Lassen Superior Court Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICALProposed or draft document; may not be in force

Ex parte communication about a pending case is prohibited between the listed child custody professionals and parties, their attorneys, child’s appointed counsel, or the court, except for the stated circumstances.

Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 5.235(b)(2), ex parte communication is defined as a direct or indirect communication on the substance of a pending case without the knowledge, presence, or consent of all parties involved in the matter. Ex parte communication is prohibited between the court-connected or court appointed child custody recommending counselors /evaluators/mediator and any party, the attorney for any party, a court-appointed counsel for a child, or the court, unless: (a) Authorized by the court; (b) to schedule appointments; (c) address a case involving allegations of domestic violence including informing the court of the necessity of a restraining order to prevent an imminent risk to the safety of the child or party; carry out the responsibilities child custody recommending counselors/evaluators/mediators may have as mandated reporters or to warn; (d) to provide an interview to a court-appointed counsel for a child;

CRITICALProposed or draft document; may not be in force

Ex parte communications about the merits of a pending case are not permitted with the Court, the Presiding Judge, the Court Executive Officer, or court staff.

This rule does not permit ex parte communications with the Court, the Presiding Judge, the Court Executive Officer, or court staff concerning the merits of a pending case.

CRITICALProposed or draft document; may not be in force

Case-specific relief must be sought through an appropriate procedure authorized by law; the complaint or feedback process cannot be used to affect a case or its outcome.

Requests for orders, relief, correction of an order, reconsideration, appeal, writ review, or other case-specific action must be made by appropriate filing, motion, request, appeal, writ, or other procedure authorized by law. The complaint or feedback process may not be used to change, delay, review, or otherwise affect a ruling, order, judgment, deadline, or case outcome.

CRITICAL

Counsel and self-represented litigants who wish to use the courtroom evidence display equipment must request and arrange its use with court staff at least five court days before trial using the specified form.

The courtrooms in the Lassen Superior Court Hall of Justice are equipped with evidence display systems. The equipment is available for counsel and self-represented litigants to use at trial, and consists of a document/object camera, DVD, VCR, and CD player. Counsel and self-represented litigants are to submit requests and make arrangements with court staff for use of the equipment at least five (5) court days prior to trial using the Request/Notification for Courtroom Audio/Visual Presentation Equipment (LSC-MIS- 400) form.

WARNINGProposed or draft document; may not be in force

Contact

Phone

An opposing party who does not object may notify the Court of unavailable dates within the next two months using form LSC-TR-101 or by phone or in writing, as soon as possible and no later than five days after service.

If the opposing party does not object to the postponement, but has dates of unavailability within the following two (2) months, the opposing party may use form LSC-TR-101 to notify the Court of those dates. The opposing party may also notify the Court by phone or in writing as soon as possible but not more than five (5) days from the date of service of the request.

WARNINGProposed or draft document; may not be in force

Submitting correspondence, a complaint, concern, or review request does not entitle the submitter to an in-person meeting or direct telephone conference with the specified court officials or staff.

Submission of correspondence, a complaint, concern, or request for review does not, by itself, require an in-person meeting or direct telephone conference with the Presiding Judge, Court Executive Officer, or court staff.

INFOProposed or draft document; may not be in force

Defendants requesting review of a denied reduction must contact the Clerk’s Office for information about the review process.

Defendants requesting a review shall contact the Clerk’s Office for additional information on the steps for doing so.