Santa Clara — Foreword, Standing Order Re: Code of Professionalism, Courthouse Locations, and Table of Contents

Source: https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/system/files/rules/intro_3.pdf

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA LOCAL RULES OF COURT

Effective July 1, 2026

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Santa Clara County Court Rules i

FOREWORD

STATE RULES

The California Rules of Court are adopted by the Judicial Council of California for all Superior Courts. The California Rules of Court can be found at:

www.courts.ca.gov/rules.htm

LOCAL RULES

The following Local Rules of Court supplement the California Rules of Court and apply in Santa Clara County only. If there is a conflict between the Local Rules and the California Rules of Court, the California Rules of Court apply. The following Local Rules can also be found at:

www.scscourt.org

CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION AND STATE CODES

The California Constitution and State Codes can be found at:

www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html

STATE LEGAL FORMS

State legal forms are approved by the Judicial Council for all Superior Courts. State legal forms can be found at:

www.courts.ca.gov/rules.htm

LOCAL LEGAL FORMS

Local legal forms are designed for use in Santa Clara County only, and can be found at:

www.scscourt.org

Parties and attorneys must comply and be familiar with these Local Rules, which are designed to help the Court and parties resolve cases promptly and efficiently.

The Superior Court

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STANDING ORDER

RE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CODE OF PROFESSIONALISM

Good cause appearing, upon consideration by and with the approval of the Judges of the Santa Clara Superior Court, it is hereby ORDERED that the Code of Professionalism adopted by the Santa Clara County Bar Association in June 1992, revised in October 2015 and again in December 2022 will serve as a guide to the Judges of the Santa Clara Superior Court in the exercise of their individual discretion when adjudicating disputes among attorneys. While the Code does not have the force of law or regulation with respect to the conduct of attorneys, it reflects the view of the members of the Santa Clara County Bar Association regarding appropriate attorney behavior. As such, it is helpful in giving judges guidance about the expectations of attorneys concerning acceptable behavior. (Cf. Kloepfer v. Commission on Judicial Performance (1989) 49 Cal.3d 826, 838, fn. 6.)

It is further ORDERED that notice of this standing order shall be published to all attorneys practicing before this Court by appending a copy of this order to the Local Rules of Court.

Dated: March 28, 2023 Presiding Judge Beth McGowen Superior Court County Superior Court

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FOREWORD.......................................................................................................................................................... i STATE RULES ........................................................................................................................................................................... i LOCAL RULES ........................................................................................................................................................................... i CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION AND STATE CODES ..................................................................................................................... i STATE LEGAL FORMS ............................................................................................................................................................... i LOCAL LEGAL FORMS .............................................................................................................................................................. i STANDING ORDER ............................................................................................................................................ ii CIVIL RULES ........................................................................................................................................................1

RULE 1 DIFFERENTIAL CIVIL CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ........................................................................... 1

RULE 2 ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) .......................................................................................... 2

RULE 3 JUDGES ADR PROGRAM ................................................................................................................................ 3

RULE 4 CIVIL EARLY SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE PROGRAM.......................................................................... 4

RULE 5 REMOTE PROCEEDINGS ................................................................................................................................ 5

RULE 6 FORMAT OF DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED FOR FILING .............................................................................. 5

RULE 7 EX PARTE APPLICATIONS ............................................................................................................................. 5 RULE 8 PRETRIAL MOTIONS ....................................................................................................................................... 6

RULE 9 TRIAL CALENDAR AND ASSIGNMENT, MANDATORY SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES AND TRIAL IN GENERAL CIVIL CASES (EXCLUDING MANDATE CASES) .................................................. 7

RULE 10 NON-CEQA PETITIONS FOR WRIT OF MANDATE .................................................................................... 8 RULE 11 SANCTIONS ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 RULE 12 [RESERVED] ...................................................................................................................................................... 9

RULE 13 UNLAWFUL DETAINER CASES .................................................................................................................... 9

RULE 14 SCHEDULE OF REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES .................................................................................. 9 RULE 15 [RESERVED] ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 RULE 16 [RESERVED] .................................................................................................................................................... 10

RULE 17 APPLICATION FOR ORDERS FOR PAYMENT OF MONEY ..................................................................... 10 RULE 18 INTERPRETERS .............................................................................................................................................. 10

RULE 19 SMALL CLAIMS ACTIONS ........................................................................................................................... 10

RULE 20 COURT COMMUNICATION REGARDING RESTRAINING ORDERS ..................................................... 11 CRIMINAL RULES ............................................................................................................................................12 RULE 1 GENERAL ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 RULE 2 APPEARANCES ............................................................................................................................................... 12 RULE 3 COURTHOUSES & CALENDARS ................................................................................................................. 12 RULE 4 HALL OF JUSTICE COURTHOUSE .............................................................................................................. 13 RULE 5 SOUTH COUNTY FACILITY ......................................................................................................................... 19 RULE 6 NORTH COUNTY FACILITY ....................................................................................................................... 19 RULE 7 PLEADINGS AND FILING OF DOCUMENTS ............................................................................................. 19

RULE 8 USE OF JUVENILE RECORDS ...................................................................................................................... 21 RULE 9 REQUESTS FOR INTERPRETERS ................................................................................................................ 21 RULE 10 REQUESTS FOR CALENDAR SETTING ...................................................................................................... 22 RULE 11 PROPOSED ORDERS ...................................................................................................................................... 22 RULE 12 WRITS............................................................................................................................................................... 22 RULE 13 REQUEST FOR COPY/TRANSCRIPT OF ELECTRONIC SOUND RECORDING FOR RECORD ON APPEAL, WRITS, OR OTHER HEARINGS FOR MISDEMEANORS OR INFRACTIONS ....................... 22 RULE 14 TRAFFIC DIVISION – TRIAL BY DECLARATION .................................................................................... 23

RULE 15 ANCILLARY DEFENSE EXPENSES ............................................................................................................. 23

RULE 16 PROTOCOL FOR SEALING OF RECORDS-CRIMINAL DIVISION .......................................................... 24 RULE 17 REQUESTS UNDER PROPOSITION 47 (PENAL CODE § 1170.18) ........................................................... 25

RULE 18 POSTING OF PROPERTY BOND .................................................................................................................. 25

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FAMILY RULES .................................................................................................................................................26 RULE 1 GENERAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................................... 26 RULE 2 CUSTODY AND VISITATION ....................................................................................................................... 29 RULE 3 CHILD, SPOUSAL AND PARTNER SUPPORT ............................................................................................ 36 RULE 4 ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS ................................................................................................................. 37 RULE 5 LAW AND MOTION ....................................................................................................................................... 37 RULE 6 CASE STATUS CONFERENCE (STATUS CONFERENCE), SETTLEMENT, FAMILY CENTERED CASE RESOLUTION CONFERENCE (CRC), LONG CAUSE HEARINGS AND TRIALS ....................... 42 RULE 7 DUTIES OF THE FAMILY LAW FACILITATOR ........................................................................................ 47 RULE 8 DEFAULT OR UNCONTESTED JUDGMENT .............................................................................................. 48 RULE 9 COUNSEL FOR MINOR CHILDREN ............................................................................................................ 48 APPENDIX 49 ............................................................................................................................................................................................ JUVENILE RULES .............................................................................................................................................51 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................................. 51 RULE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE JUVENILE COURT ............................................................................... 51 RULE 2 RULES RELATING TO JUVENILE DEPENDENCY PROCEEDINGS ........................................................ 60 RULE 3 RULES RELATING TO JUVENILE JUSTICE ............................................................................................... 65 RULE 4 RELATIONSHIPS AMONG DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF THE SUPERIOR COURT ................................ 67 PROBATE RULES ..............................................................................................................................................72 RULE 1 ADMINISTRATION AND GENERAL POLICIES ......................................................................................... 72 RULE 2 PRETRIAL MOTIONS AND EX-PARTE PROCEEDINGS .......................................................................... 74 RULE 3 ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION .................................................................................................... 76 RULE 4 APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTORS AND ADMINISTRATORS .................................................................. 76 RULE 5 BONDS ............................................................................................................................................................. 77 RULE 6 THE INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES ACT .................................................................. 78 RULE 7 SALE UNDER COURT SUPERVISION ......................................................................................................... 78 RULE 8 PETITION FOR INSTRUCTIONS AND OTHER INSTRUCTIONS ............................................................. 78 RULE 9 ACCOUNTS, REPORTS, FEES, COMMISSIONS, AND DISTRIBUTION ................................................. 79 RULE 10 SPOUSAL OR REGISTERED DOMESTIC PARTNER PROPERTY PETITIONS ...................................... 82 RULE 11 CONSERVATORSHIPS ................................................................................................................................... 82 RULE 12 GUARDIANSHIPS ........................................................................................................................................... 88 RULE 13 GUARDIAN AD LITEM AND COMPROMISES OF CLAIMS OF MINORS AND PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY ..................................................................................................................................................... 92 RULE 14 COMPENSATION OF REFEREES ................................................................................................................. 93 RULE 15 MINOR’S EMANCIPATION ........................................................................................................................... 93 RULE 16 TRUSTS ............................................................................................................................................................ 93 RULE 17 LANTERMAN PETRIS SHORT (LPS) ACT CONSERVATORSHIP ACCOUNTINGS ............................. 94 RULE 18 PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS RE QUARANTINE DETENTION ..................................... 94 RULE 19 ATTORNEY FEE DISPUTES .......................................................................................................................... 94 RULE 20 PRIVATELY RETAINED COURT REPORTERS .......................................................................................... 94 GENERAL COURT AND ADMINISTRATION RULES ...............................................................................95 RULE 1 USE OF JUROR LISTS FOR TRIAL HELD IN PLACE OTHER THAN COUNTY SEAT ......................... 95 RULE 2 USE OF RECORDING DEVICES IN COURTHOUSE FACILITIES ............................................................ 95 RULE 3 ACCESS, F

................................ 94 GENERAL COURT AND ADMINISTRATION RULES ...............................................................................95 RULE 1 USE OF JUROR LISTS FOR TRIAL HELD IN PLACE OTHER THAN COUNTY SEAT ......................... 95 RULE 2 USE OF RECORDING DEVICES IN COURTHOUSE FACILITIES ............................................................ 95 RULE 3 ACCESS, FAIRNESS AND PREVENTION OF BIAS ................................................................................... 96 RULE 4 TEMPORARY JUDGES AND SETTLEMENT ATTORNEYS ..................................................................... 97 RULE 5 FOOD IN COURT ............................................................................................................................................ 98 RULE 6 ELECTRONIC FILING .................................................................................................................................... 98 RULE 7 PRIVATELY RETAINED COURT REPORTERS ........................................................................................ 101 RULE 8 COURT SECURITY VIDEO RECORDINGS ............................................................................................... 102 RULE 9 REMOTE PROCEEDINGS ............................................................................................................................ 102 RULE 10 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ........................................................................................................................ 103 RULE 11 APPLICATION BY VEXATIOUS LITIGANT TO FILE NEW LITIGATION. .......................................... 103

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APPELLATE RULES .......................................................................................................................................105 RULE 1 APPLICABILITY OF RULES ........................................................................................................................ 105 RULE 2 RULES FOR THE APPELLATE DIVISION ................................................................................................. 105 RULE 3 RULES IN THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR APPEALS TO THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL .......... 108 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................................109