§5.14 Calling the Calendar

If time permits, you may review the case files before the calendar is called to familiarize yourself with the issues. However, due to the large number of cases calendared in many courts and the frequency of defaults, prehearing review may not be practical. You may always take a case under submission for unfamiliar or complex issues of substantive law.

You should indicate the order in which cases will be called. Parties will be more patient if they have an idea of when they will be called. You may put the simpler cases before the more complex cases. If a case begins to take a long time, it can be put off to the end of calendar.

You may organize the calendar by taking the default and uncontested cases first, making sure you have allowed sufficient time for all parties to appear. If neither party is present when the calendar is called, you may place the matter at the end of the calendar.

You may suggest that the parties discuss settlement before the hearing. In your discretion or on request of any party, you may continue a matter to a later date to encourage the parties to attempt informal resolution. [CCP §116.610(b).]

Click	Watch a video clip of Judge Florence Cooper calling the calendar in a hypothetical small claims case.
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