Temporary Judges' Program

Temporary Judges can serve as Judicial Officers at the Superior Court. This page provides information about the Temporary Judges' program, including:

1. Overview
2. Requirements
3. Online Application Process
4. Education and Training
5. Training Materials ("eBinders")
6. Civil Settlement Conference Availability Form
7. Complaint Procedure
8. Contacting the Program Administrator

1. Overview

Under California Rules of Court , qualified and experienced attorneys may volunteer their time to serve as part of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara's Temporary Judges' Program. Temporary judges are appointed and serve at the discretion of the Court. The Presiding Judge's letter of invitation   to the Bay Area legal community provides information about the Court's Temporary Judges' Program.

2. Requirements

• Experience:
  • Attorneys who have been members of the California State Bar for at least ten years
• Conditions for appointment:
  • Is a member of the State Bar in good standing with no disciplinary action pending;
  • Has not pled guilty or no contest to a felony, and has not been convicted of a felony that has not been reversed;
  • Has satisfied the education and training requirements below
  • Has satisfied all other general and specific conditions the Court may establish for appointment.
• Training requirements:
  • Mandatory courses:
    • Bench Conduct and Demeanor
    • Judicial Ethics for Temporary Judges
  • Substantive Training:
    • Before appointment, successful completion within the previous three years of a course on the substantive law (Civil, DV, Ethics, Family, Juvenile, Small Claims, Traffic) in each subject area to be served

3. Online Application Process

Click the links below to access and submit these web forms.
Note: the forms must be completed and submitted ONLINE.

• Temporary Judge Application form
• Training Placement Questionnaire

4. Education and Training

• Local training:
  

  Mandatory courses, as well as substantive classes, are offered by the Superior Court in Santa Clara County at various times during the year, as part of the Temporary Judges' program. Local courses may qualify for MCLE credit. Locally provided training materials are available for download, from this web page.
  
  

  Course Name	Date	Check-in time	Class time	Location	RSVP
  Bench Conduct and Demeanor (mandatory) (Click for local training materials)	July 12, 2013	1:00 p.m.	1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	111 N. Market, Ste. 950, San Jose	To register please send an email to: rsvpjud@scscourt.org (enter course name in email Subject line)
  Small Claims for Temporary Judges (Click for local training materials)	July 26, 2013	1:00 p.m	1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	111 N. Market, Ste. 950, San Jose	To register please send an email to: rsvpjud@scscourt.org (enter course name in email Subject line)
  Judicial Ethics for Temporary Judges (mandatory) (Training materials coming soon)	Aug. 22, 2013	1:00 p.m	1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	111 N. Market, Ste. 950, San Jose	To register please send an email to: rsvpjud@scscourt.org (enter course name in email Subject line)
  Bench Conduct and Demeanor (mandatory) (Click for local training materials)	Oct. 25, 2013	1:00 p.m.	1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	111 N. Market, Ste. 950, San Jose	To register please send an email to: rsvpjud@scscourt.org (enter course name in email Subject line)

  
  
  • Bench Conduct and Demeanor:

    The Bench Conduct and Demeanor training class must be taken in person and be taught by a qualified judicial. MCLE credits will be provided to you at no cost.
    
    Click for Bench Conduct and Demeanor course online preparation materials  on the AOC Education site.
    

  • Judicial Ethics:

    Mandatory Judicial Ethics courses are available on-line: AOC Temporary Judge Resources website . Upon completion of the course, please enter your name and the date, print out the certificate of completion, and email it to the Temporary Judge Administrator at TJP@scscourt.org. (Fax is also available: 408-882-2796.) Local classroom training may also be available - please check back later.

• Other Training Resources:
  

  The AOC Temporary Judge Resources website  provides mandatory and subject-area (Civil, DV, Ethics, Family, Juvenile, Small Claims, Traffic) substantive online courses, publications, and participatory materials developed by the Education Division/California Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER), for use by judges, commissioners, and referees. Online courses may qualify for MCLE credit.
  

• Prerequisites:
  

  Prior to attending the mandatory Bench Conduct and Demeanor class, interested applicants must complete two short exercises entitled Self Monitor Scale and Implicit Association Test. Please access the AOC Temporary Judge Resources website  for completion. These exercises are for self-evaluation - it is not necessary to save or bring results to class.

• Training verification:

  To verify AOC online course completion and to maintain good standing with the local Temporary Judges' Program, please fill out the Certificate of Completion at the end of each course, and email a copy to TJP@scscourt.org.

5. Training Materials - TJP eBinders   Bench Conduct and Demeanor eBinder - Click to open    Judicial Ethics eBinder - Coming soon Traffic Court eBinder [click + to expand] Tab 1 - Introduction Bench Guide for Traffic  2009 Traffic Citations Processed  2010 Traffic Citations Processed  2011 Traffic Citations Processed  Role of the Traffic Judge  Court Contact Information  Resource Materials - Penalties for Specific Infractions  Tab 2 - Arraignment Arraignment Advisement  Traffic Arraignment speech  revised Dec. 10, 2012 Traffic Overview Course - Pleas  Words of Wisdom  DMV Disposition Codes  Misdemeanors and Infractions  Correctable Violations  Tab 3 - Trials TDN/Readiness Procedures  Temporary Judge Traffic powerpoint  Speed Surveys  Engineering and Traffic Survey sample  Officer's Declaration sample  Traffic Trial Checklist  Radar/Lidar Checklist  How does a laser speed gun work?  Speed Enforcement Review  Speedometer Pace  Trials by Declaration and Civil Assessments  Vehicle Code Point Count  Elements of Common Offenses powerpoint  Tab 4 - Sentencing Rule of Court 4.104  Fines, Fees, and Penalty Assessment  Traffic School Do's and Don'ts  310% Traffic School Fines  citations after 6/28/12 300% Traffic School Fines  citations after 9/1/11 310% Penalty Assessment  citations after 6/28/12 300% Penalty Assessment  citations after 1/1/11 300% Penalty Assessment  citations after 10/19/10 300% Penalty Assessment  citations after 6/10/10 310% PA Chart  300% PA Chart  Notice to Appear sample  Convelope sample  Mandatory Minimum Fines  Benchguide 74  License Suspensions  Tab 5 - Appeals Appeals  CR-144 - Order Concerning Appellant's Proposed Statement on Appeal

• Small Claims Court eBinder [click + to expand]
  • eBinder Cover Page 
  • Tab 1 - Small Claims Procedures and Practices
    • Small Claims Powerpoint 
    • Bench Guide 34 
    • Small Claims Jurisdiction and Venue Checklist 
    • Who May Appear in a Small Claims Action 
    • Checklist for Entering a Default Judgment in Small Claims Court 
    • Sample Statement of Decision and Sample Statement for Taking a Case Under Submission 
    • Canons of Judicial Ethics for Temporary Judges 
    • Grounds for Disqualification of a Small Claims Court Judge 
    • Statutes of Limitation Table 
    • Proof of Service 
  • Tab 2 - Consumer Sales
    • §4.05 Home Improvement Contracts–Definitions 
    • §4.06 Home Improvement Contracts– Contract Requirements 
    • §4.07 Home Improvement Contracts– Prohibitions, Penalties, and Relief 
    • §7.02 Unsolicited Goods and Advertising—Telephone Solicitations 
    • §7.03 Unsolicited Goods and Advertising—E-Mail or Fax Advertising 
    • §7.04 Specialty Service Contracts—Health Studio Contracts 
    • §7.05 Specialty Service Contracts—Health Studio Remedies 
    • §7.06 Debt Collection—Governing Law 
    • §7.07 Debt Collection—Prohibited Practices 
    • §7.08 Debt Collection—Debtor’s Responsibilities 
    • §7.09 Debt Collection—Relief Available 
  • Tab 3 - Vehicular Sales, Leasing and Repairs
    • §3.04 Vehicle Sales—Governing Law 
    • §3.05 Vehicle Sales—Contract Requirements 
    • §3.06 Vehicle Sales—Prohibited Terms and Acts 
    • §3.07 Vehicle Sales—Correction of Violations 
    • §3.08 Vehicle Sales—Buyer’s Remedies 
    • §3.09 Vehicle Sales—Repossession and Reinstatement 
    • §3.10 Vehicle Sales—Deficiency Judgments 
    • §3.14 Vehicle Leasing—Depreciation 
    • §3.13 Vehicle Leasing—Prohibited Terms and Acts 
    • §3.12 Vehicle Leasing—Contract Requirements 
    • §3.11 Vehicle Leasing—Governing Law 
    • §3.15 Vehicle Leasing—Early Termination 
    • §3.16 Vehicle Leasing—Actions for Relief 
    • §3.01 Vehicle Repairs—Governing Law 
    • §3.02 Vehicle Repairs—Customer Protections 
    • §3.03 Vehicle Repairs—Relief Available 
  • Tab 4 - Credit and Financing Transactions
    • §8.01 Retail Installment Sales—Unruh Act 
    • §8.02 Retail Installment Sales—Contract Requirements 
    • §8.03 Retail Installment Sales—Prohibited Terms and Acts 
    • §8.04 Retail Installment Sales—Rights and Remedies 
    • §8.05 Song-Beverly Credit Card Act—Requirements 
    • §8.06 Song-Beverly Credit Card Act—Prohibitions 
    • §8.07 Song-Beverly Credit Card Act—Unauthorized Use of Card 
    • §8.08 Song-Beverly Credit Card Act—Relief 
  • Tab 5 - Professional and Occupational Licensing
    • §4.01 Contractor’s License Law—Who’s a Contractor? 
    • §4.02 Contractor’s License Law—Contract Requirements 
    • §4.03 Contractor’s License Law—Prohibited Acts 
    • §4.04 Contractor’s License Law—Required License 
    • §4.05 Home Improvement Contracts–Definitions 
    • §4.06 Home Improvement Contracts—Contract Requirements 
    • §4.08 Professional and Occupational Licensing—License Required 
    • §4.09 Professional and Occupational Licensing—Penalties for No License 
  • Tab 6 - Tenant Rent Deposit Law
    • Project Sentinel Powerpoint 
    • 3-day Notice flyer 
    • Becoming a successful tenant, danger signals 
    • Becoming a successful tenant, search tips 
    • Foreclosure Facts for California Tenants 
    • How to avoid security deposit disputes 
    • Repairs, Maintenance, and Habitability 
    • A Tenant’s responsibility to maintain a rental unit in habitable condition 
    • Remedies for Obtaining Needed Repairs 
    • Security Deposits 
    • Tenant Right To Privacy – Landlord Right To Enter 
    • Notices Terminating A Tenancy 
    • California Civil Code 1950.5 
    • §2.01 Governing Law 
    • §2.02 Residential Security Deposit 
    • §2.03 What’s Not a Security Deposit 
    • §2.04 Proof of Security 
    • §2.05 Inspection of Premises 
    • §2.06 Return of Security Deposit 
    • §2.07 Deduct-and-Retain Procedure 
    • §2.08 Bad-Faith Retention of Deposit 
    • §2.09 Statute of Limitation 
    • §2.10 Interest on Security Deposit 
  • Tab 7 - Contract, Warranty, Tort, and Negotiable Instrumental Law
    • §5.01 Tort Law—Some Basics 
    • §5.02 Tort Law—Compensatory and Future Damages 
    • §5.03 Tort Law—Comparative Negligence 
    • §5.04 Tort Law—Assumption of Risk 
    • §5.05 Tort Law—Joint and Several Liability 
    • §5.06 Tort Law—Vicarious Liability 
    • §5.07 Tort Law—Actions Against Public Entities 
    • §5.08 Tort Law—Splitting Claims 
    • §5.10 Contract Law—Some Basics 
    • §5.11 Contract Law—Breach and Damages 
    • §5.12 Contract Law—Specific Performance 
    • §5.13 Contract Law—Rescission and Restitution 
    • §5.14 Contract Law—Reformation 
    • §5.15 Contract Law—Termination or Cancellation 
    • §6.01 Bad Checks—Insufficient Funds 
    • §6.02 Bad Checks—Stop Payment 
    • §6.03 Paid-in-Full Checks 
    • §6.04 Electronic Fund Transfers—Common Transfers 
    • §6.05 Electronic Fund Transfers—Stop Payment of Preauthorized Transfers 
    • §6.06 Electronic Fund Transfers—Error Resolution 
    • §6.07 Electronic Fund Transfers—Treble Damages 
    • §6.08 Electronic Fund Transfers—Breach of Other Duties 
    • §6.09 Electronic Fund Transfers—Consumer’s Liability 
    • §7.11 Warranty Laws 
    • §7.12 Consumer Warranty Act—Scope 
    • §7.13 Consumer Warranty Act—Express and Implied Warranties 
    • §7.14 Consumer Warranty Act—Manufacturer’s and Seller's Responsibilities 
    • §7.15 Consumer Warranty Act—Express Warranty Remedies 
    • §7.16 Consumer Warranty Act—Implied Warranty Remedies 
    • §7.17 Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)—Express Warranty 
    • §7.18 UCC—Implied Warranties 
    • §7.19 UCC—Disclaimer of Implied Warranty 
    • §7.20 UCC—Relief Available 
  • Tab 8 - Additional Contact and Resource Information
    • Courthouse contacts 
    • AOC Temporary Judge Resources 
    • Small Claims Court: Procedures and Practices – Online Course 
    • Small Claims Court: Consumer and Substantive Laws – Online Course 
    • Rule 2.700. Intracounty venue [Reserved] 
    • Rule 2.810. Temporary judges appointed by the trial courts  
    • Rule 2.811. Court appointment of temporary judges 
    • Rule 2.812. Requirements for court appointment of an attorney to serve as a temporary judge 
    • Rule 2.813. Contents of training programs 
    • Rule 2.814. Appointment of temporary judge 
    • Rule 2.815. Continuing education 
    • Rule 2.816. Stipulation to court-appointed temporary judge 
    • Rule 2.817. Disclosures to the parties 
    • Rule 2.818. Disqualifications and limitations 
    • Rule 2.819. Continuing duty to disclose and disqualify 
    • Rule 2.830. Temporary judges requested by the parties 
    • Rule 2.831. Temporary judge—stipulation, order, oath, assignment, disclosure, and disqualification 
    • Rule 2.832. Compensation 
    • Rule 2.833. [Renumbered as rule 2.834] 
    • Rule 2.833. Documents and exhibits 
    • Rule 2.834. [Renumbered as rule 2.835] 
    • Rule 2.834. Open proceedings; notices of proceedings, use of court facilities, and order for hearing site 
    • Rule 2.835. Motions or applications to be heard by the court 
    • Rule 10.740. Responsibilities of the trial courts for temporary judge programs 
    • Rule 10.741. Duties and authority of the presiding judge 
    • Rule 10.742. Use of attorneys as court-appointed temporary judges 
    • Rule 10.743. Administrator of temporary judges program 
    • Rule 10.744. Application procedures to serve as a court-appointed temporary judge 
    • Rule 10.745. Performance 
    • Rule 10.746. Complaints 

6. Civil Settlement Conference Availability Form

Mandatory Civil Settlement Conferences occur only on Wednesdays of each week.

Due to this limited schedule, if you are eligible to serve as a Civil Settlement Conference Temporary Judge, you must complete the Civil Settlement Availability Form . Please read the Instructions on how to submit the Civil Settlement Availability Form  for assistance.

Forms may be updated any time and must be submitted to the Civil Calendar department at TP-Judge@scscourt.org.

7. Complaint Procedure

If you have a complaint about a court-appointed temporary judge, please print the complaint form  and send the completed form to Temporary Judge Administrator at the address on the bottom of the form.

8. Contacting the Program Administrator

To contact the Temporary Judge Administrator with questions or for general information, please email TJP@scscourt.org.