Superior Court of California, County of Stanislaus Judges of the Superior Court Hon. Ann Q. Ameral Hon. Shawn D. Bessey Hon. Alan Cassidy Hon. Ricardo Cordova Hon. Rick Distaso Hon. John D. Freeland Hon. Valli Israels Hon. Jack M. Jacobson Hon. Nancy Leo Hon. Linda A. McFadden Hon. Dawna Frenchie Reeves Hon. Sonny S. Sandhu Hon. Stacy P. Speiller Hon. Carrie M. Stephens Hon. Ruben Villalobos Hon. Kellee C. Westbrook Hon. Robert B. Westbrook Hon. Thomas D. Zeff Jared Beeson, Commissioner Kenneth Hara, Commissioner Lynne R. Meredith, Commissioner Hugh K. Swift, Executive Officer/Jury Commissioner Stanislaus County Superior Court SUMMARY OF CHANGES Revisions effective January 1, 2021 IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THESE RULES 1. State Rules and Corresponding Local Rules The California Rules of Court are not printed as part of the Stanislaus County Local Rules, but are considered incorporated within them. Proceedings in the Superior Court of Stanislaus County (“Court”) are governed by the California Rules of Court as supplemented by these Local Rules (also referred to as “Rules”). EACH LOCAL RULE MUST BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CALIFORNIA RULES OF COURT (CRC). 2. Purchasing Local Rules and Local Forms Copies of the Local Rules and Local Forms may be obtained online at www.stanct.org. INTERNET ADDRESS www.stanct.org 2 Stanislaus County Superior Court Table of Contents RULE 1 GENERAL .....................................................................................11 1.00 SCOPE OF RULES ......................................................................................................................................... 11 1.01 CITATION OF RULES ................................................................................................................................... 11 1.02 EFFECTIVE DATE OF RULES ........................................................................................................................ 11 1.03 CONSTRUCTION AND APPLICATION OF RULES ............................................................................................ 11 1.04 ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF RULES .................................................................................................... 11 1.05 SEXUAL HARASSMENT ............................................................................................................................... 11 1.06 COURT ATTIRE ........................................................................................................................................... 12 1.07 COURT SECURITY ....................................................................................................................................... 12 1.08 TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS; AND FIREARMS (APPLIES TO ALL CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES) .... 12 1.09 GENERAL AUTHORITY-SUPERIOR COURT COMMISSIONERS ....................................................................... 14 1.10 PHOTOGRAPHING, RECORDING AND BROADCASTING IN COURT FACILITIES ............................................... 14 1.11 RESERVED FOR FUTURE USE (1/1/19) ................................................................................................ 15 1.12 BAIL BONDS AGENTS ................................................................................................................................. 16 1.13 COMFORT AND SERVICES ANIMALS ........................................................................................................... 16 1.14 MANDATORY ELECTRONIC FILING ............................................................................................................. 18 1.15 CONTACTING COURT'S LEGAL RESEARCH STAFF ....................................................................................... 22 RULE 2 COURT ORGANIZATION .......................................................23 2.00 ORGANIZATION AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ........................................................................................... 23 2.01 PRESIDING JUDGE AND ASSISTANT PRESIDING JUDGE ................................................................................ 23 2.02 SUPERVISING JUDGES AND PRESIDING JUVENILE JUDGE ............................................................................ 24 2.03 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ............................................................................................................................. 25 2.04 MEMBERS OF OTHER COMMITTEES ............................................................................................................ 25 2.05 RESERVED FOR FUTURE USE .............................................................................................................. 26 2.06 DAY OF JUDICIAL VACATION DEFINED....................................................................................................... 26 RULE 3 CIVIL CASES ...............................................................................27 3.00 APPLICATION OF RULES ............................................................................................................................. 27 3.00.1 DIRECT CALENDARING OF MOST CIVIL CASES ........................................................................................... 27 3.01 LAW AND MOTION/EX-PARTE HEARINGS .................................................................................................. 28 3.01.1 APPOINTMENT OF ELISORS: ........................................................................................................................ 29 3.02 CIVIL - CASE MANAGEMENT ...................................................................................................................... 29 3.03 UNLAWFUL DETAINER CASES .................................................................................................................... 30 3.04 ORDERS TO SHOW CAUSE ........................................................................................................................... 31 3.05 MANDATORY SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES ................................................................................................ 32 3.06 ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) ............................................................................................. 32 3.07 JUDICIAL ARBITRATION .............................................................................................................................. 36 3.08 TRIAL ......................................................................................................................................................... 36 3.09 LODGING OF TRIAL EXHIBITS/ JURY INSTRUCTIONS ................................................................................... 36 3.10 INTERPRETERS ............................................................................................................................................ 37 3.11 PUNCTUALITY AND MULTIPLE APPEARANCES ............................................................................................ 37 3.12 COURT REPORTERS –STAFF AND PRO TEMPORE ......................................................................................... 37 3.13 ATTORNEY FEES ......................................................................................................................................... 40 3.14 COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE – ADR .............................................................................................................. 40 3.15 RESERVED FOR FUTURE USE .............................................................................................................. 41 SMALL CLAIMS .........................................................................................42 3.16 NOTICE OF CLAIMS ..................................................................................................................................... 42 3.17 PROOF OF SERVICE ..................................................................................................................................... 42 3.18 SETTLEMENT BEFORE HEARING .................................................................................................................. 42 3 Stanislaus County Superior Court 3.19 DISMISSAL FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR AT HEARING .................................................................................... 42 3.20 TIME OF TRIAL ........................................................................................................................................... 42 3.21 SMALL CLAIMS ADVISOR ........................................................................................................................... 43 3.22 CONTINUANCES .......................................................................................................................................... 43 RULE 4 CRIMINAL ...................................................................................44 4.00 DIRECT CALENDARING OF CRIMINAL CASES .............................................................................................. 44 4.01 ASSIGNMENT OF CASES .............................................................................................................................. 44 4.02 BAIL SCHEDULES ........................................................................................................................................ 45 4.03 DISCOVERY IN CRIMINAL CASES ................................................................................................................ 45 4.04 CRIMINAL LAW AND MOTION ...................................................................................................................