When a party to a civil case in superior court works for the judicial branch or the clerk of the superior court in that county, either side gets an automatic right to move the case to another county only if certain conditions are met; otherwise, a move based only on that job requires showing good cause.
Official title: venue; employee conflict; superior court
- September 12, 2026
What changes
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NowIf a party to a civil case in superior court is an employee of the judicial branch or the clerk of the superior court in that county, a change of venue (moving the case to another county) as a matter of right applies only if at least 1 of 3 conditions is met.
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NowThe 3 conditions: (1) the employee holds, or held when the case was filed, a leadership or supervisory role, such as judge, commissioner, presiding judge, court administrator, clerk of the superior court, chief deputy clerk, division director or similar management role over court operations or staff; (2) the employee works or worked in the same superior court division the case is assigned to; or (3) that county's superior court has 3 or fewer divisions and the employee works for the judicial branch or clerk there.
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NowWhen a condition is met, either party is entitled to the venue change. On request of the party asking for it, the court shall move the case to the most convenient adjoining county, or to another county if the parties agree on one.
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NowIf no condition is met, a venue change based only on the party's court or clerk employment may be granted only for good cause, such as a shown risk of actual bias or the appearance of impropriety that cannot be adequately handled by recusal (a judge stepping aside), reassignment or a visiting judge.
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NowThe law does not limit or replace a court's other existing power to order recusal, reassignment or a visiting judge.
Who it affects
- People in civil lawsuits in superior court where a party is an employee of the judicial branch or the clerk of the superior court in that county
- Judicial branch and superior court clerk employees who are parties to civil cases
- Superior courts
What you need to do
Nothing, unless you are in such a case and want it moved to another county; then you would need to request a change of venue and, if no listed condition applies, show good cause.
What the law doesn't answer
- What rule applied to these situations before this law
- How and by when a party must request the change of venue
- How the 'most convenient adjoining county' is determined
- Whether the law applies to cases already pending on its effective date
- How this interacts with other general venue-change rules
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.