Loading…
Rules 100 to 302: the clerks' offices and telephone lines open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, excluding weekends and holidays, drop boxes at each court location except the Juvenile court for papers and fines deposited after 4:00 p.m. and before 5:00 p.m., file stamped the date deposited, any document received electronically between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59:59 p.m. on a court day deemed filed that court day, and no coin accepted for payment (100); the rules adopted under Code of Civil Procedure section 575.1, a loose-leaf copy for $10.00 (101); amendments under California Rules of Court, rule 10.613 (102); sanctions for failure to comply, from dropping the matter to costs and attorney fees (103); all persons entering a court facility subject to search, no firearms, explosives, weapons or pepper spray (104); no gang clothing or gang-related personal property in any courthouse (105); electronic devices silenced or turned off while court is in session unless the court grants leave, a written Request for Permission to Use Electronic Device, and use at counsel table for calendaring (106); no photographing or recording in any court facility absent written order from the Presiding Judge (106.1); law enforcement body cameras not activated in a court facility without the Presiding Judge's prior authorization (106.2); smoking only in designated outdoor areas and food and drinks barred from public hallways and waiting areas, with exceptions for summoned jurors, staff and meal deliveries (107); CourtCall telephonic appearances requested from CourtCall no later than five court days before the hearing, with notice to the court and the other parties (108); the public defender appointed for parties without funds in criminal, juvenile and conservatorship cases (109); a lien for waived court fees on any money recovered in a civil case except family law and unlawful detainer, the court notified within five days of a settlement (113); filing through a fax filing agency only, no direct fax filing (114); official court reporters normally provided in felony trials and hearings, Lanterman-Petris-Short Act proceedings and juvenile calendars, not in limited civil, misdemeanor or infraction cases nor normally in unlimited civil, probate and family law cases except contempt, parties arranging and paying a certified reporter, a reporter for a fee waiver recipient under rule 2.956, and electronic recording when no reporter is available (115); transcripts filed electronically via YesLaw or another approved vendor (115.1); the court's record viewing and copying policy and the public's own equipment under Government Code section 68150 (116); electronic filing in the actions the court's electronic filing page lists (117); ability-to-pay determinations for Vehicle Code infractions through the online tool or in person (119); civil assessments reduced by the collections clerk to $100.00 if the delinquent fine is paid within forty-five (45) days, $150.00 within 46-60 days and $200.00 within 61-90 days, none after ninety (90) days (120); a presiding judge selected for a term of two years (200); all-purpose assignment of limited civil, unlimited civil and family law matters on filing, challenges under section 170.6(a)(2) within 15 days, juvenile matters assigned for all purposes on filing by the Judicial Assignments Order, misdemeanor cases assigned for all purposes with challenges within 10 days, and felony trial judges designated by alphabet with challenges within 10 days after the defendant is held to answer (201); commissioners and referees acting as judge pro tem by stipulation, members of the State Bar for not less than 10 years (203); attorneys sitting as judge pro tem under rules 2.810-2.819 (204); complaints against court employees in writing to the Chief Executive Officer and against judicial officers to the presiding judge or the Commission on Judicial Performance (207); the business of the court assigned by the Judicial Assignments Order issued on or about July 1st of each year and a daily calendar posted outside each courtroom, the names of parties in adoption, juvenile and mental capacity matters kept confidential (300); and a good faith attempt to resolve a matter before setting it, hearing dates cleared and reserved with the calendar clerk before notice is filed or served, civil case management conferences under Rule 600 and family law conferences under Rule 906, and attorneys avoiding more than two hearings at the same time (301)
CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE COURT Rule 100 - Hours of Operation; Coin Will Not Be Accepted For Payment The clerks' offices and telephone lines will remain open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, excluding weekends and holidays. Drop boxes are installed in each court location except the Juvenile court to facilitate deposit of papers and fines after 4:00 p.m. and before 5:00 p.m. The d
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-10-14 (California T4 Tulare build 2026-10-14) from BenchPath custody ca/t4/ca-tulare/docs/local-rules/remediated-local-rules-effective-70126.pdf (the court's rule book, its first page “(Revised 07/01/2026) TULARE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT LOCAL RULES”, as fetched 2026-10-14; 1062132 bytes, sha256 be58dbaab3a00c40a0d8449761c1841880e50c19a0a04177d0200d6d3115984d; 138 pages; this part PDF pages 25 to 34, printed pages 25 to 34) with the shared verbatim composer (v2 reflow): the rules (PDF pages 25 to 104) composed as one text and cut at the chapter headings (“CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE COURT” to “CHAPTER 12 - PROCEEDINGS FOR COMMITMENT OF PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ...”, Chapters 1 to 3, 4 and 5, and 6 and 7 joined) and, in Chapters 9, 10 and 11, at a rule or part heading (“Rule 920 - Custody Evaluations”; “PART THREE. Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS) Conservatorships”, “PART FOUR. Compensation of Fiduciaries and Attorneys”; “Rule 1114 - Inspection and Disclosure of Juvenile Court Records (Omitted 07/01/26)”), each matched once as a whole line; every page's footer (“(Revised 07/01/2026)”, named, and its printed page number, “25” to “104”) removed as chrome - 160 chrome lines; lines reflowed into the rules' paragraphs, each chapter heading, rule heading and lettered or numbered subdivision starting a line; the strike report (review/strike-report-2026-10-14.txt) finds one struck run in the book, a single space on PDF page 131 (the standing orders), no character; 1 whitespace-only fix (build/book-fixes.json: Rule 1059(h)(1)'s inline list of the factors for fiduciary fees, broken at the foot of PDF page 86, rejoined); the vertical-gap, short-line, page-break, false-break, structural-break and row-join audits (review/book-gap-audit-2026-10-14.txt, review/book-short-lines-2026-10-14.txt, review/book-extra-audits-2026-10-14.txt) list candidates read one by one (build/book_fixes.py) - the rest kept as printed; proof 1 (whitespace-only) and proof 2 (same character multiset as the text layer minus chrome) pass. The cover (PDF page 1), the contents (2 to 8), the list of local forms (9 to 15), the table of rule modifications (16 to 24), the appendices that are forms (105 to 115, Appendix 8 apart) and the subject matter index (133 to 138) belong to no card. Review note: The court's proposed Local Rules effective January 1, 2027 (public comment to November 15, 2026) are held: proposed, not adopted (they modify Rules 115, 207, 704 and 1003 and three local forms). Rule 120 (01/01/2019) has the collections clerk reduce a civil assessment to $100.00, $150.00 or $200.00 by when the delinquent fine is paid; Penal Code section 1214.1, as amended effective July 1, 2022, caps a civil assessment at $100 - the review task asks the court whether Rule 120's $150.00 and $200.00 tiers remain in use. The General Information page (held) says “an official court reporter will normally be available in all departments with the exception of small claims, traffic, trials de novo, and judgment debtor examinations” and that the court “provides interpreters for Criminal, Traffic, Juvenile, and Domestic violence cases”; Rule 115 provides reporters normally only in felony, Lanterman-Petris-Short Act and juvenile proceedings, and the Court Interpreters page (carded) lists the civil priorities. Rule 201 assigns juvenile matters by “the alphabetical assignment specified in the court’s Judicial Assignments Order”; the Judicial Assignments page (carded) assigns North County delinquency cases by even and odd case numbers - a review task on that card.
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.
California > Fifth Appellate District > Tulare County > Superior Court of California, County of Tulare
CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE COURT Rule 100 - Hours of Operation; Coin Will Not Be Accepted For Payment The clerks' offices and telephone lines will remain open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, excluding weekends and holidays. Drop boxes are installed in each court location except the Juvenile court to facilitate deposit of papers and fines after 4:00 p.m. and before 5:00 p.m. The documents placed in the drop box before 5:00 p.m. will be file stamped on the date deposited in the drop box. Any document received electronically by the court between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59:59 p.m. on a court day shall be deemed filed on that court day. Any document that is received electronically on a noncourt day shall be deemed filed on the next court day. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1010.6, subd. (b)(3); Cal. Rules of Court, rules 2.252 and 2.253.) The court will not accept coin for payment. It is recognized that payment of coin to the court negatively impacts efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The court executive officer is the clerk of the court and a duly authorized officer of the court, and in accordance with the provisions of Government Code section 24353, a court officer, together with his/her deputies, is not required to accept any payment tendered by coin. (07/01/00) (Revised 01/01/07, 01/01/10, 07/01/11, 01/01/20, 07/01/22, 07/01/25) Rule 101 - Objectives and Availability of Local Rules The Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules are adopted pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 575.1. These rules set forth specific local policies and procedures and are intended to promote the efficient disposition of the business of the court. The rules are intended to augment, not restate or summarize, California Rules of Court, existing statutes, or applicable case law. The rules, although binding on attorneys and support personnel, may be departed from in the sound discretion of the court. Any judge may dispense with strict compliance with any provision of these rules in the interest of justice and upon a showing of good cause. A loose-leaf version of these rules is available for purchase from the superior court clerk’s office at the price of $10.00. They are also available on the court’s website at https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov. (01/01/03) (Revised 01/01/07, 01/01/16, 07/01/25) Rule 102 - Amendment of Rules The court periodically reviews Local Rules for their continuing necessity and consistency with statewide rules and statutes. Amendments to Local Rules are considered and adopted by the court in accordance with the requirements of California Rules of Court, rule 10.613. Procedures related to the internal management of the court may be adopted from time to time and are not required to comply with Rule 10.613. (07/01/00) (Revised 01/01/07, 01/01/16) Rule 103 - Sanctions Failure to comply with these rules may result in one or more of the following actions: (a) An order dropping the matter from the calendar; (b) An order continuing the matter; (c) An order based solely on the pleadings properly before the court; (d) A noticed motion by the court or any party to strike all or part of the pleading, to dismiss all or part of the action, to enter default judgment, to impose any lesser penalties provided by law, and/or to award reasonable costs, including attorney fees pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure sections 128.7, 177.5, or 575.2; Family Code section 271; Government Code section 68608(b); or California Rules of Court, rules 2.30 and 5.546(j). (e) Other orders as the court deems appropriate under the circumstances. (07/01/97) (Revised 01/01/07, 07/01/25) Rule 104 - Weapons and Oleoresin Capsicum (Pepper Spray) All persons entering a Tulare County court facility are subject to search by court security personnel. No firearms, explosives, weapons, or pepper spray will be permitted within any court facility. Other items determined to pose a safety hazard may also be excluded as determined by security personnel. The firearm exclusion applies to persons who are holders of a concealed weapons permit, but is not applicable to peace officers or judicial officers who are in the performance of their official duties. (07/01/97) (Revised 01/01/07, 01/01/16) Rule 105 - Gang-Related Clothing and Personal Property No person will wear gang clothing or possess gang-related personal property while on the premises of any courthouse. This will include gang insignias, monikers, color patterns, bandannas, hats, jewelry, clothing, belts, or any other clothing or personal property with any gang significance. Any person identified by courthouse security personnel or law enforcement as wearing or possessing any item of property in violation of this rule will be asked to remove the property or themselves from the courthouse. Any such property is also subject to confiscation as contraband. Violation of this order is punishable as contempt pursuant to Penal Code section 166 (maximum penalty of six months in county jail, a $500 fine, or both). Any person who resists any courthouse security or law enforcement request to comply with this rule can be punished pursuant to Penal Code section 148 (maximum penalty of one year in county jail, $1,000 fine, or both). (01/01/03) (Revised 01/01/07) Rule 106 - Electronic Devices in Courtroom In accordance with California Rules of Court, rule 1.150 and the California Code of Judicial Ethics, Canon 3(B)(3), the Tulare County Superior Court establishes the following policy regarding the use of cell phones, blue tooth ear pieces, cameras, eyeglasses or sunglasses capable of video or audio recording, prescription or non-prescription, and other portable electronic devices (hereinafter “electronic devices” or “devices”) in the courtroom. Any use of an electronic device while court is in session is prohibited unless the party seeking to use such device is granted leave by the court to do so. Unless permission is granted to use a device, all such devices must be silenced or turned off while court is in session. A judge may require a party and/or counsel requesting permission to use an electronic device to complete in writing a form entitled “Request for Permission to Use Electronic Device” available on the Local Forms (miscellaneous) page of the Court’s web site at: https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov. Parties and/or counsel at counsel table may use such devices for calendaring purposes (e.g. to check for available hearing dates) while court is in session without leave by the court. Court personnel (e.g. bailiffs, clerks, and/or interpreters) may use such devices if this use is in the ordinary course of their duties with the courts. Any use of electronic devices in contravention of this policy may result in the imposition of lawful penalties and sanctions including a contempt of court citation. Nothing in this policy limits the court’s authority to impose other reasonable limitations on use of these devices to maintain conditions conducive to the orderly conduct of court proceedings. (07/01/97) (Revised 01/01/07, 07/01/09, 01/01/10, 01/01/14, 07/01/17, 01/01/2021, 07/01/2025) Rule 106.1 - Electronic Recording Devices in Courthouse Facilities Any and all “photographing” and/or “recording” of people, things, conversations, or proceedings is strictly prohibited in any court or court related facility, including, but not limited to clerks’ offices, stairways, elevators, waiting areas, hallways, entrances, security screening stations, service areas, through windows, through doors, and with respect to any other accessible areas of court facilities, whether access was intended or not, absent written order from the Presiding Judge. Any device that appears capable of photographing, recording, or broadcasting is subject to confiscation. Media requests for an exception to this restriction may be submitted in accordance with California Rules of Court Rule 1.150(e). (07/01/17) Rule 106.2 - Use of Law Enforcement Body Cameras Prohibited in Courthouse Court users, primarily participants in various legal proceedings, have a reasonable privacy interest in their activities within the courthouse. Generally, law enforcement officers are precluded from recording communications without the consent of the parties to the communication. Penal Code 632. Law enforcement personnel participating in court proceedings would not likely have cause to activate a body worn camera while in the courthouse. Under California Rules of Court rule 1.150, the court has broad authority to regulate use of recording devices in the courthouse. See also Superior Court v. County of Mendocino (1996) 13 Cal.4th 45. The court regularly makes use of video technology to enable parties, including in-custody defendants, to appear remotely for a variety of court proceedings. Remote appearances may, in some cases, originate from jail facilities under the control of law enforcement agencies. Based on the foregoing, body-worn cameras utilized by law enforcement agencies may not be activated within any court or court related facility without prior authorization by the Presiding Judge. To the extent jail facilities being used for remote video appearances may be considered court related facilities, law enforcement personnel are authorized to use and activate body-worn cameras while transporting inmates to and from the hearing location in jail facilities for remote video appearances by in-custody defendants. Officers assigned to court security duties shall not carry body-worn cameras in any court or court related facility. Such officers are authorized to use body-worn cameras while transporting inmates to and from video hearings located in jail facilities. No other use of body-worn cameras in court and court related facilities is permitted without prior authorization by the Presiding Judge. (07/01/17), (Revised 01/01/21, 07/01/2025) Rule 107 - Smoking, Food, & Drinks (a) Smoking is prohibited in all court facilities except for designated outdoor smoking areas. (b) Food and drinks are prohibited in all public hallways and public waiting areas of all court facilities, except as follows: (1) Prospective jurors, summoned by the court to report for jury service, may bring one (1) soft plastic, factory-sealed water bottle of 20 ounces or less and/or one (1) clear, empty, non-metal refillable bottle. Summoned jurors may also bring small snack items and/or lunch bags. Lunch bags may be subject to search at the discretion of court security; (2) Court and/or county staff are exempt from this rule; (3) Exceptions may be granted by the presiding judge, or his or her designee, for meal delivery services. All meal deliveries are subject to search by court security staff. (07/01/97) (Revised 07/01/00, 01/01/07, 01/01/14, 07/01/25) Rule 108 - CourtCall Telephonic Appearance of Counsel/Parties Contact CourtCall at 888-882-6878, no later than five court days prior to the hearing, and give notice to the court and other parties of your plans to appear telephonically. (a) General Information - The CourtCall Telephonic Appearance Program (“CourtCall”) organizes a procedure for telephonic appearance by attorneys and/or parties as a reasonable alternative to personal appearance in appropriate cases and situations. CourtCall is fully voluntary, and no attorney is required to utilize CourtCall if he/she would rather make a personal appearance. CourtCall is available at a reasonable fixed fee to use when circumstances are appropriate. The party wishing to appear telephonically must check with the clerk of the department to see if the judicial officer in charge of that department allows a telephonic appearance. (b) Request for Permission and Notice - As stated above, the request to appear telephonically must be made directly to CourtCall at 888-882-6878, no later than five court days prior to the hearing. The party must give notice to the court and other parties of their plans to appear telephonically. All participants in CourtCall agree to abide by the rules of CourtCall, which they may obtain from CourtCall, and to pay in advance as required by CourtCall, directly to CourtCall. No cellular telephone may be used. The participant must call from a quiet place in order to hear, and be heard, without disruption to the court. (c) The court reserves the right, at any time, to reject any request for CourtCall appearance. When the court rejects a request, it will order a refund of deposited telephonic appearance fees and notify CourtCall. (01/01/03) (Revised 01/01/07) Rule 109 - Appointment of Counsel In all criminal, juvenile, and conservatorship cases where the defendant or party is without funds to employ counsel, the court will, in each instance, appoint the office of the public defender. When the public defender is unable to represent the defendant or party, the court will appoint counsel. All such appointments will be made, when possible, in accord with any existing county contract for the processing of alternative defense counsel. (07/01/97) (Revised 01/01/07) Rule 110 - Court Order to Deposit Money with Clerk of Superior Court In any civil matter in which either party is required by statute or court order to deposit money with the clerk of the superior court pending the outcome of the matter, the party will be responsible for keeping the clerk of the superior court advised of his/her current address. If a party fails to maintain a current address with the court, the party may not receive notice that the deposit is considered abandoned by the clerk of the superior court. (01/01/03) (Revised 01/01/07) Rule 111 - Jurors When a jury trial is held in a superior courthouse, other than one located in the county seat, the names for the master jury list and the qualified jury list for that trial may be selected from the area in which the trial is held. Nothing in this section precludes the court, in its discretion, from ordering a countywide venire in the interest of justice. Seated jurors will be issued a badge or other insignia identifying them as members of a trial jury. Jurors are to wear these badges at all times while present in the courthouse. As far as is practicable, jurors are to spend their recesses in the jury room or jury assembly room. A juror should not visit other courtrooms while a member of a trial jury. If the jury is taken to lunch or dinner during deliberations, the bailiff will be responsible for the conduct of the jury. Jurors must not consume any alcoholic beverage during deliberations. Jurors are to comply with all instructions given by the trial judge. (01/01/03) (Revised 01/01/07) Rule 112 - Proposed Jury Instructions and Verdict Forms (Omitted 01/01/09) Rule 113 - Reimbursement of Waived Fees Pursuant to Government Code section 68630 and 68637 and California Rules of Court, rule 3.57, there will be a standing order of this court that a lien exists on any money recovered by an applicant in any civil case who has had the court fees waived, except family law and unlawful detainer. If any money is received by the applicant by means of settlement or judgment, all waived fees and costs must be reimbursed to the court before the case will be dismissed. It will be the responsibility of the litigant proceeding with a fee waiver, or the attorneys if any party is represented, to notify the court within five days of any settlement or monetary consideration received in settlement or judgment by the litigant. The applicant, or his/her attorney, must see that the court’s fees and costs are reimbursed prior to any disbursement to the attorney, or the client, based upon the court’s lien. The amount of the lien can be obtained upon demand from the clerk of the court. The court may exercise any of the remedies as outlined in Government Code section 68637 to collect these fees. (07/01/00) (Revised 01/01/07, 07/01/11) Rule 114 - Fax Filing The Tulare County Superior Court will accept documents filed by a fax filing agency in accordance with the provisions of California Rules of Court, rule 2.303. The court does not have a system in place for direct fax filing, and therefore documents may not be directly faxed filed. (01/01/03) (Revised 01/01/07) Rule 115 - Court Reporters The ongoing shortage of court reporters statewide is a crisis that poses dynamic challenges to this court’s ability to reliably provide the services of an official court reporter in many cases, as the services of court reporters available at the court are very limited. Parties are encouraged to check the court’s website at https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/ for current announcements and information on the court’s official court reporter and electronic recording policies. (a) The court normally provides official court reporters in all felony trials and hearings, all proceedings under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, and all juvenile calendars. (b) The court does not normally provide official court reporters for limited civil, misdemeanor or infraction cases. Misdemeanor proceedings and contempt actions in family law matters shall be electronically recorded. (c) Unless otherwise noted on the court’s website, the court does not normally provide court reporters for the following case types: (1) Unlimited civil; (2) Probate, including guardianships; and (3) Family law, except contempt actions. (d) Parties desiring a court reporter in a case in which the court cannot provide one will need to make arrangements to have a certified court reporter available well in advance of the scheduled hearing date(s), either from the court’s approved list of qualified reporters or using the procedures specified by statute and the Rules of Court (see Government Code section 70044 and California Rule of Court 2.956). It is a party’s responsibility to arrange for and pay the outside reporter’s fee for attendance at the proceedings, but the expense may be recoverable as part of the costs, as provided by law. (e) If a party to a case type described in subdivision (c) above has been granted a fee waiver, the party may request a court reporter pursuant to California Rule of Court 2.956, subdivisions (c)(2), on the forms and pursuant to the timelines set forth in that rule. In accordance with California Rule of Court 2.956, subdivision (c)(2), an official reporter will be provided by the court if the fee waiver has been granted and the court is not electronically recording the proceeding as long as the request is made in a timely manner. (f) In appropriate circumstances when an official court reporter is unavailable for the proceedings in a case described in subdivision (c), the court may order the courtroom clerk to operate the department’s approved electronic recording equipment to record the proceedings in accordance with California Rule of Court 2.952. Litigants in cases where electronic recording is used to make a verbatim record of the proceedings are advised that, to provide an appellate court with a record of oral proceedings that were electronically recorded, the party seeking to provide such record will need to follow appropriate procedures to use an alternate form of the record of the oral proceedings instead of a reporter’s transcript as provided under the applicable California Rules of Court and other applicable law. (See e.g., California Rules of Court 8.134 [agreed statement in civil appeals], 8.137 [agreed statement in civil appeals], 2.952 [written transcript of electronic recordings].) (01/01/07) (Revised 01/01/09, 01/01/14, 07/01/17, 07/01/2025) Rule 115.1 - Delivery of Court Reporter Transcripts to the Court Effective July 1, 2017, in all case types, any court reporter utilized to report court proceedings shall file all appellate and court ordered transcripts electronically via YesLaw or other court approved vendor and/or process. This rule applies to Court employees, per diem and pro tempore court reporters. (07/01/17) Rule 116 - Copying and Reproducing Official Court Records The court’s policies for file retrieval and photocopying are available on the court’s website here: https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/policy-record-viewing-and-copying. A member of the public requesting to view and duplicate, on the premises of the court, a record that is accessible to the public shall be allowed to use the requester’s equipment on court premises, without charge, in a manner that does not require the equipment to make physical contact with the record, to the extent permitted, and subject to the limitations imposed, by Government Code section 68150. (01/01/07) (Revised 01/01/14, 07/01/26) Rule 117 - Electronic Filing Effective January 1, 2014, the court permits the electronic filing of documents in any action or proceeding specified on the court’s electronic filing page on the court’s website (https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov) subject to and in accordance with California Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6 and California Rules of Court, rules 2.250-2.261. Additional information concerning electronic filing availability, requirements, and procedures can be found through the eFiling tab on the court’s website. (01/01/10) (Revised 01/01/14, 01/01/2020, 07/01/25) Rule 118 – Elimination of Bias The Superior Court of Tulare County is committed to ensuring that every interaction with the court, in courtroom proceedings or outside of them, is fair and impartial to all participants. The court has an established regional Committee on the Elimination of Bias, entitled “Kern-Tulare Elimination of Bias Committee. The Committee has adopted the procedures, goals and guidelines contained within standard 10.20 of title 10 of the Standards of Judicial Administration set forth in the California Rules of Court. The purpose of the committee is to assist the court in maintaining a courthouse environment free of bias and the appearance of bias. The court will ensure that the public can easily access existing information about how to make a complaint regarding bias in court interactions based on a protected classification, and the rule regarding such complaints is Rule 207. The Committee will continue to sponsor or support educational programs designed to eliminate unconscious or explicit bias within the court and legal communities. (07/01/2022) (Revised 07/01/2025) Rule 119 - Traffic Infractions – Ability to Pay Program The Superior Court of Tulare County is participating in the pilot program for online adjudication of traffic infractions. The pilot program is sponsored by the Judicial Council and authorized in division 17, chapter 1.5 of the Vehicle Code (sections 40280–40288). Under this program, a defendant may request an ability-to-pay determination for Vehicle Code infractions using procedures authorized in section 40283. The request may be made through an online tool, accessible through the Court’s website, or in person. Because this program is in its pilot stage, it may be subject to change. Additional information about the program is, or soon will be, posted on the Court’s website, and will be updated as needed. (01/01/2019) Rule 120 - Civil Assessments Upon full payment of any delinquent fine where a civil assessment pursuant to Penal Code 1214.1 is imposed, the court delegates the following authority to the court collections clerk: If the delinquent fine is paid within forty-five (45) days of imposition of the Civil Assessment, the collections clerk will reduce the Civil Assessment to $100.00 If the delinquent fine is paid within forty-six to sixty (46-60) days of imposition of the Civil Assessment, the collections clerk will reduce the Civil Assessment to $150.00. If the delinquent fine is paid within sixty-one to ninety (61-90) days of imposition of the Civil Assessment, the collections clerk will reduce the Civil Assessment to $200.00 If the delinquent fine is paid more than ninety (90) days from imposition of the Civil Assessment, no reduction of the Civil Assessment by the collections clerk is permitted. (01/01/2019) Rule 121 – Judges’ Vacation Day A day of vacation for a judge of the court is an approved absence for one full business day. Other absences from the court listed in California Rules of Court, rule 10.603(c)(2)(H) are excluded from this definition. (07/01/2025) CHAPTER 2 - ORGANIZATION OF COURT Rule 200 - Presiding Judge The court will select a presiding judge for a term of two years in accordance with the provisions of California Rules of Court, rule 10.602. The presiding judge is responsible for leading the court, establishing policies and allocating resources in a manner that promotes access to justice for all members of the public, providing a forum for the fair and expeditious resolution of disputes, maximizing the use of judicial and other resources, increasing efficiency in court operations, and enhancing service to the public in accordance with the provisions of California Rules of Court, rule 10.603. (01/01/03) Rule 201 - Departments of the Court There will be as many departments of this court as there are judicial officers of the court. The presiding judge will designate specific departments to hear juvenile matters, probate matters, criminal matters, civil matters, and family law matters. All Limited Civil, Unlimited Civil, and Family Law matters filed in any division of the court shall be assigned, at the direction of the Presiding Judge, to a judge for all purposes, including trial, upon filing of the initial pleading or upon notice of transfer from another county or division. Notice of the all- purpose judicial assignment will be provided by the clerk by entering the assignment on the face page of the initial pleading at the time of filing and on all copies submitted. Any challenge to a judge must be made within 15 days of the filing of the initial pleading and/or first appearance pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure (hereinafter CCP) section 170.6(a)(2) under the all-purpose assignment rule. All Juvenile matters shall be assigned for all purposes as of the date of filing the initial pleading based on the alphabetical assignment specified in the court’s Judicial Assignments Order (available on the court’s website at https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov) according to the last name of the first plaintiff or petitioner. Any challenge to a judge must be made within 15 days of the filing of the complaint/petition and/or first appearance pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure (hereinafter CCP) section 170.6(a)(2) under the all-purpose assignment rule. The presiding judge will appoint one judge to be the presiding judge of the juvenile court who, to the extent possible, will remain in that position for at least three years. All misdemeanor cases in any division of the court shall be assigned for all purposes pursuant the Judicial Assignments Order from the date of filing the initial pleading. Judicial challenges must be made within 10 days of filing the complaint and/or first appearance pursuant to CCP 170.6(a)(2) under the all-purpose assignment rule. In felony cases in any division of the court, the Judicial Assignments Order designates the judge for trial after the preliminary hearing pursuant to the alphabet as set forth in the order. Any judicial challenge must be made within 10 days after the defendant is held to answer pursuant to CCP section 170.6(a)(2) under the all-purpose assignment rule. (01/01/07), (Revised 01/01/09, 01/01/11, 01/01/14, 01/01/16, 07/01/25) Rule 202 - Superior Court Executive Officer/Jury Commissioner The court executive officer/jury commissioner is appointed to hold office at the pleasure of the court (Code Civ. Proc., § 195). Under the direction of the presiding judge, the court executive officer is responsible for overseeing the management and administration of the non-judicial operations of the court and allocating resources in a manner that promotes access to justice for all members of the public, providing a forum for the fair and expeditious resolution of disputes, maximizing the use of judicial and other resources, increasing efficiency in court operations, and enhancing service to the public (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 10.610). (01/01/03) (Revised 01/01/07) Rule 203 - Superior Court Commissioners and Referees Any superior court commissioner or referee will act in the capacity of judge pro tem, if so appointed by a majority of the superior court judges and stipulated to by the parties. The stipulation may be expressed, oral, and/or implied by the conduct of a party, or a party’s attorney, by not objecting to the commissioner acting as a temporary judge upon the first appearance, or within the time specified in a local rule when the local rule gives notice that a commissioner routinely acts as a temporary judge and specifies how an objection must be made. Commissioners and referees will have been members of the State Bar of California for a period of not less than 10 years. Commissioners and referees will serve at the pleasure of the judges. (01/01/03) (Revised 01/01/07, 07/01/25) Rule 204 - Attorneys Volunteering to Sit as Judge Pro Tem Any attorney wanting to sit as a judge pro tem must comply with California Rules of Court, rules 2.810-2.819. The state has imposed mandatory educational requirements before the court can approve an attorney to act as a judge pro tem. (See the court’s website at https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov and related links to obtain the necessary training regarding a judge pro tem; and the application necessary for prior court approval to be able to qualify as a judge pro tem.) (01/01/07) (Revised 07/01/25) Rule 205 - Grand Jury Selection A grand jury will be drawn and impaneled by the presiding judge of the superior court once each fiscal year commencing July 1, pursuant to the procedures set forth in Penal Code sections 888 et seq. (01/01/03) (Revised 01/01/07) Rule 206 - Executive Committee (Omitted 07/01/25) Rule 207 – Complaint Procedure (a) Complaints against court employees must be submitted in writing to the Chief Executive Officer of the Court. The Chief Executive Officer will have the discretion to not consider complaints that are made anonymously. (b) Complaints against judicial officers must be submitted in writing to the presiding judge or to the Commission on Judicial Performance. If the complaint is regarding the presiding judge, the complaint must be submitted to the assistant presiding judge. The presiding judge, or assistant presiding judge if the complaint is regarding the presiding judge, will have the discretion to not consider complaints that are made anonymously. (c) If a disability prevents a complainant from submitting the complaint in writing, the party receiving the complaint will cause it to be reduced to writing. (d) Complaints against court employees or judicial officers include complaints of bias based on age, ancestry, color, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or any other classification protected by federal or state law. (e) Complaints against judicial officers must allege conduct that would be within the jurisdiction of the Commission on Judicial Performance under Article IV, section 18 of the California Constitution, and not conduct related to the permissible exercise of judicial or administrative discretion by a judicial officer. (07/01/25) CHAPTER 3 - JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENTS Rule 300 - Court Calendar The business of the court will be assigned in accordance with the Judicial Assignments Order which will be issued on or about July 1st of each year to be effective until the next July 1st, or until a new or amended Judicial Assignments Order is issued (see the current judicial assignments for each department here: https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/general-information/judicial-assignments). The clerk, at the beginning of each court day, will post a daily court calendar outside of each courtroom showing the matters assigned to that department that day. The names of parties in adoption, juvenile, and mental capacity matters will not be shown and will be kept confidential. (07/01/00) (Revised 01/01/07, 01/01/09, 01/01/10, 07/01/11, 01/01/14, 07/01/25) Rule 301 - Setting the Calendar for Hearings and Trials Prior to setting any matter for hearing, the moving party must make a reasonable and good faith attempt to resolve the matter. If resolution is not possible, the moving party must attempt to coordinate hearing dates with the opposing parties prior to contacting the court. (a) Under the general supervision of the presiding judge, hearings will be set as follows: (1) All civil matters and appeals, whether contested or uncontested, will be set by the appropriate calendar clerk. Before filing or serving notice of a motion and/or hearing, the moving party must clear and reserve a hearing date with the appropriate calendar clerk. If for any reason a matter is removed from the calendar, the moving party must promptly notify the calendar clerk with whom the hearing date was set. (2) All civil case management conferences will be set pursuant to Local Rule 600; all family law case management conferences will be set pursuant to Local Rule 906. (3) All criminal law and motion matters will be handled pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 4.111 and 4.112 as set forth in the Criminal Rules. Matters which are appropriate for motions in limine will be heard by the trial judge at the time set by the trial judge. (4) All juvenile matters will be set by the juvenile court clerk, under the authority of the juvenile court judge or referee, and in accordance with the general calendar of the court. (b) Attorneys should avoid scheduling more than two hearings at the same time on the same day (not including ex parte hearings). While the court will reasonably trail matters to accommodate the necessary scheduling of more than one matter on the same day, a pattern of routine or unreasonable delay in matters being heard caused by a violation of this rule may result in the imposition of attorney fees or other sanctions. (07/01/97) (Revised 01/01/07, 07/01/11, 07/01/25) Rule 302 - (Omitted 07/01/11)
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.