The court will be closed Friday, September 25, 2026, in observance of Native American Day.
Sacramento Superior Court, CA
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Department 16B
Writ Departments and Protocols - Department 16B
Department 16B hears writs and motions on Fridays at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Other days and times shall be set only with the court's approval upon a showing of good cause.
The clerk of Department 16B schedules hearings on writs and motions. For a list of available dates and times, contact the clerk at 916-874-5924.
The moving party must reserve a date and time with the department clerk before noticing the hearing. Prior to reserving a hearing date, the moving party should contact the clerk for available dates and times, and meet and confer with all parties to select a mutually convenient date and time from the available dates and times provided by the clerk. Parties are advised to agree on at least two available dates before calling the clerk to reserve a hearing date.
Ex parte applications must comply with California Rules of Court, rule 3.1200 et seq. Specifically, pursuant to rule 3.1201, any application for ex parte relief must be in writing. Applications for ex parte relief and oppositions thereto should be filed directly in the assigned department. When documents are not filed directly in the assigned department, parties shall deliver an endorsed copy directly to the department. Parties wishing to request an ex parte hearing must contact the clerk in Department 16B. The clerk will not reserve a hearing date, but rather, the court will review the pleadings, and if the court determines that a hearing is necessary, the clerk will advise the moving party of the time and date set for the hearing. Once advised by the court of the appearance date, the moving party is required to give notice pursuant to rule 3.1203.
The court prefers at least 48 hours' notice, but it will accept less upon a showing of urgency.
Effective August 21, 2023, the caption page of the first pleading in any case that alleges one or more claims pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Pub. Res. Code, §§ 21000, et seq.) shall clearly identify that the case is a CEQA case. The words “CEQA case” must appear on the caption page.
Additionally, if the CEQA claim relates to an infrastructure project governed by Public Resources Code sections 21189.80 et seq., the caption page must also state the code sections under which the CEQA cause of action is litigated and state “Expedited Review.”
At the time the pleading is filed, the person presenting the pleading for filing must notify the clerk processing the filing that the case is a CEQA case and, if warranted, that it is entitled to expedited review under Public Resources Code section 21189.85. Once a notice of case assignment is generated, the petitioner must immediately deliver a courtesy copy of the pleading to the assigned department and contact the department clerk regarding scheduling a case management conference.
In addition to compliance with the court's rules regarding e-filing, parties must deliver two hard copies of all filings to Department 16B on the same day that the motion or pleading is e-filed. If the motion or pleading is e-filed on a weekend, the hard copies shall be delivered to Department 16B the following court day.
Additionally, when filing any document, parties are directed to email a courtesy copy as a PDF to Department 16B. Emailing the courtesy copy will not be considered filing.
We do not accept fax filings.
This department uses the Tentative Ruling System. On the court day before each noticed writ or motion hearing (generally Thursday), the court will post a tentative ruling or a direction that the parties appear at the hearing.
The tentative ruling will be available at 2 p.m. and may be obtained on the Public Portal. For those without access to the internet, the tentative ruling may be obtained by requesting a copy from the clerk of Department 16B. Unless a party requests oral argument no later than 4 p.m. on the court day preceding the scheduled hearing and further advises the clerk that such party has notified all other parties of its intention to appear, the tentative ruling shall become the final ruling of the court.
All notices of motions or hearings shall include the following information in the notice:
"Pursuant to Local Rule 1.06, the Court will make a tentative ruling on the merits of this matter by 2 p.m., the court day before the hearing. To receive the tentative ruling, you can access the Public Portal or arrange to obtain the tentative ruling from the clerk of Department 16B. If you do not call the Court and the opposing party by 4 p.m., the court day before the hearing, no hearing will be held."
Parties are encouraged to appear in person at conferences, hearings, and other proceedings. Should a party desire to appear remotely, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure § 367.75 and California Rules of Court 3.672, the party may so request. The court will make a determination on a case-by-case basis pursuant to section 367.75 subdivision (b)(3) whether an in-person appearance will materially assist in the determination of the conference, hearing, or proceeding or in the effective management or resolution of the matter.
If appearing remotely, parties are required to participate in the hearing using a device that has video and/or audio capability (e.g., a computer, smartphone, or tablet). Any remote appearance must occur on the Zoom platform. Upon the court's approval for a remote appearance, the parties may contact the Department 16B courtroom clerk to obtain Zoom login information.
The parties must meet and confer regarding the hearing date and the substance of any motion. The moving party shall include a declaration attesting to this with any motion.
Absent a showing of good cause or waiver by the responding party, no alternative writ will be issued unless the moving party serves all parties with the application at least five (5) days before the ex parte hearing.
Issuance of an alternative writ merely places the matter on the court's calendar for hearing. It does not stay any action or afford any affirmative relief. If issued, the alternative writ must be served in the same manner as a summons in a civil action unless the court orders otherwise. The court will set a briefing schedule when the alternative writ is issued.
In bringing a mandamus petition to trial/hearing on the merits, the court prefers that parties proceed by noticed motion instead of by alternative writ. (Refer to page 7 of the Writ of Mandate Guide.)
Proof of service of the alternative writ or, if no alternative writ is sought, of the filed petition, must be filed with the court prior to any hearing on an application for the issuance of a temporary stay (or temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction).
A request for a stay of suspension of a driving license must include a copy of the petitioner's driving record. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1142.)
All administrative records must be lodged directly with Department 16B. They shall not be filed electronically.
Parties are directed to lodge, in addition to the original administrative record, an electronic copy of the administrative record. The electronic copy of the administrative record must be:
- created in portable document format (PDF) or other format for which the software for creating and reading documents is in the public domain or generally available;
- divided into a series of electronic files and include electronic bookmarks that identify each part of the record and clearly state the volume and page numbers contained in each part of the record;
- capable of full text searching; and
- contained on a CD-ROM, DVD, or USB flash drive, labeled with the case name, case number, and title of the document.
The department generally prefers the electronic copy to be submitted on a USB flash drive. Parties should consult with the clerk if they are unable to comply with any of these requirements.
Additionally, in CEQA cases, Department 16B requires excerpt binders containing copies of the pages referred to in the parties' briefing.
When securing a date and time for a hearing on the merits of the petition, parties should inform the clerk of the size of the administrative record.
After a hearing or motion is set, it may be continued only upon approval of the court. The party seeking the new date should obtain available times and dates from the clerk of Department 16B, meet and confer with all other parties on a new date, and then present a Stipulation and Order or, if opposing parties are unwilling to stipulate, a motion for a continuance. There is a filing fee that must be paid to the cashier at the Civil Front Counter.
Objections to evidence must comply with California Rules of Court rule 3.1352 and rule 3.1354.