Rockcastle County Circuit Court, Kentucky Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

If the parties cannot agree on a mediator or mediation service, they must notify the court so it can select one.

If the parties cannot agree, they shall notify the court, which will select a formal mediator or a mediation service.

CRITICAL

The deceased party’s attorney must notify the Court and opposing counsel in writing within 10 days of learning of the death.

If a party dies during the pendency of any proceeding, the attorney representing the deceased party shall promptly notify in writing the Court and opposing counsel within 10 days of learning of the party's death.

CRITICAL

Moving counsel must contact the Domestic Relations Commissioner before filing to schedule a hearing and provide its anticipated length.

Prior to the filing of a motion to be heard by the Domestic Relations Commissioner, counsel for the moving party shall contact the Domestic Relations Commissioner to schedule a time for hearing of the motion. Counsel shall inform the Domestic Relations Commissioner of the anticipated length of the hearing.

CRITICAL

After hours, agencies handling an emergency protective or domestic violence order petition must contact a judge or trial commissioner for consideration, following the stated order of availability.

A. Police agencies or other offices handling a petition for an Emergency Protective Order or Domestic Violence Order after business hours without the assistance of the circuit clerk or deputy clerk shall contact for consideration of the Petition: 1. If it can be determined that a dissolution action or child custody action is pending within the county in circuit court, the circuit judge presiding over the pending case. If that judge is unavailable, then to the other circuit judge or a district judge, or district court trial commissioner, in that order; 2. otherwise, to the district judge. If the district judge is unavailable, then to a district court trial commissioner, if any, or to a circuit judge, in that order.

CRITICAL

Moving counsel must contact the Domestic Relations Commissioner before filing to schedule the hearing and provide its anticipated length.

Prior to the filing of a motion to be heard by the Domestic Relations Commissioner, counsel for the moving party shall contact the Domestic Relations Commissioner to schedule a time for hearing of the motion. Counsel shall inform the Domestic Relations Commissioner of the anticipated length of the hearing.

CRITICAL

If a matter is resolved before its scheduled hearing, the Domestic Relations Commissioner must be notified immediately so the reserved time can be used for other litigants.

If the matter to be heard is resolved prior to the time fixed for the hearing, the Domestic Relations Commissioner shall be notified immediately so that the time reserved for the hearing will be available to other litigants.

CRITICAL

The judge may set hearings for extremely urgent matters at any appropriate time, and counsel must arrange a hearing date.

Matters of extreme urgency will be set by the judge for hearings at any appropriate time. Counsel must arrange a hearing date.

CRITICAL

After business hours, police agencies or other offices handling a petition must contact a judge or commissioner for consideration, following the specified order based on whether a dissolution or child custody case is pending.

A. Police agencies or other offices handling a petition for an Emergency Protective Order or Domestic Violence Order after business hours without the assistance of the circuit clerk or deputy clerk shall contact for consideration of the Petition: 1. If it can be determined that a dissolution action or child custody action is pending within the county in circuit court, the circuit judge presiding over the pending case. If that judge is unavailable, then to the other circuit judge or a district judge, or district court trial commissioner, in that order; 2. otherwise, to the district judge. If the district judge is unavailable, then to a district court trial commissioner, if any, or to a circuit judge, in that order.

WARNING

Staff mediators must not communicate settlement efforts to the Court except as reflected in the non-staff mediation techniques described in the practices.

Staff mediators shall not communicate to the Court regarding any settlement efforts except as non-staft mediation techniques are reflected herein.

WARNING

Counsel must notify the Domestic Relations Commissioner when a hearing is expected to exceed one hour so a special hearing time can be arranged.

when counsel expects that a hearing will exceed one hour in duration, the Domestic Relations Commissioner shall be notified so that a special hearing time can be arranged.

WARNING

Before filing exceptions, parties should bring typographical errors, ambiguities, or inadvertent omissions in the Commissioner's report to the Commissioner’s attention.

Typographical errors or ambiguities, or inadvertent omissions in the report of the Domestic Relations Commissioner should be brought to the attention of the Domestic Relations Commissioner prior to the filing of exceptions.

WARNING

Typographical errors or ambiguities, or inadvertent omissions in the report of the Domestic Relations Commissioner should be brought to the attention of the Domestic Relations Commissioner prior to the filing of exceptions.

Typographical errors or ambiguities, or inadvertent omissions in the report of the Domestic Relations Commissioner should be brought to the attention of the Domestic Relations Commissioner prior to the filing of exceptions.

WARNING

Counsel must notify the Domestic Relations Commissioner when a hearing is expected to exceed one hour so a special hearing time can be arranged.

when counsel expects that a hearing will exceed one hour in duration, the Domestic Relations Commissioner shall be notified so that a special hearing time can be arranged.

WARNING

Petitioners seeking to initiate contempt proceedings should contact the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office in the county where the order was issued.

Petitioners seeking to initiate contempt proceedings should contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Office in the county where the order was issued.

WARNING

Counsel must notify the Domestic Relations Commissioner when the hearing fee has been paid.

Counsel shall notify the Domestic Relations Commissioner of the payment of said fee.

WARNING

If the matter to be heard is resolved prior to the time fixed for the hearing, the Domestic Relations Commissioner shall be notified immediately so that the time reserved for the hearing will be available to other litigants.

If the matter to be heard is resolved prior to the time fixed for the hearing, the Domestic Relations Commissioner shall be notified immediately so that the time reserved for the hearing will be available to other litigants.

WARNING

Contact

Phone to chambers

Attorneys should call the Judge's secretary to schedule a final trial or file motions to obtain a final hearing date.

Attorneys should call the Judge's secretary to schedule a final trial or file motions for a final hearing date.

INFO

Petitioners seeking to initiate contempt proceedings should contact the Circuit Clerk, County Attorney, a law enforcement agency, or a peace officer.

Petitioners seeking to initiate contempt proceedings should contact: The Circuit Clerk, County Attorney, any Law Enforcement Agency or Peace Officer.

INFO

Petitioners seeking to initiate criminal contempt proceedings should contact the Circuit Clerk, County Attorney, a law enforcement agency, or a peace officer.

B. Petitioners seeking to initiate criminal contempt proceedings should contact the Circuit Clerk, County Attorney, any Law Enforcement Agency or Peace Officer.

INFO

Counsel may approach the bench at the beginning of the docket to alert the Court that an extended evidentiary hearing is needed and the case should be rescheduled.

Counsel for either party may approach the bench at the beginning of the docket to advise the Court that an extended evidentiary hearing will be required and the case should be rescheduled to an appropriate date.

INFO

Parties or counsel should contact the Family Court office to request an intake form to determine eligibility for staff mediation.

To determine if parties qualify for informal staff mediation, parties or their counsel should contact the Family Court office to request an intake form.