Civil Home Courts

The Civil Unit randomly assigns eligible civil cases to one of the following Home Court Departments:

Hon. Richard C. Miadich
Department 8C

Hon. Julie G. Yap
Department 8D

Hon. Christopher E. Krueger
Department 16C

Hon. Richard K. Sueyoshi
Department 16D

The Civil Division uses a Civil Home Court model - a service delivery system designed to promote consistency, efficiency, and improved access to justice to manage its civil caseload. All civil cases are assigned to a single Civil Home Court Department, except for civil harassment restraining orders, prerogative writs of mandate, complex civil matters, small claims, unlawful detainer, and probate proceedings.

Civil Home Court Departments are responsible for hearing Case Management Program (CMP) matters and civil law and motion proceedings for assigned cases.

Law and Motion

Law and Motion proceedings heard by the Home Court departments include all matters other than small claims and unlawful detainer cases, including hearings on petitions for change of name, and applications for appointment of guardian ad litem. Additional information is available in Local Rules Chapter 2 – Part Three.

Case Management Program (CMP)

The Civil Home Court departments hear all cases assigned to the Case Management Program for pre-trial monitoring, including case management conferences, compliance hearings, motions regarding judicial arbitration, redesignation of a case, requests for an extension of time to answer a complaint, relief from CMP rules, or any motion pertaining to the certificate for short cause matters. To determine which civil actions are included in the Case Management Program, refer to Local Rules Chapter 2 - Part Four.

By providing judicial oversight throughout the life of a case, the Civil Home Court model promotes more effective case management, improves access to hearing dates, and creates a more streamlined and efficient process for all parties.

General Information

Filing Information & Mailing Address:

All law and motion and case management program related filings in Civil Home Court departments may be e- filed, filed at the civil front counter, placed in the drop box, or submitted by mail.

Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Sacramento County Courthouse
500 G Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone Numbers:

For filing or calendar questions, contact the Civil Unit at:

Civil Law and Motion
(916) 874-7848 or (916) 874-7858
Case Management Program
(916) 874-5522 Option 3

Phone Hours:

Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
(Closed 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.)

Calendar Information

Ex Parte Hearings (Law & Motion)

Reservation Requirements

Ex Parte Applications that require a hearing must be reserved in advance via the Court Reservation (CRS) available on the Public Portal before submitting moving documents to the court:

• no later than 10:00 AM on the court day before the selected reservation date.

An Ex Parte Hearing reservation cannot be made without having an assigned case number. Any motion submitted without a reserved hearing date will be subject to rejection.

In-Camera Hearings and Ex Parte Applications re: Certificates of Merit must be reserved in advance by calling the clerk of the assigned department at (916) 874-7848 or (916) 874-7858 before submitting moving documents to the court. Phone hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed from 12:00-1:00).

Ex Parte Applications for Order Shortening Time

Pursuant to Local Rule 2.35, except by order of the court, following a showing of good cause, all ex parte applications presented to the court seeking to set a matter on shortened time must provide for a briefing schedule that (1) allows for opposition papers to be filed and served no less than five court days before hearing date sought, and (2) allows for reply papers to be filed and served no less than two court days prior to the hearing date being sought. The court, in its discretion, and upon a showing of good cause, may order a shorter timeline for the filing of these documents, or that there be no reply; but in no event shall the last paper on the underlying motion be filed later than 9:00 a.m. two court days before the hearing. The moving papers must be accompanied by a copy of the order, and all papers, including subsequent papers filed in the matter, must indicate on the caption page that the matter was brought pursuant to an order shortening time and specific identification of the date of the order.

Notice & Filing Requirements

All ex parte applications must comply with California Rules of Court, rule 3.1200 et seq.. Pursuant to Local Rule 2.35, a party seeking an ex parte order shall notify the parties no later than 10:00 a.m. on the court day before the ex parte appearance, absent a showing of exceptional circumstances pursuant to California Rules of Court 3.1203. An application for temporary relief and ex parte applications generally will be determined solely on the papers submitted unless directed otherwise by the court. 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. Any opposition to an ex parte application must be filed and served in writing. Oral argument will not be permitted unless directed by the court.

Ex Parte Applications (Case Management)

Ex parte applications relating to the CMP guidelines must be prepared in conformance with California Rules of Court, rule 3.1200 et seq., and submitted to the appropriate department. Uncontested ex parte applications are usually ruled on without a hearing. Contested ex parte applications may be set for a hearing, or a ruling can be made on the filed papers, depending on the department. It is recommended that parties seeking an ex parte order that is contested call the appropriate department before noticing the opposing party.

Hearing Reservations (Law & Motion)

Reservations

Any motion submitted without a reserved hearing date will be subject to rejection.

Hearing dates for Motions to Compel (Name Extension), Motions to Compel Further Discovery Responses, and Motions to Compel Discovery (not “Further Discovery”) must be reserved in advance by calling the clerk of the assigned department at (916) 874-7848 or 916-874-7858 before submitting moving documents to the court. Phone hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed from 12:00-1:00).

All other hearing dates must be reserved in advance via the Court Reservation (CRS) available on the Public Portal before submitting moving documents to the court. The Civil Home Courts do not hear trial-related motions, i.e., motions in limine, motions for consolidation, severance, bifurcation, intervention, pretrial conference, coordination, change of venue, or to advance or continue trial.

Important: If a moving party obtains a hearing reservation date (either by telephone or through the online Court Reservation System) and the moving party contends that such date is too distant (e.g., in relation to the trial date or any deadline set forth in the Code of Civil Procedure or California Rules of Court), it is incumbent upon the moving party to proceed promptly by ex parte application, set on the court’s ex parte hearing calendar, requesting the court to specially advance the obtained reservation or (if the motion has been filed) specially advance the set hearing date.

Reserving Demurrers & JOP (Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act Cases)

Hearing dates for Demurrers and Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings in all cases where the complaint alleges one or more claims pursuant to the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Civ §1790 et seq.) must be made by calling the clerk of the assigned department at (916) 874-7848 or (916) 874-7858 before submitting moving documents to the court. Phone hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed from 12:00-1:00). Reservations made through the Court Reservation System (CRS) may be canceled without notice.

Any motion submitted without a reserved hearing date will be subject to rejection.

Notice Requirement on Motions/Demurrers (Law & Motion)

All noticed motions and demurrers shall include the following information in the notice:

Pursuant to Local Rule 1.06 (A), the court will make a tentative ruling on the merits of this matter by 2:00 p.m., the court day before the hearing. The complete text of the tentative rulings for the department may be downloaded from the Public Portal. If you do not have online access, you may call the dedicated phone number for the department as referenced in the local telephone directory, between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing and listen to the tentative ruling. If you do not call the court and the opposing party by 4:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing, no hearing will be held.

Requests to Continue and Drop Law & Motion Matters

Requests for Continuance

Requests for continuance must be made in writing by letter by the moving party pursuant to Local Rule 2.30(c). The moving party shall obtain a new hearing reservation date (by telephone or through the online Court Reservation System) prior to submitting their request to the court.

Requests to Drop

Pursuant to Local Rule 2.30(b), when a matter is to be dropped, counsel for the moving party shall promptly notify the Civil Home Court department pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 3.1304(b).

Tentative Rulings & Oral Argument Requests (Law & Motion)

Tentative Rulings

All parties appearing on the Law and Motion calendar shall utilize the tentative ruling system. Pursuant to Local Rule 1.06 (A), on the afternoon of the court day before each calendar, the court will publish a tentative ruling on each matter on the next day's calendar. The tentative rulings will be available after 2:00 p.m. on the court day before the matter is heard by accessing Public Portal or by telephoning the clerk at (916) 874-7848 or (916) 874-7858.

Oral Argument Requests

Any party desiring to be heard must call the Oral Argument Request Line for the assigned Home Court Department, listed below, by 4:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing and advise opposing counsel of its intention to appear. If no request for appearance is made, the tentative ruling will become the final order of the court pursuant to Local Rule 1.06 (B).

Where appearance has been requested or ordered by the court, limited argument will be permitted.

Civil Home Court Oral Argument Request Lines

Department 8C: (916) 874-8380
Department 8D: (916) 874-7719
Department 16C: (916) 874-1475
Department 16D: (916) 874-3056

Tentative Rulings & Oral Argument Requests (Case Management)

Tentative Rulings

All parties appearing on the Case Management Program calendar shall utilize the tentative ruling system. Pursuant to Local Rule 1.06 (A), on the afternoon of the court day before each calendar, the court will publish a tentative ruling on each matter on the next day's calendar. The tentative rulings will be available after 2:00 p.m. on the court day before the matter is heard by accessing the Public Portal or by telephoning the clerk at 916-874-5522, option 3.

If you do not find information regarding your particular case on the tentative ruling, and you have not previously been informed that you are excused from the calendar, an appearance is required.

Oral Arguments Requests

Civil Home Court Oral Argument Request Lines

Department 8C: (916) 874-8380
Department 8D: (916) 874-7719
Department 16C: (916) 874-1475
Department 16D: (916) 874-3056

Remote Appearances

Information on appearing remotely for hearings in Civil Home Court departments will appear in the tentative ruling.

Parties are encouraged to appear remotely at conferences, hearings, and proceedings by video or telephone via Zoom, with notice to the court and all other parties in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure 367.75. If appearing remotely, parties are required to participate in their hearing using a device with video and/or audio capabilities (e.g., a computer, smartphone, or tablet). Although remote participation is not required, the court will presume all parties are appearing remotely for non-evidentiary civil hearings.

Civil Home Court Department zoom information can be found on the Civil Remote Appearance page.