Special Announcement
The Court of Appeal, First Appellate District continues to closely monitor the evolving COVID-19 coronavirus situation. The court is following guidance provided by the Judicial Council, the Department of Public Health, and the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to limit the spread of the virus.
Pursuant to Misc. Order 2020-2, all in person oral argument sessions in the Court of Appeal, First District, are suspended. Counsel who choose to present oral argument must do so via video conference. Commencing April 4, 2022, the court will consider conducting in-person argument for specific cases. Notices of Oral Argument issued by the court will include an option for parties to jointly file a motion to conduct in-person argument in the courtroom. Such a motion would be granted or not at the court’s discretion.
Any further updates will be communicated through the court’s website, both in this place, and in the “Latest News,” below on this page, as appropriate.
1st District Court of Appeal
Latest News
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Appellate Self-Help Resource Center
June 24, 2022
Local Rule 15 is amended, effective today, to read in its entirety:
Rule 15. Focus Letters and Tentative Opinions
(a) [Focus Letters] Panels may issue focus orders or letters in cases scheduled for oral argument. These orders or letters are issued before argument, and they notify the parties about particular issues the panel is interested in discussing.
(b) [Tentative Opinions] Panels may, in their sole discretion, issue tentative opinions in cases scheduled for oral argument. Any such tentative opinion will be issued before the argument, and the parties will be notified that the court is prepared to rule along the lines indicated in the tentative opinion. When a tentative opinion is issued, oral argument will be held only if a party that originally requested oral argument notifies the court, opposing counsel, and unrepresented parties, that they still wish to proceed with oral argument. If such a notification is given, oral argument will proceed as scheduled, and the views expressed in the tentative opinion will be subject to change. If no such notification is given, oral argument will not be held, and the court’s final opinion will reflect the substance of the tentative opinion.
March 21, 2022
Commencing April 4, 2022, the court will consider conducting in-person argument for specific cases. Notices of Oral Argument issued by the court will include an option for parties to jointly file a motion to conduct in-person argument in the courtroom. Such a motion would be granted or not at the court’s discretion.
March 3, 2022
California Chief Justice Rescinds Temporary Emergency Measures
October 19, 2021
The First District Court of Appeal has launched a judicial mentorship program to develop and recruit qualified and diverse applicants for the state’s courts of appeal.
The California Judicial Mentor Program (Appellate) will reach out to all sectors of the legal community, including bar associations, public interest organizations, government attorneys, private law firms, and solo practitioners. The First District Court of Appeal will serve as the pilot program that it is hoped will become a blueprint for appellate court programs statewide. The program will conduct outreach events in all 12 counties in the First District and provide mentors for those interested in an appellate court appointment.
The role of mentor justices is not to select or recommend judicial candidates. The court instead pairs attorneys and trial court judges with a mentor justice to help demystify the judicial appointment process.
For more information, please see the news release at the California Courts Newsroom: First Appellate District Launches Judicial Mentorship Program.
June 15, 2020
Commencing June 18, 2020, the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, will conduct oral argument via videoconference using BlueJeans. Counsel participating in oral argument will receive a specific emailed invitation to the appropriate oral argument. Members of the public can view oral argument by clicking on a link, appearing the day of oral argument, on the court’s “Calendars” page.
June 11, 2020
The Supreme Court of California today issued a statement on equality and inclusion. The statement can be found here.
September 30, 2019
The Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, has a new online portal through which law students can apply for externships with the court. Please visit Court Programs for more information.
June 4, 2019
The Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, is seeking attorneys to represent inmates in death penalty-related habeas corpus proceedings. Click for information about how to apply for an appointment.
Case Information
The California Appellate Courts Case Information System provides case information for California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal cases. Case information is updated once an hour throughout the business day.
About Us
The 1st District is located in San Francisco. Its jurisdiction is over the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Solano, and Sonoma. It is divided into five non-geographical divisions with four justices each. READ MORE >>
Contact Info
350 McAllister Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415-865-7300
E-mail: First.District@jud.ca.gov
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