Tentative Rulings Information

Presiding Judge's Calendar
CMP Calendar
Law & Motion Calendar
CourtCall Telephonic Appearances

Presiding Judge's Calendar

All parties appearing on the law & motion calendar in the Presiding Judge's department shall utilize the tentative ruling system. On the afternoon of the court day before each calendar, the Presiding Judge will cause to be recorded a tentative ruling on each matter on the next day's calendar. The tentative rulings will be available after 2:00 p.m. each weekday by telephoning a tape-recorded message at 916-874-8142 or by accessing the court's web site. The taped message will be a continuous-play recording containing brief instructions as to how to respond to the tentative ruling, a tentative ruling in each case, and whether the court invites counsel (or parties in pro per) to appear for limited argument on the matter.

The tentative ruling shall become the ruling of the court, unless a party desiring to be heard so advises the department clerk no later than 4:00 p.m. on the court day preceding the hearing, and further advises the clerk at 916-874-5487 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:

"Pursuant to Local Rule 2.02(D), the court will make a tentative ruling on the merits of this matter by 2:00 p.m., the court day before the hearing. To receive the tentative ruling, call the Presiding Judge's department at 916-874-8142. 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."

CMP Calendar

On the day before each Thursday calendar, the CMP judges will cause information to be recorded concerning matters in which an appearance is not required. Thus, if a party has a compliance matter scheduled on a Thursday morning CMP calendar, they may call the recorded message at 916-874-8551 or access the Court's web site for tentative rulings after 2:00 p.m. the day before to determine whether or not an appearance is required.

If you do not find information regarding your particular case on the recorded message or Internet web site, and you have not previously been informed that you are excused from the calendar, an appearance is required.

For questions on any matter scheduled for an CMP compliance hearing or arbitration status conference, please contact the Civil Division's CMP Section at 916-874-5522.

Law & Motion Calendar

All parties appearing on the Law and Motion calendar in Department 53 or Department 54 shall utilize the tentative ruling system.  On the afternoon of the court day before each calendar, the court will cause to be recorded a tentative ruling on each matter on the next day's calendar.  The tentative rulings will be available after 2:00 p.m. each weekday by telephoning a tape-recorded message at  916-448-8239 (Department 53) or 916-448-8234 (Department 54) or by accessing the court's web site for Department 53 or Department 54 .

The tentative ruling shall become the ruling of the court, unless a party desiring to be heard so advises the clerk of the designated department no later than 4:00 p.m. on the court day preceding the hearing, and further advises the clerk at 916-874-7858 for Department 53 and 916-874-7848 for Department 54 that such party has notified the other side of its intention to appear.

Where appearance has been requested or invited by the court, limited argument will be entertained.

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

"Pursuant to Local Rule 3.04, the court will make a tentative ruling on the merits of this matter by 2:00 p.m., the court day before the hearing. To receive the tentative ruling, call the department in which the matter is to be heard at 916-448-8239 (Department 53) or 916-448-8234 (Department 54). 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."

CourtCall Telephonic Appearances

Beginning May 2, 2005, voluntary telephonic appearance may be made on the daily Law and Motion calendars in Departments 53 and 54 through CourtCall, LLC. For information and questions about the Telephonic Appearance Program, please call CourtCall, LLC, rather than the Clerk, at (888) 88-COURT.

Counsel may make a CourtCall Appearance as follows:

          NO LATER THAN 4:00 P.M. ONE (1) COURT DAY PRIOR TO THE HEARING

1. Request limited oral argument by calling the court and advising opposing counsel no later than 4:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing (Local Rule 31(h));
    
2. Deliver a Request for Telephonic Appearance (via fax, mail, or personal delivery) to CourtCall, LLC;
    
3. Payment of a fee of $55.00 to CourtCall, LLC.

Required filing and payment procedures are detailed below in the section "How to Use CourtCall."  A confirmation from CourtCall, LLC, will be faxed to your office upon the filing and fee payment outlined above.

A CourtCall Appearance is made as part of the daily Law and Motion calendar. Unless notified to the contrary, all counsel who have timely filed their request and have paid the fee to the contrary, may appear by dialing the toll-free teleconference number provided by CourtCall, LLC. A pre-hearing check-in will occur five minutes before the scheduled hearing time.

A CourtCall Appearance is voluntary and may be made without consent of the other party or advance consent of the Court. The Court, however, reserves the discretion to require personal appearance. In matters where only one party elects to make a CourtCall Appearance, the matter will be heard on the Court's speakerphone.

How to use CourtCall for the Daily Law and Motion Calendars held in Departments 53 and 54

Filling Out the Form

1. Fill out and Notify:  No later than 4:00 p.m. one (1) court day before the hearing, notify all other counsel and parties appearing in propria persona that you intend to make a CourtCall Appearance. Fill out the Request for Telephonic Appearance form. Check the box indicating method of payment of the $55.00 Telephonic Appearance Fee.
    
2. Deliver Form and Fee to CourtCall, LLC:  Deliver (via fax, mail, or personal delivery) to CourtCall, LLC, a copy of the Request for Telephonic Appearance, no later than 4:00 p.m. one (1) court day before the scheduled hearing.  The Telephonic Appearance is confirmed as a result of receipt of form and payment. Late payment or late filing will preclude confirmation of a Telephonic Appearance to the Court.

Payment by Credit Card: Fill out credit card information only on the copy of the form sent to CourtCall, LLC, and have that copy signed and dated by the person whose name is on the credit card. Do not fill out the credit card information on the copy served on the parties.

Payment by Check:  Make payment arrangements through CourtCall, LLC.

3. Proof of Payment/Telephonic Appearance Confirmation: A copy of your Request for Telephonic Appearance form stamped "Payment Received and Appearance Status Confirmed by CourtCall, LLC" is faxed to you not less than three court days prior to the hearing. If you do not receive faxed proof of payment/appearance status, call CourtCall, LLC, immediately to verify status. Without confirmation, the Court will not permit telephonic appearance.
    
4. Matters Dropped from Calendar: In the event that your scheduled hearing has been dropped from the calendar, you must notify CourtCall, LLC, by 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to the hearing. If notification is timely made, your telephonic appearance will be canceled and a partial refund of $45.00 will be made.

Making the Telephonic Appearance

Make the call only after eliminating, to the greatest extent possible, all ambient noise. Speaking directly into a handset is required during the appearance. Use of a speakerphone while waiting for the case to be called is permissible, but only if the speakerphone can be muted. Use of a cellular, cordless, or personal computer telephone device is prohibited and sanctionable.

Call the department's dedicated telephonic appearance number not less than five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled hearing time to check in with the Clerk. When prompted, dial the 6-digit Access Code provided by CourtCall, LLC. You will be advised whether you are joining the call in progress or are the first to call.

If you are scheduled to appear in multiple departments on the same day, it is your responsibility to coordinate appearances with CourtCall, LLC.

All attorneys appearing via telephone for the calendar will be calling on the same number to join the calendar. If you are the first person on the call, please be patient, even if you experience silence, as the Clerk will join the call in due course. As others join the call, you will hear a mild "beep-beep" indicating others are joining on the line. Until your case is called, please do not speak except to check in with the Clerk. When checking in with the Clerk, state and spell your name, the name of your law firm, and the party being represented. If the Clerk does not join the call within ten (10) minutes after the scheduled hearing time, call CourtCall, LLC, at (888) 88-COURT and you will receive assistance with the problem.

If the call is in progress and your hear voices, wait until an opportunity arises to speak without interrupting others. The Clerk may be checking in attorneys. If Court has commenced, DO NOT INTERRUPT. You will have the opportunity to speak when the Court calls your case for hearing.

Each time you speak during the hearing, state your name for the record. Please conduct your appearance with the same degree of courtesy and courtroom etiquette as would be required during a personal appearance. Do not utilize the "hold" button, as it is not within the policy of the Court to wait for an attorney to rejoin the line.

For information and questions about the Telephone Appearance Program, please call CourtCall, LLC, rather than the Clerk.