Department Location, Hours and Contact Information

• Presiding Judge - Department 47
  • 720 9th Street, 6^th Floor
  • 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Phone: 916-874-5487
  • dept47@saccourt.ca.gov

When Motions and Hearings are Set

Except for cases assigned to a judge for all purposes, the Presiding Judge hears all motions for consolidation, severance, bifurcation, intervention, pretrial conference, coordination, change of venue, or to advance or continue trial on UNLIMITED and LIMITED cases.

Motions, excluding ex parte motions, are set on the Presiding Judge’s Law and Motion calendar, Friday at 9:30 a.m. in the Presiding Judge’s Department. All motions set in the Presiding Judge’s Department must be reserved with prior to filing. Motions and hearings will be set according to the following table:

Motions are heard Friday at 9:30 a.m.

Long Cause Civil Trial Assignments are heard Monday and Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.

Short Cause Civil Trial Calendar are heard Thursday at 9:30 a.m.

Filing Instructions

Motions heard in the Presiding Judge’s Department are filed at the Civil Filing Windows or placed in the drop box at 720 9th Street in Room 102, or may be submitted by mail.

Alternatives to Appearing at a Hearing

The Court strongly encourages all parties to appear remotely, either telephonically or by video conference via the Zoom video/audio conference platform, subject to Code of Civil Procedure §367.75 - external link whenever possible.

If appearing remotely, parties are required to participate in the hearing using a device that has video and/or audio capability (i.e. computer, smartphone, or tablet). Although remote participation is not required, the Court will presume all parties are appearing remotely for non-evidentiary civil hearings. Requirements for noticing remote appearances depend on whether the civil hearing is evidentiary or non-evidentiary.

For additional information, please refer to the Court's Public Notice – Civil Hearings Effective Monday, January 3, 2022.

To join by Zoom link - https://saccourt-ca-gov.zoomgov.com/my/sscdept47 - external link

To join by Room: Dept47a

To join by phone dial (833) 568-8864 and enter ID 16173813009

Oppositions and Replies

All papers opposing a motion shall be filed at the Civil Filing Windows or placed in the drop box at 720 9th Street in Room 102, or may be submitted by mail and shall be served upon opposing counsel at least nine (9) court days before the hearing by personal delivery, facsimile transmission, express mail, or other means designated to ensure that the opposition and reply papers are received no later than one (1) court day after filing (Code of Civil Procedure § 1005(b) - external link).

All replies shall be filed at the Civil Filing Windows or placed in the drop box at 720 9th Street in Room 102, or may be submitted by mail and shall be served upon opposing counsel at least five (5) court days before the hearing by personal delivery, facsimile transmission, express mail, or other means designated to ensure that the opposition and reply papers are received no later than one (1) court day after filing (Code of Civil Procedure § 1005(b) - external link).

Failure to comply with the requirements concerning filing and serving opposing and reply papers may, in the discretion of the court, be deemed cause for acting on the matter without consideration of the document filed in violation of the requirements and may be deemed cause for imposing sanctions.

Ex Parte Motions

All ex-parte applications sought in the Presiding Judge's Department shall be submitted for filing at the Civil Filing Windows or dropped off on the first floor at 720 9th Street. in Room 102.

Ex parte application for emergency relief that are properly directed to the Presiding Judge shall be made on the first floor of the Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse at the Civil Filing Windows or placed in the drop box at 720 9th Street in Room 102, or may be submitted by mail. The appropriate civil filing fees and all supporting papers must be submitted together. The time and date for the ex parte hearing shall be indicated as “TBD” The parties shall otherwise comply with Local Rule section 1.07.

Such applications must include a written supporting declaration stating whether the opposing party is represented by counsel, whether that party has been contacted and has agreed to the requested order, or why the order should be issued without such notice. The adequacy of the application for temporary relief will be determined on the papers submitted. If the application is deemed adequate, the court may allow supplemental argument, either oral or written, by either party.

If the Court determines that a hearing is necessary prior to ruling, the Court will advise the applicant, who shall then provide appropriate notice of the hearing and file the necessary declaration in conformity with California Rules of Court 3.1203 - external link and 3.1204 - external link.

Opposition papers shall also be submitted to the Civil Filing Windows or placed in the drop boxed at 720 9th Street in Room 102. Reply filings are not permitted.

Tentative Ruling Information

All parties appearing on the Law and Motion calendar in The Presiding Judge’s Department shall utilize the tentative ruling system. The Presiding Judge will publish a tentative ruling at 2:00 p.m. two days prior to the matter being heard. Parties my access the tentative ruling on the court's public portal or by telephoning 916-874-5487. The tentative ruling shall become the ruling of the court, unless a party desiring to be heard so advises the department clerk at 916-874-5487 no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) on the court day preceding the hearing of their intent to appear at the hearing, and further advises the clerk that such party has notified the other side of its intention to appear. Where appearance has been requested by counsel or invited by the court, limited argument will be entertained.

All noticed motions in the Presiding Judge’s Department shall include the following information in the notice:

"Local Rule 1.06 (A) is modified such that tentative rulings will be issued two days prior to the hearing date and the party requesting argument is required to provide notice to the Court and counsel of that request by noon the following day.”

Additional information can be found at https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/civil/docs/cv-190.pdf.

Short Cause Trial Assignment

Requests for Short Cause Civil Trial:

Requests for short cause civil trial shall be submitted by mail to, or placed in the drop box at the Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse, 720 9th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

After the required filings are complete and the Court determines that a short cause civil trial should be scheduled, the parties will receive a case-specific Notice of Hearing and Zoom Guide. The Notice of Hearing will indicate the date and time of the short cause civil trial and pretrial requirements. The Zoom Guide will indicate the Zoom meeting information necessary for parties to appear in Department 47.

Appearances

The Court continues to allow and strongly encourages all parties to appear remotely, subject to Code of Civil Procedure § 367.75 - external link whenever possible. If a party has no internet access or other justifiable basis such that appearing via Zoom is not possible, that party must call the clerk in Department 47 no later than 14 days prior to the trial to arrange for a telephonic appearance.

Appearance of Witnesses

Before the scheduled date for short cause civil trial, parties shall provide the Zoom meeting information for Department 47 to anyone that they intend to call as a witness during their trial. If any party fails to notify witnesses such failure may result in the Court not considering the party’s exhibits or in a continuance of the short cause trial.

Submission of Exhibits Before Short Cause Trial:

Before your trial date, parties must provide to the Court and opposing party any exhibits (e.g., relevant documents) to be used use at trial. Provide copies only. Copies of documents may be submitted by email or mail physical. Do not submit original documents to the Court because the Court will not return any evidence after the trial. Keep original documents in the event of an appeal.

BY E-MAIL (preferred method): Scanned exhibits must be emailed at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the scheduled trial date to CivilTrialExhibits@saccourt.ca.gov.

In the subject line of the email, you must include your case number with the trial date and time. You must copy (CC) the opposing party in your email sent to the Court. If you do not have an email address for the opposing party, please follow the mailing instructions below for delivering your exhibits to the opposing party.

BY MAIL: If a party does not have an email address, internet access, or an email address for the opposing party, mail physical copies of exhibits to the Court and to the opposing party.

All exhibits sent by mail must be postmarked at least fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the scheduled trial date. Include with the exhibits the case number, and the trial date and time. Parties are to complete a Proof of Service by First-Class Mail form (POS-030) which must be received by the Court at least seven (7) calendar days prior to your scheduled Court date. The Proof of Service by Mail from can be found at https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/pos030.pdf.

If any party fails to submit their exhibits to the Court and to the opposing party in compliance with the deadlines indicated in the Notice of Hearing, such failure may result in the Court not considering the party’s exhibits or in a continuance of the short cause trial.

Long Cause Civil Trial/Jury Trial Assignment

Long Cause Civil Trial Assignments are heard Monday and Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.

Counsel shall notify the Court of their readiness to begin their Long Cause Civil Trial and provide information as to the status of the case. Notifications shall be submitted from 10 court days before the trial date to 4:00pm on the Tuesday before the trial date (prior week).

Such notification shall be done electronically by completing the form found here https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/civil/trial-notification.aspx. Re-sending a submission will not overwrite any previously submitted information. All submissions will be read and considered.

NOTE: While the parties shall be prepared to proceed with trial once assigned to the trial department, some flexibility in the schedule may be required. The trial department may not be able to start jury selection immediately if, for example, there are several motions in limine to resolve, the court orders one or more Evidence Code section 402 hearings, a jury panel is not available, or if the trial judge has other matters on its calendar that must fit into the schedule.

The trial department will expect the parties to comply with Chapter 2, Part Nine of the Local Rules related to trial procedures. Thus, the trial court will expect the following at the first pretrial conference with the assigned trial judge.

a. Motions in Limine (Local Rule 2.95): The parties should have met and conferred at least seven days prior to the first date scheduled for trial to exchange motions in limine and identify the motions that are contested. The parties shall file their motions, oppositions, if any, and a list of disputed motions in the trial department at or before the pretrial conference. See Local Rule 2.96 for motions that shall be deemed filed, served, and granted.

b. Jury Instructions (Local Rule 2.97): The parties should have met and conferred regarding jury instructions. At or before the pretrial conference, the parties shall submit to the assigned trial judge in Word format: (1) a fully completed set of agreed upon jury instructions; and (2) all jury instructions that the parties cannot agree upon. If pinpoint or special jury instructions are offered, counsel shall provide case or statutory authority for the offered instruction following the text of the instruction.

c. Exhibits (Local Rule 2.98): The parties should have met and conferred to identify exhibits that may be admitted without objection and those exhibits as to which admissibility is contested. At or before the pretrial conference, the parties shall submit binders containing copies of the agreed exhibits for use by the judge, clerk, and counsel during trial. The parties shall also submit a joint exhibit list in Word format.

d. Witness List (Local Rule 2.99): The parties should have met and conferred to prepare an alphabetized joint witness list, and the parties shall submit this list to the trial department at or before the pretrial conference.

e. Trial Briefs (Local Rule 2.99.01): Each party shall submit a trial brief at or before the pretrial conference.

f. Joint Statement of the Case (Local Rule 2.99.02): The parties should have met and conferred to agree on a joint statement of the case. The parties shall submit the joint statement to the assigned judge at or before the pretrial conference. If the parties cannot agree on a joint statement, each party shall submit its proposed statement to the trial judge.

In addition to the items above, the parties shall be prepared to discuss the following at the pretrial conference:

a. Schedule: The estimated length of trial and any scheduling conflicts.

b. Witnesses: The approximate anticipated length of each witness's testimony, and any need for interpreters, claim of privilege, child witness, etc.

c. Voir Dire: Whether the parties are: (1) requesting to provide a brief opening statement prior to voir dire; (2) proposing the use of a juror questionnaire; or (3) proposing any special voir dire questions for the Court to pose to the jury panel.

d. Proposed Stipulations: All matters to which the parties will stipulate, including but not limited to, witness testimony, admissibility of exhibits, procedural and legal issues, and any other matters pertaining to this case.

e. Verdict Forms: Whether special verdict forms are necessary, and if so, what language the parties propose.

f. Testimony through Discovery: If either party wishes to introduce into evidence deposition testimony or written discovery responses during the trial, the offering party shall file copies of the relevant documents, highlighting the transcript or portions of the documents it seeks to introduce, with a brief explanation of how the matter is to be used at trial. Counsel shall exchange the marked documents. Any objections to the use of this material at trial shall be heard on the first day scheduled for trial. Please note this does not apply to the use of deposition testimony or written discovery responses that will be used to impeach a witness on cross-examination.

g. Transcripts of Recordings: If any electronic sound, including video, audio recordings, or computer animations, will be presented, provide the Court and counsel with a transcript at the pretrial conference. Notify Court and opposing counsel before trial if you are requesting to provide the jury with a transcript of any recording to be played. Have 20 copies of the transcript available for the Court, clerk, jurors, alternates, counsel and the court reporter. Per California Rules of Court 2.1040 - external link, the court reporter need not transcribe any audio or video where a transcript is provided.

h. Other Evidentiary Issues: Any other evidentiary issues not identified above, including for example, demonstrative evidence, recordings, electronic animations, or demonstrations to be used in the opening statement or closing argument.

Please refer to Local Rules 2.95 through 2.99.04 for specific information on filing guidelines and requirements for Civil Trials.

Parties Requesting Court Reporters

Parties requesting services of a court reporter will need to arrange for private court reporter services at their own expense, pursuant to Government code §68086 - external link and California Rules of Court, Rule 2.956 - external link. Requirements for requesting a court reporter are listed in the Policy for Official Reporter Pro Tempore available on the Sacramento Superior Court website at https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/court-reporters/docs/crtrp-6a.pdf. Parties may contact Court-Approved Official Reporters Pro Tempore by utilizing the list of Court Approved Official Reporters Pro Tempore available at https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/court-reporters/docs/crtrp-13.Pdf

A Stipulation and Appointment of Official Reporter Pro Tempore (CV/E-206) is required to be signed by each party, the private court reporter, and the Judge prior to the hearing, if not using a reporter from the Court’s Approved Official Reporter Pro Tempore list, Once the form is signed it must be filed with the clerk.

If a litigant has been granted a fee waiver and requests a court reporter, the party must submit a Request for Court Reporter by a Party with a Fee Waiver (CV/E-211) and it must be filed with the clerk at least 10 days prior to the hearing or at the time the proceeding is scheduled if less than 10 days away. Once approved, the clerk will forward the form to the Court Reporter’s Office and an official reporter will be provided.