Temporary Judge Program

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A "court-appointed temporary judge" is an attorney who has satisfied the requirements for appointment listed in California Rules of Court 2.812, and has been appointed by the court to serve as a temporary judge in a courtroom.


Parties might encounter a temporary judge if:

  • The court has appointed a temporary judge to hear their case on the date they have their court appearance.
  • Parties have decided they want to have a temporary judge hear just their case (NOTE: This is a local court program, and it is only available in limited and unlimited jurisdiction civil cases.)


Joining Contra Costa's Temporary Judge Panel

Effective January 1, 2007, California Rules of Court, Rule 2.810 established new and more rigorous training and qualification requirements for attorneys wishing to serve as temporary judges.

To qualify, attorneys must have been active members of the California State Bar, in good standing, for at least 10 years before appointment. There cannot be any pending disciplinary actions, and the individual must not have pled guilty or no contest to a felony, or have a felony conviction that has not been reversed. He or she must satisfy all education and training requirements established by the state, as well as any other conditions that the individual court may require. Mandated training elements include a 3-hour in-person course on judicial demeanor (provided by a court) together with an online training course in related judicial demeanor and ethical issues.

Attorneys must also take one or more online training courses provided by the Judicial Council, depending on the substantive areas of law they wish to hear.

Depending on case type, there may also be additional training, education, or experience requirements to serve in Contra Costa County.


Minimum Requirements

The presiding judge may not appoint an attorney to serve as a temporary judge unless the attorney has been admitted to practice as a member of the State Bar of California for at least 10 years before the appointment and meets the following conditions:

  • Is an active member in good standing of the State Bar and has no disciplinary action pending;
  • Has not pled guilty or no contest to a felony, or has not been convicted of a felony that has not been reversed;
  • Has satisfied the education and training requirements;
  • Has satisfied all other general conditions that the court may establish for appointment of an attorney as a temporary judge in that court; and
  • Has satisfied any additional conditions that the court may require for an attorney to be appointed as a temporary judge for a particular assignment or type of case in that court.
NOTE: Consistent with CRC Rule 2.818, temporary judges have an ongoing duty to report any disciplinary action pending or taken against them by the State Bar of California at least 2 court days before arriving to serve as a temporary judge.


Temporary Judges will need to take ALL required trainings and attend a court session on each case type(s) per the location in which they wish to sit.

Martinez
(morning)		 Martinez
(afternoon)		 Pittsburg
(morning)		 Richmond
(afternoon)		 Walnut Creek
(morning)
Judicial Demeanor
Ethics
Probate		 Judicial Demeanor
Ethics
Civil Harassment
Small Claims
Unlawful Detainer
Online Classes		 Judicial Demeanor
Ethics
Small Claims
Traffic
Unlawful Detainer
Online Classes		 Judicial Demeanor
Ethics
Small Claims
Traffic
Unlawful Detainer
Online Classes		 Judicial Demeanor
Ethics
Traffic Only
Online Classes

Training Requirements

Temporary Judges must complete all in-person and online training courses at least once every 3 years. The Court encourages Temporary Judges to re-train at least every 2 years

* Both small claims courses are required.
** This is the only required harassment course. The separate course on Domestic Violence Restraining Orders is not required.

New applicants must also shadow a commissioner at least once in each case type prior to be assigned to a calendar.

Training Schedule
Class Date Time
Unlawful DetainerThursday, January 26, 20231:15 – 4:30 PM
Small ClaimsWednesday, February 1, 20231:15 – 4:30 PM
Civil HarassmentThursday, February 2, 20231:15 – 4:30 PM
Judicial DemeanorTuesday, February 7, 20231:15 – 4:30 PM
TrafficWednesday, February 8, 20231:15 – 4:30 PM
All courses are 3 MCLE Credits
To sign-up for any of the local training classes, please email your name and State Bar number to the Temporary Judge Program at: tempjudge@contracosta.courts.ca.gov
Registration will close one week before the scheduled class.

Application

Please complete the application for the Temporary Judge Program.