Tuolumne County Superior Court Local Rules of Court (Effective August 27, 2026) — 8.00.0 Juvenile Rules (Rules 8.01.0 to 8.07.0)

Summary

8.00.0 Juvenile Rules: juvenile matters may be assigned to any of the five departments of the Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne (8.01.0); prehearing discovery reciprocal and informal under California Rules of Court, rule 5.546, in contested hearings lists of all witnesses to be called, if not in the social study report prepared by Child Welfare Services (CWS), exchanged at least five (5) days prior to the hearing, and all relevant material, except as protected by privilege, disclosed in a timely fashion to all parties (8.02.0(a)); formal discovery by petition only after all informal means have been exhausted, on a noticed motion stating the relevance and materiality of the information sought and why informal discovery was not adequate, served on all parties at least five (5) court days prior to the hearing, the hearing date obtained from the calendar coordinator, and any responsive papers served two (2) court days prior to the hearing (8.02.0(b)); the names of any experts and copies of any reports, if not part of the CWS social study report, provided to all parties at least five (5) calendar days prior to the hearing (8.02.0(c)); settlement discussion encouraged at any time prior to the hearing and the Court promptly advised of any proposed settlements, admissions or submissions of the entire hearing on reports (8.03.0); all counsel in a juvenile dependency proceeding meeting the minimum standards of representation of California Rules of Court, rule 5.660, and complying with their professional duties under statute, regulation and state and local rules, court-appointed counsel meeting minimum standards of competence, and each appointed counsel appearing in a dependency matter to have completed the minimum training and education requirements of rule 5.660, subdivision (d) (8.04.0 and 8.05.0); any party’s written complaint about the performance of his or her appointed counsel lodged with the Court under rule 5.660, subdivision (e), for counsel appointed to represent a minor one that may be lodged on the child’s behalf by a social worker, caretaker, relative or foster parent, lodged separately in the juvenile court file in a sealed envelope, counsel provided with a copy, and the Court reviewing it within ten (10) days of receipt and, if it determines that a prima facie case does not exist, lodging its decision in the file as a final decision (8.06.0(a) and 8.06.0(b)); on a prima facie case, an informal response from counsel or a hearing held as soon as practical, the complainant and counsel each given at least five (5) days’ notice, the hearing not open to the public or the parties, the presiding judge of the juvenile court may designate a commissioner, referee, judge pro tem or qualified member of the Bar to act as a hearing officer and may take appropriate action, and the complaints, responses, determinations and findings subject to the confidentiality requirements of Welfare & Institutions Code section 827 (8.06.0(c) and 8.06.0(d)); and counsel for the minor or any interested person notifying the Court by filing a declaration, as soon as reasonably possible, that a dependent minor may have an interest or right to be protected or pursued in another judicial or administrative forum, the declaration to set forth the nature of the interest or right, the name and address, if known, of the agency or forum and the nature of the proceedings there, and the Court responding as appropriate under rule 5.660, subdivision (g) (8.07.0)