Overview of Which Departments Hear Civil Matters

Limited and Unlimited Civil actions excluding Small Claims and Limited Civil Unlawful Detainer cases are heard as outlined below.

The Presiding Judge hears all motions for consolidation, severance, bifurcation, intervention, pretrial conference, coordination, change of venue, consolidation, or to advance or continue trial on UNLIMITED and LIMITED cases.

In Writ of Mandate cases and cases in which a judge has been assigned for all purposes, all motions will be heard in the department of the assigned judge.

The trial judge is responsible for hearing motions in limine, motions for new trial or to set aside and vacate a judgment pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 663, motions to stay judgments, motions to tax costs after trial, and proceedings to settle any statement on appeal.

The CMP judges in departments 38 and 43 hear all cases assigned to the Case Management Program for pre-trial monitoring. Motions regarding judicial arbitration, redesignation of a case, for extension of time to answer a complaint, for relief from CMP rules, or any motion pertaining to the certificate for short cause matters are heard in the CMP departments.

If a judge has been assigned for all purposes, all motions will be heard in that department.

Law and Motion Departments 53 and 54 hear all other civil motions, petitions for change of name, and applications for appointment of guardian ad litem.

Department Hours and Locations

• Presiding Judge
  • 720 9th Street, 6^th Floor
  • 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Law and Motion Department 53
  • 813 6^th Street, 2^nd Floor
  • 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Law and Motion Department 54
  • 813 6^th Street, 2^nd Floor
  • 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Trial Departments
  • Various Locations
  • 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• CMP Department 38
  • 720 9th Street, 5^th Floor
  • 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• CMP Department 43
  • 720 9th Street, 6^th Floor
  • 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

When Motions and Hearings are Set

Motions, excluding ex parte motions, are set at various times and days. Hearings set in trial departments and in departments where a judge has been assigned for all purposes must be arranged directly with that department. Motions set in the Presiding Judge's department, CMP motions, and motions set in the Law and Motion departments should be set according to the following table:

• Presiding Judge - Department 47
  • Tuesday through Friday at 9:30 a.m. except the 2^nd Thursday of each month.
• CMP Motions - Department 38 and Department 43
  • Friday at 8:30 a.m.
• Law and Motion Department 53
  • Tuesday through Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
• Law and Motion Department 54
  • Tuesday through Thursday at 9:00 a.m.

Reservation Information for Law & Motion Departments 53 and 54

All hearing dates must be reserved in advance by calling the clerk of the assigned Law and Motion Department before submitting moving documents to the Court. Any motion submitted without a reserved hearing date will be subject to rejection. Phone hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed from 12:00-1:00).

• Department 53 – 916-874-7858
• Department 54 – 916-874-7848

Filing Instructions

Motions heard in the Presiding Judge may be filed or dropped off on the first floor at 720 9th Street in Room 102, or may be submitted by mail.

Motions heard in the Law and Motion departments (Department 53 or Department 54) may be filed at the Hall of Justice Building, 813 6^th Street, second floor or in the Civil Law and Motion Drop Box located in the Public Service Lobby on the first floor, or may be submitted by mail.

Motions heard by a judge assigned for all purposes or those heard by the trial judge are filed directly in the appropriate department and fees are paid at the Civil Filing Windows at 720 9th Street, Room 102.

All other motions may be submitted by mail or dropped off at the drop boxes in Room 102, on the first floor at 720 9th Street.

Alternatives to Appearing at a Hearing

The Court strongly encourages all parties to appear remotely, either telephonically or by video conference via the Zoom video/audio conference platform, subject to Code of Civil Procedure §367.75 - external link whenever possible, with the exception of the following evidentiary hearings: Civil Jury Trials, Civil Short Cause Trials, Order of Examination (OX) Hearings, and Civil Harassment Hearings/Trials.

If appearing remotely, parties are required to participate in their hearing using a device that has video and/or audio capability (i.e. computer, smartphone, or tablet). Although remote participation is not required, the Court will presume all parties are appearing remotely for non-evidentiary civil hearings. Requirements for noticing remote appearances depend on whether the civil hearing is evidentiary or non-evidentiary. Information on how to appear remotely is listed in the tentative ruling.

For additional information, please refer to the Court's Public Notice – Civil Hearings Effective Monday, January 3, 2022.

In addition, the Court offers the tentative ruling system to view tentative rulings for the CMP departments, department of the Presiding Judge, Law and Motion departments, or any other department regarding a civil action or proceeding not involving oral testimony.