Santa Barbara Superior Court Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

Contact

Letter fax to clerk

and shall thereafter fax a copy of the Appeal to the Clerk.

and shall thereafter fax a copy of the Appeal to the Clerk.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

(805) 882-4570

To schedule an ex parte hearing with Department 5, a party must call the assigned judicial officer’s assistant by 10:00 a.m. on the preceding court day, unless the court allows an earlier hearing for good cause.

Unless the court grants leave for an earlier hearing upon a showing of good cause, a party must obtain a date and time for hearing an ex parte application by telephonic request to the assistant of the judicial officer to whom the case has been assigned no later than 10:00 a.m. on the court day before the hearing is set. Telephonic requests may be made to: Santa Barbara Civil Departments: Department 5 (805) 882-4570

CRITICAL

If reassignment notice has not been entered, the challenging party must immediately give oral notice to the court and all parties that a challenge will be filed.

If notice of reassignment has not been entered, a party making a challenge shall immediately give oral notice to the court and to all parties that a challenge will be filed.

CRITICAL

Unless the court orders otherwise, a plaintiff seeking default judgment by live testimony must arrange the hearing through the calendar clerk.

Unless otherwise ordered by the court, to obtain a court judgment by live testimony, the plaintiff must arrange for a hearing on the application through the calendar clerk,

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to clerk

When an appeal is filed at an approved treatment facility, the assigned Deputy Clerk must promptly call the Clerk or designee to obtain a case number.

(a)(2) If the filing of an Appeal is at an approved treatment facility, the Deputy Clerk assigned at the treatment facility shall promptly call the Clerk or his or her designee for assignment of a case number

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

(805) 614-6500

To request a civil ex parte matter, contact Judicial Secretary Alison Villarruel by phone.

To request a civil ex parte matter, contact Judicial Secretary Alison Villarruel at (805) 614-6500.

CRITICAL

When a civil case settles before trial, the party demanding a jury must notify the Jury Commissioner by 3:00 p.m. on the court day before trial.

In the event a civil case settles prior to the commencement of trial, the party who has demanded trial by jury shall notify the Jury Commissioner no later than 3:00 p.m. on the court day prior to the date set for trial.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

(805) 614-6500

To schedule an ex parte hearing with Department 1 in Santa Maria, a party must call the assigned judicial officer’s assistant by 10:00 a.m. on the preceding court day, unless the court allows an earlier hearing for good cause.

Unless the court grants leave for an earlier hearing upon a showing of good cause, a party must obtain a date and time for hearing an ex parte application by telephonic request to the assistant of the judicial officer to whom the case has been assigned no later than 10:00 a.m. on the court day before the hearing is set. Telephonic requests may be made to: Santa Maria Civil Departments: Department 1 (805) 614-6500

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

(805) 882-4590

To schedule an ex parte hearing with Department 6, a party must call the assigned judicial officer’s assistant by 10:00 a.m. on the preceding court day, unless the court allows an earlier hearing for good cause.

Unless the court grants leave for an earlier hearing upon a showing of good cause, a party must obtain a date and time for hearing an ex parte application by telephonic request to the assistant of the judicial officer to whom the case has been assigned no later than 10:00 a.m. on the court day before the hearing is set. Telephonic requests may be made to: Santa Barbara Civil Departments: Department 6 (805) 882-4590

CRITICAL

Contact

Letter fax to clerk

A copy of the completed Notice of Certification must be promptly faxed to the Clerk.

A copy of the form shall then be promptly faxed to the Clerk.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

(805) 882-4590

To schedule an ex parte hearing with Department 4, a party must call the assigned judicial officer’s assistant by 10:00 a.m. on the preceding court day, unless the court allows an earlier hearing for good cause.

Unless the court grants leave for an earlier hearing upon a showing of good cause, a party must obtain a date and time for hearing an ex parte application by telephonic request to the assistant of the judicial officer to whom the case has been assigned no later than 10:00 a.m. on the court day before the hearing is set. Telephonic requests may be made to: Santa Barbara Civil Departments: Department 4 (805) 882-4590

CRITICAL

Parties and lawyers must not communicate directly or indirectly with the judicial officer about a pending special circumstances case.

Neither a party nor a lawyer may communicate directly or indirectly with a judicial officer regarding a special circumstances case pending before that judicial officer.

CRITICAL

A lawyer may not send correspondence between counsel, or between counsel and an unrepresented party, to the judicial officer about a pending matter without the judicial officer’s prior approval on the record or by written order, except as an attachment to a pleading.

Except as an attachment to a pleading, a lawyer may not transmit correspondence between counsel or between counsel and an unrepresented party to a judicial officer regarding a matter pending before that judicial officer without prior approval of that judicial officer either on the record or by written order.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

In a civil action, lawyers and parties must not email a judicial officer about a pending case without the officer’s prior authorization and notice to opposing counsel or an unrepresented party.

No lawyer or party to any civil action may communicate by electronic mail directly or indirectly with a judicial officer regarding a pending case without prior authorization from the judicial officer and notice to opposing council or unrepresented party.

CRITICALCivil cases

Tell the security guard that you are delivering exhibits.

Please inform the security guard that you are delivering exhibits.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Phone

A party with more than 200 exhibits must contact the court department for numbering instructions.

If either party has more than 200 exhibits, they must contact the court department for numbering instructions. Phone numbers are listed on page 2 and 3.

CRITICALCivil cases

Do not submit ex parte correspondence to the commissioner with exhibits; submitted ex parte communications will not be considered, and arguments must be presented at trial.

DO NOT include any ex parte correspondence to the commissioner with your exhibit submission. Any ex parte communication submitted will not be read or considered. You must present your arguments at the trial.

CRITICAL

The scheduled mediation appointment must be canceled with the Secretary at least seven calendar days beforehand.

(2) Cancel the mediation appointment with the Secretary no less than seven (7) calendar days before the scheduled mediation.

CRITICAL

Except as permitted by law including these Rules, neither a lawyer nor a party may communicate directly or indirectly with a judicial officer regarding a case pending before that judicial officer without notice to and attendance by opposing counsel or unrepresented opposing party. Indirect communication includes but is not limited to communication with a judicial officer’s staff. To communicate includes but is not limited to contact through in person discussion, by telephone or by correspondence through mail, express mail, overnight delivery, facsimile transmission, electronic mail, or electronic service.

Except as permitted by law including these Rules, neither a lawyer nor a party may communicate directly or indirectly with a judicial officer regarding a case pending before that judicial officer without notice to and attendance by opposing counsel or unrepresented opposing party. Indirect communication includes but is not limited to communication with a judicial officer’s staff. To communicate includes but is not limited to contact through in person discussion, by telephone or by correspondence through mail, express mail, overnight delivery, facsimile transmission, electronic mail, or electronic service.

CRITICALCivil cases

Do not include ex parte correspondence with an exhibit submission; submitted ex parte communications will not be considered, and arguments must be presented at trial.

DO NOT include any ex parte correspondence to the judge with your exhibits submission. Any ex parte communication submitted will not be read or considered. You must present your arguments at the trial.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

(805) 614-6500

To schedule an ex parte hearing with Department 2 in Santa Maria, a party must call the assigned judicial officer’s assistant by 10:00 a.m. on the preceding court day, unless the court allows an earlier hearing for good cause.

Unless the court grants leave for an earlier hearing upon a showing of good cause, a party must obtain a date and time for hearing an ex parte application by telephonic request to the assistant of the judicial officer to whom the case has been assigned no later than 10:00 a.m. on the court day before the hearing is set. Telephonic requests may be made to: Santa Maria Civil Departments: Department 2 (805) 614-6500

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

(805) 882-4570

To schedule an ex parte hearing with Department 3, a party must call the assigned judicial officer’s assistant by 10:00 a.m. on the preceding court day, unless the court allows an earlier hearing for good cause.

Unless the court grants leave for an earlier hearing upon a showing of good cause, a party must obtain a date and time for hearing an ex parte application by telephonic request to the assistant of the judicial officer to whom the case has been assigned no later than 10:00 a.m. on the court day before the hearing is set. Telephonic requests may be made to: Santa Barbara Civil Departments: Department 3 (805) 882-4570

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

(805) 614-6515

To schedule an ex parte hearing with Department 4 in Santa Maria, a party must call the assigned judicial officer’s assistant by 10:00 a.m. on the preceding court day, unless the court allows an earlier hearing for good cause.

Unless the court grants leave for an earlier hearing upon a showing of good cause, a party must obtain a date and time for hearing an ex parte application by telephonic request to the assistant of the judicial officer to whom the case has been assigned no later than 10:00 a.m. on the court day before the hearing is set. Telephonic requests may be made to: Santa Maria Civil Departments: Department 4 (805) 614-6515

CRITICAL

Counsel must arrange a hearing for a default-judgment application involving live testimony through the calendar clerk.

It is the responsibility of counsel to arrange to set the hearing through the calendar clerk.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

In criminal actions, email communication with a judicial officer about a pending case requires notice and prior authorization; the officer may authorize it for the listed courtesy-copy, therapeutic-court, non-merits notice, and emergency purposes.

No lawyer or party to any criminal action may communicate by electronic mail directly or indirectly with a judicial officer regarding a pending case without notice and prior authorization from the judicial officer. Authorization may be granted in the discretion of the judicial officer in the following situations: a. Service of courtesy copies of pleadings on the court and opposing counsel or unrepresented party. b. Service of courtesy copies of trial documents including proposed jury instructions, witness lists, motions in limine jury questions and questionnaires and exhibit lists. c. Service of any documents approved for distribution by electronic mail by a judicial officer presiding over a therapeutic court. d. Notice to the court and opposing counsel or an unrepresented party on matters not involving the merits of a pending case including, for example, scheduling. e. Emergency communications provided the procedures addressed in G. 4., above, are followed.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

When prior approval allows pleadings to be emailed to a judicial officer, the email envelope and cover message must not argue the merits or personally attack opposing counsel or a party.

To the extent electronic mail is used to transmit pleadings to a judicial officer with prior approval, the electronic mail envelope and cover message may not be used to argue the merits of the pending matter or personally attack opposing counsel or party.

CRITICAL

If the will was previously lodged for safekeeping, the petitioner must notify the clerk when filing the probate petition.

If the will was previously lodged for safekeeping, it is petitioner’s responsibility to notify the clerk upon filing the petition for probate that the will was previously lodged.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

If the court has not directed argument, a party intending to appear must notify the court by 4:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing.

As set forth in CRC 3.1308, if the court has not directed argument, oral argument must be permitted only if a party notifies all other parties and the court by 4:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing of the party’s intention to appear.

WARNING

Do not include ex parte correspondence to the judge with exhibit submissions; present arguments at trial.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT include any ex parte correspondence to the judge with your exhibit submissions. Any ex parte communication submitted will not be read or considered. You must present your arguments at the trial.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Phone

A party must contact the department secretary by phone to learn the hours available for exhibit delivery.

Contact the department secretary at the number below for the hours they will be available to accept delivery.

WARNING

Even when an ex parte application or communication is permitted without notice, a lawyer should diligently try to notify the opposing party or their lawyer and reasonably accommodate that lawyer’s schedule so the opposing party can be represented.

Even where applicable laws or rules permit an ex parte application or communication to the court without notice to opposing counsel or unrepresented party, before making such an application or communication, a lawyer should make diligent efforts to notify the opposing party or a lawyer known to represent or likely to represent the opposing party or the unrepresented party and should make reasonable efforts to accommodate the schedule of such lawyer to permit the opposing party to be represented on the application.

WARNING

Even when emergency ex parte relief is permitted, a lawyer should apply or communicate ex parte, including to shorten a time period, only for a bona fide emergency in which regular notice would prejudice the client.

Even where an ex parte application or communication to the court in an emergency situation is permitted by law or these Rules, a lawyer should make such an application or communication (including an application to shorten an otherwise applicable time period) only where there is a bona fide emergency such that the lawyer's client will be prejudiced by a failure to make the application or communication on regular notice.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Email to opposing counsel or an unrepresented party about the merits of a pending matter should not be copied to the presiding judicial officer.

Electronic mail addressed to opposing counsel or unrepresented party regarding the merits of a pending matter should not be copied to the judicial officer presiding on the matter.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Phone

Phone

805-882-4590

A party with more than 200 exhibits must call the court department for numbering instructions.

If either party has more than 200 exhibits, they must contact the court department for numbering instructions at 805-882-4590.