review files must be made by calling 831-786-7200. (Eff. 1/1/93) (Rev. 7/1/00) (Rev. 1/1/08) (Rev. 1/1/11) Rule 6.1.03 Filing of Papers (a) All letters, documents and pleadings shall have an identifying case number and name. Motions should indicate court date. Documents related to juvenile matters shall be filed in the Watsonville Courthouse. All juvenile court documents and pleadings except documents filed under Welfare & Institutions Code §§ 903.4 and 730.7 must include the following warning on the face of the document: Confidential Document! By Court order, these documents are confidential. If you copy, distribute, or disclose these records, you may be subject to contempt of Court. (b) Documents filed and/or recorded under Welfare & Institutions Code § 903.4 shall not name the minor in the document. (c) Original pleadings must be submitted for each individual file. Siblings or co-participants are not considered one file unless ordered consolidated by the Court; therefore, original documents must be submitted for each case. (d) Juvenile restitution orders enforceable as civil judgments under Welfare & Institutions Code § 730.6 shall be filed in the Watsonville Courthouse. (Eff. 1/1/93) (Rev. 7/1/00) (Rev. 1/1/11) Rule 6.1.04 Motions No noticed motion shall be accepted by the Clerk unless it is accompanied by a proof of service. (Eff. 1/1/93) Rule 6.1.05 Motions for Continuances [REVOKED] (Eff. 1/1/93) (Rev. 07/1/07) (Rev. 01/1/15) (Revoked. 1/1/25) Rule 6.1.06 Applications for Ex Parte Orders (a) Ex parte matters are governed by California Rule of Court 3.1200. (b) Dependency ex parte matters shall be presented to the Watsonville Courthouse for processing. (c) Juvenile Justice ex parte matters shall be presented to the Juvenile Court Judge. Attorneys and/or parties requesting an order must make an appointment with the Court at least 24 hours in advance. (Eff. 1/1/93) (Rev. 7/1/00) (Rev 7/1/07) (Rev. 1/1/11) (Rev. 7/1/19) Rule 6.1.07 Disclosure of Juvenile Related Documents Disclosure of juvenile related documents is governed by Welfare & Institutions Code § 827. (Eff. 7/1/95) (Rev. 1/1/09) Rule 6.1.08 Input on Placement in Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (a) When a request for review of placement in a short-term residential therapeutic program is filed by a Probation Officer or Social Worker an objection or input may be filed by the people specified in California Rule of Court 5.618 (e). (b) Any objection or input must be made using Judicial Council form Input on Placement in Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (JV-236). 1. The form must be completed, served, and filed at least two court days before the scheduled hearing. Service must be made on all parties listed in CRC 5.618 (b). 2. Proof of service can be made using Judicial Council form Proof of Service – Juvenile (JV-510) or any other document that clearly indicates who was served, how they were served and the date of service. (c) If any party filing an objection or input is self-represented and service has not been completed properly, the clerk will complete proper service. (Effective 7/1/22) Rule 6.2 DEPENDENCY MATTERS Rule 6.2.00 Collaborative Court Unless there is a contested issue of fact or law, dependency proceedings must be conducted in a non-adversarial manner, California Rule of Court 5.534. (Eff. 1/1/09) Rule 6.2.01 Confidentiality Dependency matters are confidential proceedings, and therefore the public must not be admitted to a juvenile court hearing. The Court may permit those whom the Court deems to have a direct and legitimate interest in the case or in the work of the Court. Welfare & Institutions Code § 346, and California Rules of Court 5.530 and 5.534. (Eff. 1/1/93) (Rev. 7/1/98) (Rev. 1/1/09) Rule 6.2.02 Settlement Conferences (a) Settlement conferences shall be held prior to every contested hearing, unless there has been a previous mediation or unless expressly deemed unnecessary by the judicial officer setting the contested hearing. (b) The trial attorneys shall be present at the settlement conference and shall be authorized to make decisions on behalf of their clients. (c) Prior to the settlement conference the parties or their attorneys shall meet in order to determine the issues to be tried and any areas of agreement. (Eff.1/1/93) (Rev. 7/98) (Renumbered 1/1/09) Rule 6.2.03 Access to Minors (a) No party or attorney in a dependency proceeding shall interview the minor about the events relating to the allegations in the petition(s) on file without permission of the minor's attorney or Court order. (b) All dependency investigators in Child Protective Services, all attorneys representing parties in a dependency case in which child abuse has been alleged and other participants in the case, including a child advocate, shall attempt to minimize the number of interviews they take of the minor relating to the events surrounding the alleged abuse. To this end anyone wishing to learn facts about the alleged incident shall first review the comprehensive interview taken by the investigating officer. (Eff. 1/1/93) (Renumbered 1/1/09) Rule 6.2.04 Calendar Priority Cases in which children are present shall be given priority on the Court’s calendar, whenever possible. (Eff. 1/1/09) (Rev. 1/1/25) Rule 6.2.05 Presence of Child in Court (a) All children are entitled to attend court hearings. Every child four (4) years or older shall be told of their right to attend court hearings by the investigating/supervising probation officer/social worker. (b) No child shall be brought to court solely for the child to confer with their attorney or for a visit with a parent, relative or friend. (c) If the child is present, the judicial officer hearing the case may view and speak with the child. (Eff. 1/1/93) (Renumbered 1/1/09) (Rev. 1/1/24) Rule 6.2.06 Appointment of Attorneys: Screening and Training (Welfare & Institutions Code § 317.6; Cal. Rule of Court 5.660) Attorneys who are appointed to represent parties in dependency matters must have completed at least 12 hours of training or education in the area of juvenile dependency. The Judge of the Dependency Court shall screen attorneys before they are appointed and make a determination of competency based upon the minimum standard for training and experience as outlined herein. (Eff. 7/1/96) (Rev. 7/1/07) (Renumbered 1/1/09) (Rev. 7/1/17) Rule 6.2.07 All Attorneys: Qualifications and Continuing Education (Welfare & Institutions Code § 317.5, California Rule of Court 5.660) (a) Every attorney who represents a party in dependency matters must be competent and have training or education in the area of juvenile dependency law. Retained counsel who has not practiced in dependency law must complete the required initial education within sixty days of their first appearance in a case and complete a Declaration of Eligibility for Representation in Dependency Court form provided by the Santa Cruz Superior Court and submit it to the dependency court judge. (b) Every attorney who represents a party in dependency matters, including appointed counsel, must, every year thereafter, complete at least 8 hours of continuing education related to dependency proceedings. (c) Attorneys must submit proof of compliance by completing a Declaration of Eligibility for Representation in a Dependency Court form provided by the Santa Cruz Superior Court and submit it to the dependency court judge upon initial appearance, and then, every three years. (Eff. 7/1/96) (Rev. 7/1/00) (Renumbered 1/1/09) (Rev. 1/1/11) (Rev. 7/1/17) Rule 6.2.08 Client Complaints When counsel is appointed in a dependency matter, complaints or questions by a party against may be submitted to the dependency judge orally on the record or in writing. Written complaints regarding the performance of an attorney will be reviewed by the Juvenile Court, and, if appropriate, may be set for hearing. (Eff. 7/1/96) (Renumbered & Revised 1/1/09) Rule 6.2.09 Procedures in Contested Matters (a) All contested hearings including jurisdictional/dispositional hearing, six month, twelve month or eighteen month reviews shall be set in dependency court. (b) At the time the contested hearing is set the parties shall agree on the record to dates for exchange of discovery and witness lists prior to the trial date. (c) No continuance shall be granted that is contrary to the interest of the minor. In considering the minor’s interests, the Court shall give substantial weight to a minor’s need for stability and prompt resolution of custody status, and the damage to a minor of prolonged temporary placements. Continuances shall be granted only upon a showing of good cause and only for that period of time shown to be necessary. Welfare & Institutions Code § 352, California Rule of Court 5.550. (Eff. 7/1/96) (Rev. 7/1/00) (Renumbered 1/1/09) (Rev. 7/1/13) (Rev. 7/1/22) Rule 6.2.10 Dependency Mediation (Welfare & Institutions Code § 350) Dependency matters may be set for confidential mediation to develop a plan in the best interest of the child. (a) Upon the request of any party or upon the Court’s own motion a case may be referred for mediation. (b) The party requesting mediation shall complete the mediation referral and report form and submit it to the juvenile court clerk at the time the referral is made. (c) The mediation shall be confidential and shall be conducted by trained and neutral mediators through Family Court Services. Parties and counsel for all parties shall attend the mediation except that participation by the minor shall be at the mediators’ discretion. (d) If the case does not resolve at mediation, the case will be set on the next dependency court calendar to schedule the contested hearing. (Eff. 7/01/98) (Renumbered 1/1/09) (Rev. 1/1/11) Rule 6.2.11 Mexican Consulate’s Access to Juvenile Court Records (a) The persons and agencies designated in Welfare & Institutions Code §§ 362.5, 827, and 827.10 will be given access to juvenile court records as provided by statute. In addition, the Mexican Consulate, and Consulate staff members working on behalf of the Mexican Consulate, may have access to juvenile court records when seeking the records of a child who is in protective custody and/or is before the court for a dependency action, and one of the following conditions apply: 1. The child is a Mexican national, 2. The child has a parent who is a Mexican national, or 3. The child has relatives (as defined in Welfare & Institutions Code § 319) who are Mexican nationals. (b) The Mexican Consulate may receive access and/or photocopies of juvenile court records, without prior court order, if the conditions in section (a) are met. Persons receiving records under this rule must not disclose such records to another person or agency unless authorized to do so by the Juvenile Court. Any unauthorized disclosure may be punishable as provided by applicable laws. (c) For purposes of this rule, “juvenile court records” include a petition filed in a juvenile court proceeding, reports of the social worker, and all other documents filed in that case or made available to the social worker, or to the judge, or other hearing officer, and thereafter retained by the social worker, judge, or other hearing officer. (Eff. 1/1/17) (Rev. 1/1/24) Rule 6.2.12 Extended Visits [REVOKED] (Eff. 7/1/24) (Revoked 1/1/25) Rule 6.3 COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE PROGRAM (CASA) (Welfare & Institutions Code § 356.5 and California Rule of Court 5.655) Rule 6.3.01 The Advocate Program The Superior Court may appoint child advocates to represent the interests of dependent children. In order to qualify for appointment, the child advocate must be trained by and function under the auspices of a Court Appointed Special Advocate program, formed and operating under the guidelines established by the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association. (Welfare & Institutions Code § 356.5) (Eff. 1/1/93) (Rev. 1/1/09) Rule 6.3.02 Child Advocates (Welfare & Institutions Code § 102) (a) An advocate is an officer of the Court and shall be sworn in by a Superior Court Judge/Commissioner before beginning their duties. (b) Advocates' functions. Advocates serve at the pleasure of the Court having jurisdiction over the proceeding in which the advocate has been appointed. In general, an advocate's functions are as follows: 4. Provide independent factual information to the Court regarding the appointed case(s); 5. To communicate the child's needs and desires to the Court in written reports and oral recommendations. The CASA Program will proofread, sign and submit all required Court reports and documents via the online Court portal system and provide a courtesy copy in the Court portal system to County Counsel, Parents Counsel, Minors Counsel, and Family and Children’s Services Social Worker(s) within two days of the Court hearing for which the report was prepared. For youth designated as a non-minor dependent, reports will be provided to Counsel for the non-minor dependent and County Counsel; 6. To the fullest extent possible, to communicate and coordinate efforts with the case manager (probation officer/social worker) the advocate, case manager, child's attorney, attorneys for parents, relatives, foster parents and any therapist for the child, and teachers or educators. 7. Monitor the case to assure that Court’s orders have been fulfilled. (c) Advocates may only be present in court for cases in which they are appointed. (Eff. 1/1/93) (Rev. 1/1/09) (Rev. 7/1/18) (Rev. 1/1/24) (Rev. 1/1/25) Rule 6.4 JUVENILE JUSTICE MATTERS Rule 6.4.01 All Attorneys: Qualifications and Continuing Education (Welfare & Institutions Code § 634.3, California Rule of Court 5.664) (a) Every attorney representing a party in juvenile justice matters, whether appointed, hired as private counsel, or assigned must be competent and have training, education or experience in juvenile justice law. This requirement may be satisfied by either: 1. Completing a minimum of 12 hours of training or education in the areas of law listed in California Rule of Court 5.664(b)(2); OR 2. Dedicating 50% of counsel’s practice each year during the most recent three calendar years to juvenile justice with demonstrated competency. (b) Every attorney representing a party in juvenile justice matters must, every year thereafter, complete at least 8 hours of continuing education related to juvenile justice proceedings pursuant to California Rule of Court 5.664(c). (c) Attorneys must prove compliance by submitting Judicial Council Form JV-700, Declaration of Eligibility for Appointment to Represent Youth in Delinquency Court it to the juvenile justice court judge upon initial appearance, and then, every three years according to the MCLE reporting cycle. (Eff. 7/1/17) (Rev. 7/1/19)
DIVISION SIX - JUVENILE COURT RULES Rule 6.1 GENERAL PROVISIONS Rule 6.1.01 Supplement to Statutes and Rules These local rules are intended to supplement state statutes which are principally found in the Welfare & Institutions Code. In addition, they supplement the California Rules of Court relating to Juvenile Court matters (see California Rule of Court 5.501). Unless otherwise expressly stated,
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-10-07 (California T4 Santa Cruz build 2026-10-07) from BenchPath custody ca/t4/ca-santa-cruz/docs/local-rules/santa-cruz-superior-court-local-rules-court-july-1-2026-final.pdf (1421611 bytes, sha256 a997ec993bbbd5c2534a1f92b30961a0c2586b4bbd601a165d1ba05a75622910; 175 pages; this division's rules are pages 101 to 109) with the shared verbatim composer (v2 reflow). The running header (Superior Court of California; County of Santa Cruz; Local Rules July 1, 2026) and the page numbers removed as chrome; the cover, the navigation note, the table of contents, Appendix A (the list of rules with their histories), Appendix B (the list of local forms) and the index belong to no card; the strike report found no struck text; lines reflowed into the court's paragraphs, each rule heading and history note on its own line; proof 1 (whitespace-only) and proof 2 (same character multiset as the text layer minus chrome) pass. The book prints its list labels as images: 51 labels set before the lines they label from their placements on the pages (build/labels.py; each placement labelled once, the composer's characters unchanged). Documented layout fixes (read on the page; the proofs hold): history notes printed on two lines set as one paragraph each. Review note: The list labels (“(a)”, “1.” ...) print as images in the rule book, not as text; each is set before the line it labels from its placement on the page (build/labels.py; every placement in the division labelled once). Published as printed: Rule 6.3.02(b) numbers its four items 4. to 7. (read on the page, review/render/p108-labels-check.png).
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.