Civil Department Judges

San Mateo Superior Court Civil Division uses a direct calendar model, where all civil cases are assigned to a single judge, for all purposes except Unlawful Detainer.

Parties are required to comply with Local Rule 3.500, including that Ex Parte applicants and opponents must appear in person, subject to the exceptions set forth in CRC Rule 3.1207. Ex Partes for Unlawful Detainer actions will be heard on Tuesdays and Fridays at 1:30 p.m. (excluding holidays), in Department 1, Courtroom G of the Central Branch, 800 North Humboldt Street, San Mateo, CA 94401.

If you are unable to utilize these dates, parties may still bring Ex Parte applications directly to each case’s assigned Judge’s department on their respective Ex Parte hearing days per Local Rule 3.1202(a). Ex Partes in regular civil cases (i.e. cases which are not unlawful detainer actions) must still be submitted to your assigned Judge’s department.

Scroll down to locate the page for your assigned judge. The Presiding Judge and the Probate Judge will continue to have their own separate Ex Parte days and hours.

Calendar Availability for New Motions

To schedule a motion on the assigned judge's calendar, check available dates on the calendar availability page.

Informal Discovery Conferences

Before filing a motion to compel discovery or any other discovery motion, parties must have had an Informal Discovery Conference with the Court. Counsel must have exhausted all meet and confer obligations before the Informal Discovery Conference. (Local Rule 3.700 (a)) The Case Management Judicial Officer will hear Informal Discovery Conferences by conference call. To schedule an Informal Discovery Conference, email the Case Management Judicial Officer's Department, IDC@sanmateocourt.org. Please check available dates on the Informal Discovery Conference Calendar Availability page. Each Informal Discovery Conference will be scheduled for a 30 minute time slot.

Note: These Informal Discovery Conferences are for general civil cases only.

Mandatory Settlement Conference Procedures

Parties will no longer submit a paper copy of their Mandatory Settlement Conference (MSC) Statements to Master Calendar. Instead, parties must timely lodge their MSC Statements by e-filing with the Court. The assigned civil judge will calendar the MSC at the Case Management and Trial Date Setting Conference. The MSC will be conducted by a civil judge who is not the judge assigned to the case. Parties will be notified when and where to appear for the MSC.

Case Management Conferences

The Case Management Judicial Officer hears the initial Case Management Conference. The calendar is heard via Zoom. Follow this link for the Judge Davis's Zoom Credentials.

Unlawful Detainer Calendars and Hearing Information