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The Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California County of Los Angeles is elected by fellow judges and serves one two-year term. The Presiding Judge administers the Court and annually assigns judges and commissioners to posts within the court system. The Presiding Judge selects supervising judges to head up operations at each district courthouse. The Presiding Judge also appoints the judge who presides over Juvenile Court and supervising judges for the Civil, Criminal, Family Law, Dependency, Mental Health and Probate departments.
The Assistant Presiding Judge is responsible for aiding the Presiding Judge. The Assistant Presiding Judge also serves one two-year term, and generally is then elected to the Presiding Judge position.
An official of the judicial branch of government with authority to decide lawsuits and preside over trials brought before the court. The term “judge” may also refer to all judicial officers, including Supreme Court justices. An applicant for appointment as a judge must have been admitted to practice law in California for at least 10 years.
A person elected by the judges of the Court and given the power to hear and make decisions in certain kinds of legal matters. An applicant for appointment as a court commissioner must have been admitted to practice law in California for at least 10 years.
A person appointed by the Court to hear and make decisions on limited legal matters, such as juvenile or traffic offenses. An applicant for appointment as a court referee must, with limited exception, have been admitted to practice law in California for at least 10 years.
A retired judge appointed by the Presiding Judge of a particular county to sit temporarily on a given court usually in a full-time or permanent judge’s absence.
A member of the State Bar appointed by the Court and stipulated to by the parties to hear cases and make decisions in certain kinds of legal matters.
Committees are important elements of administrative structure. An Executive Committee consisting of elected representative judges determines Court policy. The Executive Committee receives input from a variety of judicial committees appointed by the Presiding Judge. The Personnel and Budget Committee is concerned with certain personnel matters and finances required for court operation. Over 400 judges serve on the various judicial committees with some serving on several committees. Generally, these committees meet outside of normal business hours.
The Executive Officer/Clerk is responsible for the administrative supervision and control of all non-judicial activities of the Court. The Executive Officer/Clerk also serves as jury commissioner of the court. Court judges select the Executive Officer/Clerk. The Executive Officer/Clerk, under the direction of the Presiding Judge, supervises all administrative activities and personnel, coordinates all staff activities and has charge of planning and improving management methods.
The Court's non-judicial staff provides assistance and support for the judicial officers of the Court in a variety of settings. Courtroom staff, such as the judicial assistant/court clerk, court reporter or electronic recording monitor and courtroom clerical assistants are responsible for assisting the judicial officer and ensuring the integrity of the court's record. Court interpreters provide language interpretation and sign language interpretation for the deaf. Court services liaison staff maintain courtroom security and the integrity of the jury in civil courtrooms. In other courtrooms, these functions are performed by bailiffs, who are deputy sheriffs.
Judicial officers and courtroom staff are supported by management, professional and administrative staffs who provide such services as legal research, records management, human resources administration, budget and financial administration, contract management, purchasing and procurement of supplies, information systems support and facilities maintenance. Specialized professional staff provides such services as mental health and child custody evaluations, marital counseling, and conciliation and mediation programs for family court and juvenile court.
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