Opinion ID: 2269800
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: It Was Inappropriate for Judge Klein to Respond to the Petition, and Said Response Must Be Stricken

Text: While the superior court is the respondent to the petition, the role of the respondent court is that of a neutral party. ( Municipal Court v. Superior Court (1993) 5 Cal.4th 1126, 1129, 22 Cal.Rptr.2d 504, 857 P.2d 325.) By custom, the real party in interest (rather than the respondent) is expected to respond to the petition. The real party in interest is not necessarily the opposing party, but need only have an interest that will be directly affected by writ proceedings. ( Manfredi & Levine v. Superior Court (1998) 66 Cal. App.4th 1128, 1132, 78 Cal.Rptr.2d 494.) However, a judge is generally required to refrain from participating in a writ proceeding, even where the proceedings, such as an order disqualifying the judge, may give the judge an interest in the outcome. (See Curie v. Superior Court (2001) 24 Cal.4th 1057, 1059, 103 Cal.Rptr.2d 751, 16 P.3d 166 [a judge may not file a writ petition challenging the order disqualifying him from presiding over the case].) In certain cases, the respondent court may have a beneficial interest in the writ proceedings and be allowed to appear and oppose the petition. This is allowed when: (1) the real party in interest did not appear; and (2) `[t]he issue involved directly impacted the operations and procedures of the court or potentially imposed financial obligations which would directly affect the court's operations.' ( James G. v. Superior Court (2000) 80 Cal.App.4th 275, 280, 95 Cal.Rptr.2d 135, citing Ng v. Superior Court (1997) 52 Cal.App.4th 1010, 1018-1019, 61 Cal.Rptr.2d 49.) Even in those cases, however, it is not the judge, but county counsel, as the legal representative of the superior court of the county, who files any response. (Gov.Code, § 27647; James G., supra, 80 Cal.App.4th at pp. 278-280, 95 Cal.Rptr.2d 135.) Because there was no basis for Judge Klein to file a response to the petition in this matter, said response is hereby stricken.