Civil

Civil

Civil items pending

The Court is experiencing a processing backlog in Civil. These are rough estimates intended to give a general idea of the current workflow. We are unable to provide specific timelines for when individual items will be completed.

If you are checking the status of an item and the date of your submission is significantly earlier than the date displayed, contact the Clerk’s Office during regular business hours for assistance.

The Court understands that timely processing is important. We are working to process items as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience as clerks work through the backlog.

Civil information

• Lodi Court contact information
• Manteca Court contact information
• Pro Per Clinic hours and services
• Download civil form packets
• Download name change form packets

Direct calendaring of civil cases

Per Local Rule 3-101, civil cases are assigned to a judicial officer for all purposes at the time of filing. Direct calendaring does not limit the Presiding Judge’s authority to assign or reassign cases. At the time of the initial filing, the Clerk’s Office generates a Notice of Case Assignment and Notice of Hearing identifying the judicial officer assigned for all purposes, including trial. A copy of this notice must be included with service of the complaint, summons, and ADR information upon all named defendants. “This case has been assigned to Judge ______________ in Department _____ for all purposes including trial.”

Calendar and judicial assignment

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Notice of how to appear remotely

1. For case management conferences, law and motion hearings, and ex parte hearings, parties may appear remotely pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75 and California Rule of Court, rule 3.672.
   1. Parties may stipulate (orally or in writing) to waive notice of other participants’ remote appearance for these hearings.
   2. The Court waives notice of parties appearing remotely for these hearings.
   3. The judicial officer may require parties to appear in person for these hearings.
   4. Remote appearance will not be permitted if the tentative ruling states an in-person appearance is required, or if the court advises the requester that an in-person appearance is necessary.
2. For these hearings, the Court provides a telephone bridge conference line (audio only).
   1. To attend remotely, call (209) 992-5590 and follow the prompts. Use the bridge number and PIN for the department:
      • Dept. 10A (Judge Abdallah): Bridge 6938; PIN 3784
      • Dept. 10B (Judge Bañuelos): Bridge 6939; PIN 3892
      • Dept. 10C (Judge Lee): Bridge 6937; PIN 6822
      • Dept. 10D (Judge Kronlund): Bridge 6940; PIN 3782
      • Dept. 11A (Judge Zendejas): Bridge 6934; PIN 5986
      • Dept. 11B (Judge Waters): Bridge 6941; PIN 5564
   2. At the judicial officer’s discretion, Zoom video may be used. The Court may provide the meeting link or require a party to provide notice of the link.
   3. Recording, reproducing, or rebroadcasting a remote court proceeding (including screenshots or other copying) is prohibited.
3. For evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences, bench trials, court trials, jury trials, and hearings on orders to show cause, parties must appear in person unless they request and receive express written authorization from the judicial officer to appear remotely.
   1. To request remote appearance, file and serve Notice of Remote Appearance (RA-010) and submit Order Regarding Remote Appearance (RA-020) no later than 10 court days before the proceeding. The judicial officer will indicate whether the request is granted or denied.
   2. Any party may file and serve Opposition to Remote Proceedings (RA-015) no later than 5 court days before the proceeding.
   3. Deliver a copy of any notice or opposition under (a) or (b) to the department where the proceeding will be held.

For case management conferences and further case management conferences: the courtroom clerk will make announcements and the judge will call the calendar. Please mute your phone when you are not speaking, and unmute when speaking.

Law and motion

Motions are heard Tuesday through Friday (except when Tuesday is the first court day of the week) at 9:00 AM. When submitting moving papers for filing, provide at least five available dates (within the proper time provisions) for the clerk to check. Proof of service must be on file before the scheduled hearing. Motions are heard remotely unless otherwise directed by the judge or department.

Court assignment information

View current scheduling information for civil cases.

Courtesy copies: Local Rule 3-117 requires courtesy copies for all substantive motions and trial documents, and may be required on a case-by-case basis by the judge. Deliver courtesy copies to the drop box on the 1st floor. Failure to provide courtesy copies may result in continuances, monetary sanctions, or other sanctions permitted by law. CCP sections 128 and 575.1.

Civil petitions to approve compromise of a minor are heard by the Probate Judge (currently Judge Humphreys in Dept. 11A) on Mondays only. Hearings are scheduled pursuant to CRC rule 7.950 et seq.

Tentative rulings

The Stockton courthouse uses the tentative ruling system for law and motion matters. This process does not include unlawful detainers (evictions).

Tentative rulings are posted electronically by 1:30 PM the day before the hearing. To view a tentative ruling, visit Tentative Rulings under Online Services and follow the prompts.

To contest or argue a tentative ruling, email civilcourtclerks@sjcourts.org no later than 4:00 PM the day before the hearing. Include the department, case number, case name, and party name in the email subject line. In the email, include the department, case number, case name, motion, party name, email address, hearing date and time, issues to be argued, and confirmation that the opposing party has been informed. Notify affected counsel or unrepresented parties by 4:00 PM the day before the hearing. If the Court and opposing counsel are not notified, the tentative ruling becomes the ruling without oral argument.

At this time, the Court cannot provide information over the phone. To communicate with the courtroom clerk for your assigned department, email civilcourtclerks@sjcourts.org and include the department, case number, case name, and party name in the subject line.

To help ensure the Court has your most current contact information, register your email address and mobile number under Online Services, Attorney Registration.

Ex parte matters

To schedule an ex parte matter, contact the appropriate civil courtroom for approval before filing documents in the clerk’s office. This process does not include unlawful detainers (evictions).

Mandatory settlement conferences: trial counsel, parties, and persons with full authority to settle must personally attend unless excused by the judge for good cause.

Telephone appearances information

Unless otherwise ordered, parties may appear by telephone at case management conferences, law and motion hearings, and fast track (OSC) hearings. To appear by telephone, follow the instructions in the “Notice of how to appear remotely” section above. Counsel and self-represented parties must be available at the designated time and remain available until the matter is heard.