Tuesday, May 21, 2013

General Information

Overview of Which Departments Hear Civil Matters

Limited and Unlimited Civil actions excluding Small Claims and Limited Civil Unlawful Detainer cases are heard by the Presiding Judge, in the Law and Motion Departments, by the trial department, in the CMP department, or by a judge assigned for all purposes.

The Presiding Judge hears all motions for consolidation, severance, bifurcation, intervention, pretrial conference, coordination, change of venue, consolidation, or to advance or continue trial.

The trial judge is responsible for hearing motions in limine, motions for new trial or to set aside and vacate a judgment pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 663, motions to stay judgments, motions to tax costs after trial, and proceedings to settle any statement on appeal.

The CMP judges in departments 36 and 39 hear all cases assigned to the Case Management Program for pre-trial monitoring. Motions regarding judicial arbitration, redesignation of a case, for extension of time to answer a complaint, for relief from CMP rules, or any motion pertaining to the certificate for short cause matters are heard in the CMP departments.

If a judge has been assigned for all purposes, all motions will be heard in that department.

Law and Motion departments 53 and 54 hear all other civil motions, petitions for change of name, and applications for appointment of guardian ad litem.

Department Hours and Locations

  • Presiding Judge
    • 720 9th Street, Sixth Floor
    • 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Law and Motion Department 53
    • 800 9th Street, Third Floor
    • 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Law and Motion Department 54
    • 800 9th Street, Third Floor
    • 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Trial Departments
  • CMP Department 36
    • 720 9th Street, Fifth Floor
    • 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • CMP Department 39
    • 720 9th Street, Fifth Floor
    • 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

When Motions and Hearings are Set

Motions, excluding ex parte motions, are set at various times and days. Hearings set in trial departments and in departments where a judge has been assigned for all purposes must be arranged directly with that department. Motions set in the Presiding Judge's department, CMP motions, and motions set in the Law and Motion departments should be set according to the following table:

  • Presiding Judge
    • Tuesday through Friday at 9:30 a.m. except the second Thursday of each month.
  • CMP Motions
    • Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
  • Law and Motion Department 53
    • Monday through Friday at 2:00 p.m.
  • Law and Motion Department 54
    • Monday through Friday at 9:00 a.m.

Filing Instructions

Motions heard in the Presiding Judge or Law and Motion departments may be filed or dropped off on the first floor at 720 9th Street in Room 102, or may be submitted by mail.

Motions heard by a judge assigned for all purposes or those heard by the trial judge are filed directly in the appropriate department and fees are paid at the Civil Filing Windows at 720 9th Street, Room 102.

All other motions may be submitted by mail or dropped off at the drop boxes in Room 102, on the first floor at 720 9th Street.

Alternatives to Appearing at a Hearing

Pursuant to Local Rule 2.04, a party shall have the option of appearing by telephone in the CMP departments, department of the Presiding Judge, Law and Motion departments, or any other department regarding a civil action or proceeding not involving oral testimony. In addition, the court offers the following alternatives:

Motions and Hearing Chart

Helpful resource that provides information on where motions and documents for General Civil, Law and Motion, and CMP cases are filed and heard. The chart also provides information on when to file and when to notice as well as statutory references.