Del Norte — Standing Order 15-002

Source: https://www.delnorte.courts.ca.gov/system/files/so_15-002.pdf

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE COUNTY OF DEL NORTE

Standing Order 15-002 Regarding Case Assignment

This order makes minor modifications clarifying the policy regarding assignment of cases

to the departments of this Court. This order goes into effect immediately.

Unless otherwise stated in a specific order of the Presiding Judge, cases are assigned for

all purposes to the particular department and to the judge assigned to that department as set forth in this order. When the judge normally assigned to a department is unavailable, any judge assigned by the Presiding Judge or Judicial Council may hear cases in that department.

Except for family law matters, all civil cases, including landlord-tenant, civil restraining

orders, probate cases and small claims cases are assigned to Department 2.

Family law matters, except AB 1058 child support matters, are assigned to Department

1. Child support matters under AB 1058 are assigned to the child support commissioner in Department 3.

   All juvenile delinquency matters are assigned to Department 1.

   All misdemeanor matters are assigned to Department 2.

   All felony matters are assigned to Department 2 until bindover. Unless otherwise ordered

by the judge presiding at the preliminary hearing, felony matters will be assigned to Department 1 upon bindover after the preliminary hearing.

Generally, juvenile dependency cases are assigned by the clerk to Department 1 or

Department 2 on an alternating basis. All dependency cases involving the same family are assigned together in the same department. However, pending further order of the Presiding Judge, in order to balance the number of dependency cases assigned to each department, all new dependency cases are to be assigned to Department 2 when available unless the family has previously had a dependency case assigned to the judge in Department 1.

Infraction matters are assigned to the Judge Pro Tem in Department 3.

Pending further order of the Court, Judge William H. Follett is assigned to Department 1

and Judge Darren McElfresh is assigned to Department 2. Until further order, Judge Follett shall serve as presiding judge and presiding judge of the juvenile court. Judge McElfresh shall be the assistant presiding judge and assistant presiding judge of the juvenile court.

When the assigned judge is disqualified, the matter will be heard by any other judge

temporarily assigned to that department. If an assigned judge is not available, the case will be referred to the other sitting judge of this court for assignment. If that other sitting judge is not available, the matter may be heard by any other judge sitting in his absence. When both sitting judges are disqualified and there is no other assigned judge available to hear the case, the matter will be referred to the Judicial Council for assignment.

This order will remain in effect pending further order of the presiding judge.

DATED:

WILLIAM H. FOLLETT