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Message from the Jury Commissioner:

If you receive a call regarding your jury service from someone claiming to represent the Court or law enforcement, IT IS A SCAM.  The Court or law enforcement will NEVER call you about your jury service or ask you for money.  Do not under any circumstances pay any money in response to such a call.  If you receive such a call, please contact the Court or law enforcement, or the FBI at (415) 553-7400.

Phone Scams

Monterey County Superior Court has become aware of a telephone scam impersonating court personnel and requesting or demanding a payment. The court would NEVER make such a call. Please do not act on such a call, and instead contact the main court telephone number at (831) 775-5400 for more information.

Judicial Assignments

2025 Judicial Assignments

Judge Carrie M. Panetta, Presiding Judge

Judge Rafael Vazquez, Assistant Presiding Judge

Please see linked PDF for information - 2025 Judicial Assignments

SALINAS COURTHOUSE

DEPARTMENT 1
3rd Floor

 Hon. Stephanie E. Hulsey

Prison Cases
Parole Petitions & Post Release Community
Supervision (PRCS)
SVP & MDO
Criminal Writ Department
Felony Arraignments

Civil Grand Jury Advisor

DEPARTMENT 2
3rd Floor

 Hon. Andrew G. Liu

Felony Trial Department (AAA-COR)
Appellate Division

DEPARTMENT 3
3rd Floor

 Hon. Pamela L. Butler

Supervising Judge, Criminal Division

Presiding Judge, Appellate Division

Felony Trial Department (COS-HAR)
Appellate Division

DEPARTMENT 4
2nd Floor

 Hon. Jennifer O'Keefe

Felony Trial Department (HAS-MEN)

Appellate Division

DEPARTMENT 5
2nd Floor

Hon. Rafael Vazquez

Assistant Presiding Judge

Felony Trial Department (MEO-ROM)

DEPARTMENT 6
2nd Floor

 Hon. Mark E. Hood

Felony Trial Department (RON-ZZZ)

DEPARTMENT 7
1st Floor

 Hon. Robert A. Burlison

Misdemeanor Trial Department (A-GON)
Appellate Division

DEPARTMENT 8
1st Floor

 Hon. Jared Jefferson

Misdemeanor Trial Department (GOO-PEP)

DEPARTMENT 9
1st Floor

 Hon. Elisabeth K. Mineta

Misdemeanor Trial Department (PER-Z)

DEPARTMENT 10
B Level

 Hon. Timothy Roberts

Juvenile Dependency Department
Combined Drug Court
DUI Treatment Court
Military Diversion & Veterans Treatment Court
Criminal Mental Health (CNC, Diversion and 1370.1)
Withdrawal of Consent to Adopt

DEPARTMENT 11
B Level

 Hon. Murat A. Ozgur

Misdemeanor Arraignment Department

DEPARTMENT 12
1422 Natividad Road
Salinas

 Hon. Sam Lavorato, Jr.

Supervising Judge, Juvenile Division
Juvenile Justice Court
Juvenile Truancy Department
MONTEREY COURTHOUSE

DEPARTMENT 13
3rd Floor

 Hon. Julie R. Culver

Probate Department
LPS Conservatorships
CARE Court
Adoptions
Unlawful Detainers
Small Claims Appeals

DEPARTMENT 13A
3rd Floor

 Hon. Ian A. Rivamonte

Direct Calendar Civil Trial Department
Ex Parte Calendar
Labor Appeals
Collections
Fee Waiver Requests
Riese Hearings / Mental Health Writs
Civil Firearm Hearings

DEPARTMENT 14
2nd Floor

 Hon. Carrie M. Panetta

Presiding Judge
Direct Calendar Civil Trial Department
Complex Civil
Ex Parte Calendar

Judicial Administration

DEPARTMENT 15
2nd Floor

Hon. Thomas W. Wills

Supervising Judge, Civil Division

Direct Calendar Civil Trial Department
Complex Civil
Ex Parte Calendar

DEPARTMENT 16
1st Floor

 Hon. Vanessa W. Vallarta

Family Law Department (Cases ending in odd number for all purposes)

DEPARTMENT 16A
1st Floor

Comm. Maria L. Mendoza (One day a week)

Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

Civil Harassment Restraining Orders

DEPARTMENT 17
1st Floor

 Hon. Heidi Whilden

Family Law Department (Cases ending in even number for all purposes)
KING CITY COURTHOUSE

DEPARTMENT 18

Comm. William M. Litt

Traffic Court (2nd Tuesday of the month)

Comm. Stephen A Sillman

DCSS/Child Support 3rd Wednesday of every other month
MARINA COURTHOUSE

DEPARTMENT 20

Comm. William M. Litt (Three days a week)

Traffic Court

Small Claims

Comm. Maria L. Mendoza (Two days a week)
Traffic Court

DEPARTMENT 21

Comm. Stephen A. Sillman

Child Support Department

Comm. Maria L. Mendoza (One day a week)

Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

Civil Harassment Restraining Orders

2026 Judicial Assignments

Judge Rafael Vazquez, Presiding Judge

Judge Jennifer O'Keefe, Assistant Presiding Judge

Please see linked PDF for information - 2026 Judicial Assignments

SALINAS COURTHOUSE

DEPARTMENT 1
3rd Floor

 Hon. Stephanie E. Hulsey

Prison Cases
Parole Petitions & Post Release Community
Supervision (PRCS)
SVP & MDO
Criminal Writ Department
Felony Arraignments

Civil Grand Jury Advisor

DEPARTMENT 2
3rd Floor

 Hon. Andrew G. Liu

Felony Trial Department (AAA-COR)
Appellate Division

DEPARTMENT 3
3rd Floor

 Hon. Pamela L. Butler

Supervising Judge, Criminal Division

Presiding Judge, Appellate Division

Felony Trial Department (COS-HAR)
Appellate Division

DEPARTMENT 4
2nd Floor

Hon. Jennifer O'Keefe

Assistant Presiding Judge

Felony Trial Department (HAS-MEN)

Appellate Division

DEPARTMENT 5
2nd Floor

Hon. Carrie M. Panetta

Felony Trial Department (MEO-ROM)

DEPARTMENT 6
2nd Floor

 Hon. Mark E. Hood

Felony Trial Department (RON-ZZZ)

DEPARTMENT 7
1st Floor

 Hon. Murat A. Ozgur

Misdemeanor Trial Department (A-GON)
Appellate Division

DEPARTMENT 8
1st Floor

 Hon. Jared Jefferson

Misdemeanor Trial Department (GOO-PEP)

DEPARTMENT 9
1st Floor

 To Be Determined

Misdemeanor Trial Department (PER-Z)

DEPARTMENT 10
B Level

 Hon. Timothy Roberts

Juvenile Dependency Department
Combined Drug Court
DUI Treatment Court
Military Diversion & Veterans Treatment Court
Criminal Mental Health (CNC, Diversion and 1370.1)
Withdrawal of Consent to Adopt

DEPARTMENT 11
B Level

 Hon. Robert A. Burlison

Misdemeanor Arraignment Department

DEPARTMENT 12
1422 Natividad Road
Salinas

 Hon. Sam Lavorato, Jr.

Supervising Judge, Juvenile Division
Juvenile Justice Court
Juvenile Truancy Department
MONTEREY COURTHOUSE

DEPARTMENT 13
3rd Floor

 Hon. Elisabeth K. Mineta

Probate Department
LPS Conservatorships
CARE Court
Adoptions
Unlawful Detainers
Small Claims Appeals

DEPARTMENT 13A
3rd Floor

 Hon. Julie R. Culver

Direct Calendar Civil Trial Department
Ex Parte Calendar
Labor Appeals
Collections
Fee Waiver Requests
Riese Hearings / Mental Health Writs
Civil Firearm Hearings

DEPARTMENT 14
2nd Floor

 Hon. Ian A. Rivamonte

Supervising Judge, Civil Division
Direct Calendar Civil Trial Department
Complex Civil
Ex Parte Calendar

Judicial Administration

DEPARTMENT 15
2nd Floor

Hon. Thomas W. Wills

Direct Calendar Civil Trial Department
Complex Civil
Ex Parte Calendar

DEPARTMENT 16
1st Floor

 Hon. Vanessa W. Vallarta

Family Law Department (Cases ending in odd number for all purposes)

DEPARTMENT 16A
1st Floor

Comm. Maria L. Mendoza (One day a week)

Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

Civil Harassment Restraining Orders

DEPARTMENT 17
1st Floor

 Hon. Heidi Whilden

Family Law Department (Cases ending in even number for all purposes)
KING CITY COURTHOUSE

DEPARTMENT 18

Comm. William M. Litt

Traffic Court (2nd Tuesday of the month)

Comm. Stephen A Sillman

DCSS/Child Support 3rd Wednesday of every other month
MARINA COURTHOUSE

DEPARTMENT 20

Comm. William M. Litt (Three days a week)

Traffic Court

Small Claims

Comm. Maria L. Mendoza (Two days a week)
Traffic Court

DEPARTMENT 21

Comm. Stephen A. Sillman

Child Support Department

Comm. Maria L. Mendoza (One day a week)

Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

Civil Harassment Restraining Orders

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