Skip to main content.

Temporary Judge Program

Overview

Temporary Judges Can Serve as Judicial Officers at the Superior Court

The Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, invites qualified and experienced attorneys to become part of our Temporary Judge Program. Under California Rules of Court, attorneys may apply to volunteer their time to serve as Court-appointed Temporary Judges.

Temporary Judges are appointed and serve at the discretion of the Court. The Court continuously recruits Temporary Judges.

Temporary Judge Application

Please complete and submit the following:

 Temporary Judge Application

Program Details

  • Experience:
    • Attorneys must have been members of the California State Bar for at least ten years
  • Conditions for appointment
    Applicants must meet all of the following conditions:
    • Be a member of the State Bar in good standing, with no disciplinary actions pending
    • Have not pleaded guilty or no contest to a felony, and not have been convicted of a felony that has not been reversed
    • Have satisfied all education and training requirements

  • Training Requirements
    • Before Appointment
      (Training must be completed within the previous three years)
      • Bench Conduct and Demeanor
      • Judicial Ethics for Temporary Judges
      • Substantive Training:
        • Traffic: 3 hours
        • Small Claims: 3 hours
        • Family Law: 3 hours
    • Continuing Education Requirements (To be completed every three years; must cover the same subjects and meet the same duration requirements as prescribed in Rule 2.812(c))
      • Bench Conduct and Demeanor
      • Judicial Ethics
      • Substantive Training in each area in which the Temporary Judge serves:
        • Traffic
        • Small Claims
        • Family Law

Please visit the Judicial Council website, which provides access to online courses, publications, and materials relevant to the Temporary Judge Program.

California Courts: Temporary Judge Resources

Send certificates of completion for all courses attended directly to of the following contacts:

For all questions related to the Temporary Judge Program, please direct inquiries to both of the following contacts: