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Temporary Judge Program
Temporary Judges can serve as Judicial Officers at the Superior Court. This page provides information about the Temporary Judges Program, including:
- Overview
- Requirements
- Online Application Process
- Education and Training
- Training Materials
- Complaint Procedure
- Contact Information
- Parking for Temporary Judges
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 Judge 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 Judge Program. The Court continuously recruits temporary judges. For more information, click to see the Court's Temporary Judge Program Brochure .
- 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:
- Before Appointment (completion within three previous years)
- Bench Conduct and Demeanor
- Judicial Ethics for Temporary Judges
- Substantive Training
- For traffic: three hours
- For small claims: five hours
- For civil, probate and family: proof of three hours of coursework in each of these three areas in which the temporary judge serves
- Continuing Education Requirement (required every three years, covering the same subjects and of the same duration as prescribed in Rule 2.812(c))
- Bench Conduct and Demeanor
- Judicial Ethics
- a course in each substantive area (small claims, traffic, civil, probate or family) in which the temporary judge serves
- 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 Judge 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 Course Materials Please check back for future dates.
- Bench Conduct and Demeanor:
The Bench Conduct and Demeanor training class must be taken in person and be taught by a qualified judicial officer. The training class materials used for this course can be accessed here . MCLE credits will be provided to attendees at no cost.
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. These exercises can be found in the Bench Conduct for Temporary Judges online course materials on the Judicial Council Education site. These exercises are for self-evaluation - it is not necessary to save or bring results to class. - Judicial Ethics:
Mandatory Judicial Ethics courses are available on-line: Judicial Council 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. Local classroom training may also be available - please check back later.
- Bench Conduct and Demeanor:
- Substantive Training Resources:
The court intends that, for temporary judges serving in the civil, probate and family divisions, the initial and continuing substantive training may be satisfied by appropriate courses taken to fulfill the State Bar’s MCLE requirements.
The Judicial Council 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.
- Training verification:
To verify Judicial Council 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.
- 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
- §7.01 Unsolicited Goods and Advertising—Goods and Services
- §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
- §3.01 Vehicle Repairs—Governing Law
- §3.02 Vehicle repairs—Customer Protections
- §3.03 Vehicle repairs—Relief Available
- §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
- §3.11 Vehicle Leasing—Governing Law
- §3.12 Vehicle Leasing—Contract Requirements
- §3.13 Vehicle Leasing—Prohibited Terms and Acts
- §3.14 Vehicle Leasing—Depreciation
- §3.15 Vehicle Leasing—Early Termination
- §3.16 Vehicle Leasing—Actions for Relief
- 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
- Judicial Council 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
- Small Claims Temporary Judge Checklist - Click to open
- Parking guidelines by facility
- Map showing Victory Lot for Temporary Judges and visiting employees
- Carpooling and Vanpooling
- Bicycling
- Getting Around using Bay Area public transportation
- Santa Clara County Lightrail and bus service VTA.org website
A temporary judge becomes inactive if they allow the training qualifications to lapse or do not volunteer to conduct court proceedings within a one-year period. The Temporary Judge Administrator will give an inactive temporary judge notice of their status as inactive, and if the temporary judge responds that they wish to remain active, they will have 30 days to comply and update the records. An inactive temporary judge must re-apply to the Court to become a temporary judge.
Click the links below to access and submit these web forms.
Note: the forms must be completed and submitted ONLINE.
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, or email it to TJP@scscourt.org.
To contact the Temporary Judge Administrator with questions, to obtain eligibility information, or for general information about the program, please email TJP@scscourt.org.
To submit feedback to the Court about your experience with a certified temporary judge, please submit a confidential questionnaire by clicking here .
Certified temporary judges may also contact the scheduling contact directly for the division(s) in which they serve to inquire about assignments. The division specific contact information can be found here.8. Parking for Temporary Judges
The following linked documents provide help for Temporary Judges when parking at our courthouses. Also, see the section below on commute alternatives.
For Temporary Judges interested in occasional or regular alternatives to driving and parking, please see the following links. Note - the 511.org website provides help with traffic/travel planning as well as extensive information on commute alternatives and benefits.