Arbitration & Case Management Program

Arbitration 

Judicial arbitration is a program under which cases are assigned to an attorney, sitting as an impartial arbitrator, to conduct an informal "mini-trial" and assess the case through means of an Award of Arbitrator.  This award is not binding, but does assist parties in determining the value of their case prior to trial.

Arbitration is an important feature of the Case Management Program rules and of civil case processing in Sacramento. At the Designation Hearing, the CMP judge will determine whether the case is suitable for judicial arbitration. Arbitrators are selected from a panel maintained by the Court. The Court has a procedure for phone-in selection of arbitrators, and a notice with the details is included with the notice of the Arbitration/Procedure.

Absent a waiver by the parties, a case may not be referred to arbitration prior to 210 days after the filing of the complaint. Failure to object to an earlier referral to arbitration at or before the Case Management Conference shall be deemed a waiver of this rule. If a case is referred to arbitration, the hearing must be completed within 60 days, unless the Court orders otherwise. The Court has a form in which the parties may, by mutual stipulation, petition ex parte for an extension of time to complete arbitration.  For further information, contact the Arbitration Unit at (916) 874-5463 or stop by the Arbitration counter, located in Room 101 of the Downtown Courthouse, 720 9th Street. (The Arbitration counter is located to the left of Criminal Records. Please ring the buzzer for assistance.)

• Arbitrator Panel List
• Arbitrator Selection Notice
• Ex Parte Application to Extend Arbitration Date
• Rejection of Arbitration Award and Request for Trial De Novo
• Qualification Statement/Notice of Assignment of Arbitration Hearing Date (for arbitrator's use only)
• Award of Arbitrator (for arbitrator's use only)

Case Management Program

As required by the Trial Court Delay Reduction Act, Government Code § 68600 et seq., and the Case Management Rules adopted by the Judicial Council, California Rule of Court 2.2, Sacramento Superior Court adopted the Case Management Program.  Forms and procedures are available at 720 Ninth Street, in Room 102, from the Civil Unit's cashier, or by clicking on the links below:

• Local Forms
• Case Management Statement (Judicial Council form CM-110)
• Weekly C.M.P. Calendar Information
• Tentative Rulings
• Information Packet 
• Program Case Notice
• 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.

The procedures for the CMP program are the product of careful planning by a committee of judges, practicing attorneys, representatives of local bar associations, and court staff. Chapter 11 of the Local Rules governs Sacramento County’s CMP program. In addition to the Local Rules, the Court has developed an information packet designed to familiarize attorneys and parties representing themselves with the basics of the program.

The Sacramento program applies to all civil actions except for probate proceedings, domestic relations proceedings, juvenile court proceedings, unlawful detainer matters, and actions assigned to a single judge based on subject matter.

Public Notice

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Judicial Moves previously scheduled for December 21 2006, for Department 5, Judge Cadei and Department 39, Judge Jones, have been postponed.  Therefore, Judge Cadei will remain in Department 5 and Judge Jones will remain in Department 39, until further notice.

 Sacramento Superior Court Case Management Program Judicial assignments are as follows:

 If you were noticed and your case was scheduled for Department 39, Judge Raymond M. Cadei, and your case ends with 25 - 49, your Tentative Ruling will appear in Department 5, Judge Cadei.

 If you were noticed and your case was scheduled for Department 43, Judge Talmadge R. Jones, and your case ends with 50 - 74, your Tentative Ruling will appear in Department 39, Judge Jones.

 If you were noticed and your case was scheduled for Department 44, Judge Steven H. Rodda, and your case ends with 75 - 99, your Tentative Rulings will appear in Department 44, Judge Rodda.

 If you were noticed and your case was scheduled for Department 45, Judge Judy Holzer Hersher, and your case ends with 00 – 24, your Tentative Ruling will appear in Department 45, Judge Hersher.

All civil cases subject to the program are assigned to a CMP judge for pre-trial monitoring based on the last two digits of the case number. The following table shows the department assignments and contact information for CMP cases: