CHAPTER 2

COURT ORGANIZATION, ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL

RULE 2.00 MEETINGS OF JUDGES

A. ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS. An annual meeting of the judges shall be held each year at a time and place to be designated by the Presiding Judge. Special meetings of the judges shall be held at such times and places as may be designated by the Presiding Judge, or a majority of the judges.

B. NOTICE OF MEETINGS: QUORUM. Written notice shall be given by the Executive Officer and Clerk to each judge not less than four days before an annual meeting. Written or oral notice shall be given at least 24 hours before a special meeting. A majority of the judges shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of court business at a meeting. (Revised effective 1/1/02)

RULE 2.01 PRESIDING JUDGE AND ASSISTANT PRESIDING JUDGE ELECTION, TENURE AND REMOVAL

A. The membership of the nominating committee consists of the Presiding Judge, Assistant Presiding Judge, and Supervising Judges of the Criminal, Civil, Family Law and Juvenile Departments. Nominations for either office may be made from the floor at the annual meeting.

B. At the annual meeting a majority of the judges shall elect by secret ballot a sole Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge to serve a term of two years.

C. The Assistant Presiding Judge shall exercise such duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Presiding Judge, and in the absence of the Presiding Judge, shall exercise the powers of the Presiding Judge.

D. The business of the court shall be supervised by the Presiding Judge. The Presiding Judge shall also prepare and publish, with the concurrence of a majority of the judges, such routine rules, orders or regulations, to be known as "Administrative Orders", as may be required to expedite and facilitate the business of the court.

E. The Presiding Judge or Assistant Presiding Judge may be removed from office by a majority of the judges voting by secret ballot at a special meeting. (Revised effective 1/1/02)

RULE 2.02 LOCATION OF COURT SESSIONS

There shall be three (3) Divisions of the court as follows:

A. The Ventura Division, with its principal office located at the Hall of Justice, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, California 93009.

B. The East County (Simi) Division, with its principal office located at 3855-F Alamo Street, Simi Valley, California 93063.

C. The Juvenile Division, with its principal office located at the Juvenile Justice Complex, 4353 Vineyard Avenue, Oxnard, California 93036

There shall be one or more courtrooms of the court at each of the above divisions, as determined by the Presiding Judge of the court.

(Revised effective 7/1/04)

RULE 2.03 VENUE OF EACH DIVISION

The venue of each division of the court shall embrace the geographical area of the County of Ventura, except as follows:

A. All small claims hearings and trials shall be heard in the division of the court nearest defendant’s residence at the time of the commencement of the action; or, if based on a contract, also in the division nearest the place where the contract was entered into.

B. All family law and general civil (including limited Unlawful Detainer cases) hearings and trials shall be heard in the division of the court nearest the proper venue based upon the criteria set forth in the Declaration for Court Assignment form. Plaintiff shall complete the Declaration for Court Assignment form which is to be filed with the first document. East County Division general civil and family law filings (with one specified exception) will be based upon the following Zip Code designations:

(Revised effective 7/1/07)

RULE 2.04 COURT EMPLOYMENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE

A. ADOPTION OF CODE. This rule shall constitute the court’s Conflict of Interest Code as required by Government Code section 87300, and hereby incorporates by reference California Code of Regulations, Title 2, section 18730 ("Standard Code") and any amendments to it.

B. PLACE OF FILING STATEMENTS OF ECONOMIC INTEREST. Pursuant to Section 4(c) of the Standard Code, designated employees shall file a statement of economic interest with the Executive Officer and Clerk of the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura.

C. APPENDICES TO THE STANDARD CODE. The Superior Court of Ventura County adopts the following appendices to the Standard Code: (Revised effective 7/1/08)

APPENDIX I:

DESIGNATED EMPLOYEE, CONTRACTOR OR CONSULTANT CLASSIFICATIONS

APPENDIX II:

DISCLOSURE CATEGORIES

Category 1. Employees, contractors or consultants in designated classifications assigned to this disclosure category shall report their, their spouses, registered domestic partners or dependent children’s interests in real property located within Ventura County or within two miles of Ventura County. Employees are not required to report a residence, such as a home or vacation cabin, used exclusively as a personal residence, unless you claim a business eduction for the residence.

Category 2. Employees, contractors or consultants in designated classifications assigned to this disclosure category shall report their, their spouses, registered domestic partners or dependent children’s investments in and income from business entities engaged in the manufacture, sale, lease, or provision of supplies, materials, equipment, real property and services of the type used by this court within the past two (2) years, totaling $2,000 or more at any time during the reporting period.

Category 3. Employees, contractors or consultants in designated classification assigned to this disclosure category shall report all investments, sources of income, interests in real property, and positions in business entitled as follows:

If during a reporting period a designated employee in this category did not participate in, or was not required to disqualify himself or herself from participating in, a case or other assignment in which he or she had a financial interest as defined by section 87103 of the Government Code, the employee shall sign a statement to that effect under penalty of perjury. This statement shall be filed as the statement of economic interests required by section 4(c) of the Standard Code. An employee who disqualified himself or herself from participating in a case or assignment in which he or she had a financial interest shall disclose the case or assignment and the disqualifying interest and file the statement with the clerk.

RULE 2.05 STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

All attorneys should be familiar with the Standards of Professional Conduct published as Appendix I to these rules. (Revised effective 1/1/99)

RULE 2.06 JUDICIAL VACATION AND PERSONAL LEAVE DAYS

A. VACATION. Judicial vacation days and use are authorized consistent with California Rules of Court, rule 10.603(c)(2). A judge’s vacation day is defined as follows:

A day of vacation for a judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, is an approved absence from the court for one full business day. Absences from the court listed in California Rules of Court, rule 10.603(c)(2)(H) are excluded from this definition.

B. PERSONAL LEAVE. Judicial personal leave days and use are authorized consistent with California Rules of Court, rule 10.603(c)(2)(D), in that a judge may take two personal leave days a year at anytime that is approved by the presiding judge. (Effective 7/1/07)