Court Rules
About Judicial Officer County of Santa Clara Superior Court of California

The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara is the state trial court serving Santa Clara County. It handles civil, criminal, family, juvenile, and probate matters.

The court's published procedures include juvenile justice, dependency, delinquency, probate, and a standing order on unadjudicated infractions.

Common questions about Santa Clara Superior Court rules

Are courtesy copies required in Santa Clara Superior Court?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for in limine motions, exhibit lists, witness lists, jury instruction requests, proposed special verdicts, stipulations, operative pleadings, statement of cases, and trial briefs. Details: delivery by noon friday before trial, by chambers drop off. Courtesy paper copies of specified pretrial documents must be delivered to the trial judge's department (or Court Services) by noon on the Friday before trial.

View ruleSource: page 7, section RULE 9 C. SERVICE AND LODGING OF DOCUMENTS

Does Santa Clara Superior Court require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Santa Clara Superior Court rules set a pre-motion procedure for covered motions. A Readiness Conference is required on the court day before the Master Trial Calendar, with trial counsel required to appear and notify the court of trial readiness.

View ruleSource: page 2, section RULE 4 HALL OF JUSTICE COURTHOUSE

What page or word limits apply to brief in Santa Clara Superior Court?

Santa Clara Superior Court's rule states these limits: 6 pages. Each side's Informal Discovery Conference brief is limited to no more than 6 pages.

View ruleSource: page 11, section VI. DISCOVERY

What page or word limits apply to evidentiary attachments in Santa Clara Superior Court?

Santa Clara Superior Court's rule states these limits: 10 pages. Evidentiary attachments to pleadings filed with Family Court must not exceed 10 pages, except orders to show cause re contempt or applications for wage assignments; Judicial Council form attachments are excluded.

View ruleSource: page 2, section H. FILING REQUIREMENTS

What formatting rules apply to filings in Santa Clara Superior Court?

Santa Clara Superior Court's formatting rule includes file format docx and when reasonably possible, mark up the official version of the instruction rather than retyping so changes are apparent to the court and other counsel. Proposed jury instructions must be submitted in Word format and, when reasonably possible, should mark up the official version rather than being retyped.

View ruleSource: page 33, section Complex Civil Guidelines

What must be included with stipulations filings in Santa Clara Superior Court?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Counsel must confer before trial, attempt to stipulate, and reduce all stipulations to writing; written stipulations are filed and read aloud into the record during jury trials.

View ruleSource: page 27, section XIII. TRIALS - GENERALLY

What must be included with settlement conference statement filings in Santa Clara Superior Court?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Each party must file a Settlement Conference Statement at least 10 calendar days before the MSC, or 15 calendar days if service is by mail.

View ruleSource: page 55, section Mandatory Settlement Conference

How may parties contact Santa Clara Superior Court?

The rule addresses phone communications with the clerk. Counsel must clear a hearing date with all other parties before contacting the Complex Litigation Clerk, providing the case name, case number, hearing type, requested hearing date, and the filing attorney's name and telephone number, with online reservations possibly available through CourtSchedule.

View ruleSource: page 13, section VII. LAW AND MOTION

How does Santa Clara Superior Court handle sealed or redacted filings?

Santa Clara Superior Court rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Petitions must include two copies of documents, one unredacted and one redacted, in a sealed envelope marked 'confidential'.

View ruleSource: page 4

How do I request an adjournment or extension in Santa Clara Superior Court?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. Moving parties must notify the Court as soon as possible of any matter to be taken off calendar or continued and must provide notice of continuances of hearings.

View ruleSource: page 13, section VII. LAW AND MOTION

Does Santa Clara Superior Court require motion papers to be bundled?

No. The rule prohibits holding covered papers for bundling. Entire sets of written discovery documents may never be lodged with or received by the Court; only extracts are permitted.

View ruleSource: page 37, section XIV. TRIAL EXHIBITS > b. Submission of Exhibits

Is electronic filing required in Santa Clara Superior Court?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Parties filing electronically must use one of the court's approved electronic filing service providers, with procedures available on the court's website.

View ruleSource: page 110, section D. ELECTRONIC FILING AND SERVICE PROCEDURES THAT APPLY IN ALL CASES, INCLUDING CRIMINAL

Are filing fees or waivers addressed in Santa Clara Superior Court?

A fee is required for covered filings, and the rule identifies waiver availability. FCS charges for evaluations; parties must submit deposits or fee waiver requests to FCS within five court days of the evaluation order.

View ruleSource: page 8, section CUSTODY EVALUATIONS AND BRIEF FOCUSED ASSESSMENTS (4)(h)

When is a filing treated as filed in Santa Clara Superior Court?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Private emergency screening hearing must be set within 21 days; all required participants must be present by 3 p.m.

View ruleSource: page 44, section Rule 2(C)(7)

What rule applies to service for application in Santa Clara Superior Court?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. The moving party must send a copy of the application to FCS.

View ruleSource: page 80, section (3) W & I Code Section 329 Application

Does Santa Clara Superior Court encourage junior lawyer participation?

Yes. Santa Clara Superior Court rules include a junior lawyer participation incentive. The Court strongly encourages parties and senior attorneys to allow junior lawyers to participate in all court proceedings, particularly in arguing motions the junior lawyer drafted or significantly contributed to.

View ruleSource: page 13, section VII. LAW AND MOTION
Complete rules summary for Santa Clara Superior Court

The Court will not approve the Settlement Administrator's costs award until the final approval hearing, when admissible evidence supporting the request must be provided.

An SOC may be continued or vacated only upon a letter showing agreement of all parties, filed with the Court Clerk at least two court days before the scheduled SOC, and is deemed approved unless the FSCO Clerk notifies otherwise.

Drop box filings are checked once per court day at 4:00 p.m. and deemed received at that time on retrieval day.

The Court must set a review hearing within 94 calendar days of appointment; if no written objections are received within 10 calendar days before the hearing, no appearance is necessary.

Counsel must confer before trial, attempt to stipulate, and reduce all stipulations to writing; written stipulations are filed and read aloud into the record during jury trials.

Peer Court youth jurors and attorneys may be interviewed only with express permission of the minor and parents/guardians, and may not disclose identifying information or case details about the juvenile offender.

The Court will set a compliance review approximately 94 calendar days after appointment to confirm the Inventory and Appraisal and Notice have been filed and served.

Courtesy paper copies of specified pretrial documents must be delivered to the trial judge's department (or Court Services) by noon on the Friday before trial.

The Capacity Declaration may be designated confidential by attaching a completed Confidential Document Cover Sheet (PB-4003) when filed.

Each party must file a Settlement Conference Statement at least 10 calendar days before the MSC, or 15 calendar days if service is by mail.

Private emergency screening hearing must be set within 21 days; all required participants must be present by 3 p.m.

The personal representative should file a petition for confirmation of sale within 30 days after acceptance of a contract.

Witness lists must include only witnesses the party actually expects to call with a brief synopsis of proposed testimony, and each list must also be prepared in the attached form in addition to the list in the statements.

Parties filing electronically must use one of the court's approved electronic filing service providers, with procedures available on the court's website.

The temporary guardianship petition must state facts establishing urgency.

The Referral for Court Investigator form (PB-4005) must be submitted with the notice of hearing and the original accounting for review by the Court Investigator.

Moving parties must notify the Court as soon as possible of any matter to be taken off calendar or continued and must provide notice of continuances of hearings.

Unless the parties otherwise agree, the plaintiff is responsible for e-filing the ADR stipulation and order.

The moving party must send a copy of the application to FCS.

The party requesting criminal protective order modification must serve the Request on all parties and agencies, including the District Attorney, Adult Probation (if applicable), the accused, and the accused's attorney, at least five days before the hearing.

All represented parties must electronically send all briefs, motions in limine, and witness lists to all parties before settlement conferences.

Counsel must email the assigned judge to determine if a child's return to a parent pending a jurisdiction or disposition hearing is authorized, and the judge will respond on an expedited basis.

Written objections with proof of service must be received by FCS within 15 calendar days of the mailing of the mediated agreement, or the agreement will be submitted to the Court.

Upon filing an affidavit or declaration, the Court may shorten the notice period to five days, permitting sale on the sixth day after publication.

A Referral for Investigator's Report (PB-4002) must be completed, signed under penalty of perjury, and submitted at filing, along with a color photograph of the proposed conservatee.

Motions to continue matters on the Master Trial Calendar must be heard by the Supervising Judge at or before the Readiness Conference.

A small claims party who settles before the hearing must notify the Court in writing at least one court day before the hearing, such as by filing a Request for Dismissal.

Subpoenas for FCS records and the signed Protective Order must be served on FCS at least six weeks before the date the records are required.

For petitions filed by attorneys, the resentencing hearing must be set at least 35 days after filing.

Parties must prepare an Order After Case Resolution Conference on Form FM-1123 and present it to the Court for signature at the conclusion of the CRC hearing.

More Judges in Santa Clara Superior Court

Amber Rosen
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Audra Ibarra
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Benjamin Williams
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Beth McGowen
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Brian J. Buckelew
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Brooke A. Blecher
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Carl Chamberlin
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Christine Copeland
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