Courtroom procedure
Your case is set for a specific time. Your attendance at the hearing is mandatory unless you have been expressly permitted not to appear. Failure to appear on time may result in the case being continued, dismissed, or adjudicated without your participation. Counsel, having multiple case scheduled in other courtrooms is not an excuse to be tardy to a hearing. Please make arrangements with the court officer if you are going to be late to a hearing.
Mediation
The court favors mediation and settlement whenever possible. If you have not attempted resolution of your case with the opposing party prior to appearing at your hearing, you may be asked to engage in settlement discussions or be sent to the mediation department prior to seeing the Magistrate. If mediation is court ordered, your failure to participate will carry the same sanctions as any other failure to follow a court order.
Zoom policy
Zoom hearings are only to be held on Mondays. In order to inquire if your case can be heard by zoom, please email the court officer at least two weeks before your hearing to ask about the case being continued to a Monday and scheduled for hearing by zoom. Please understand that not all cases/hearings are appropriate for zoom and the Magistrate has the final decision on whether a case may proceed by zoom.