Local Rule LR2-103. Children's, civil, criminal, and domestic relations courts; judge assignments; partner judges; presiding judges.

A. Second judicial district courts. The second judicial district judges and clerks are divided into four courts: children’s court, civil court, criminal court, and domestic relations court. Cases are assigned to the four courts as follows. (1) Children’s court cases include all delinquency, youthful offender, and families in need of court ordered services cases; neglect and abuse cases; termination of parental rights cases; child and adult adoption cases; cases under the Interstate Compacts on Juveniles and the Placement of Children; authorizations of marriages of minors; and emancipation of minors. Delinquency cases shall be designated with a “JR” number; youthful offender cases shall be designated with a “YR” number; families in need of court ordered services cases, abuse and neglect cases, and termination of parental rights cases brought by the department shall be designated with a “JQ” number; and child and adult adoption cases brought by private parties shall be designated with an “SA” number. (2) Civil court cases include all civil cases not assigned to the other courts and shall be designated by a “CV” (Civil), “SQ” (Sequestered Mental Health), “PQ” (Sequestered Probate), “PB” (Probate), “MS” (Miscellaneous), or “SL” (Student Loans) number. (3) Criminal court cases include all criminal cases, including metropolitan court criminal appeals, except those cases involving domestic violence which do not result in the death of the victim and shall be designated by a “CR” number. (4) Domestic relations court cases include all cases of a domestic relations nature, except cases seeking money damages for spousal torts, including but not limited to all divorces, annulments, legal separations, allocation of property and debt, parentage actions, child custody and child support cases, and disputes arising from a cohabitation relationship between non-married persons, which shall be designated by a “DM” number; and domestic violence protection order cases brought pursuant to the Family Violence Protection Act, which shall be designated by a “DM/DV” number. B. Incorrect case assignment. If a case has been incorrectly assigned to a court, upon a party’s motion or the court’s own motion the assigned judge shall order the proper reassignment. No refund or increase in filing fees shall be required by such reassignment. C. Judge assignments. The chief judge shall assign each judge to hear cases in one of the four courts. D. Alternate judges. The chief judge may designate an alternate judge or judges for each court. The alternate judge shall be assigned cases in the court in which he or she acts as an alternate when all other judges in that court have been excused, challenged, or recused. E. Partner judges. The chief judge shall assign each judge a partner judge who shall sign orders and hear emergency matters in the other’s absence. F. Presiding judges. The chief judge shall appoint a presiding judge for each of the four courts. All administrative matters that cannot be resolved by the judge assigned to the case shall be referred to the presiding judge of the court to which the case is assigned. G. Monthly meetings. Unless otherwise directed by the chief judge, all of the judges shall meet at noon on the second Thursday of each month. The judges of each court shall meet at least quarterly at a time and place set by the presiding judge.