Rule 3 . Criminal trials; appearance and withdrawal of attorneys.

1. Judges shall set all criminal trials in accordance with their own individual calendars. Such cases shall be randomly assigned to each department, and shall stay with that department through final disposition, unless the case is reassigned by that judge with the concurrence of the court to which it is reassigned. All related cases on the same defendant shall be assigned to the same judge. This random assignment system shall also apply to all criminal appeals, material witnesses and all other miscellaneous criminal matters. 2. If more criminal trials are scheduled on any day than an individual judge can handle that judge shall find another department willing to take the overflow. If the calendar overflow problem cannot be resolved by the individual judge the matter shall be referred to the chief judge who shall assign the overflow trials to other judges as necessary. 3. Criminal arraignments shall be set by the individual judges. If a judge is conducting a criminal jury trial, criminal arraignments, motions, and other criminal matters which are also assigned to that department may be referred by that judge to a department which does not have a trial. 4. Criminal arraignments, motions, pleas, sentencing hearings, and other proceedings, shall be heard by each court department in accordance with their own individual calendars at a time and date specified by each department. 5. Except as may be otherwise ordered by the judge in writing all motions for probation revocation shall be set to be heard by the court as soon as possible and no later than 10 days after the incarceration of the defendant. 6. Attorneys representing defendants in criminal cases shall promptly serve written notice of their appearances upon the district attorney, and file the same with the filing office. When desiring to withdraw from a case, attorneys shall serve a motion upon the district attorney and their client, file the same with the filing office, and set the motion for hearing. 7. Effective January 2, 1992, any status conference and/or “Motions to Confirm” shall be held 1 week prior to the trial date. This will provide at least 5 days’ notice of the status of a pending trial to all parties and the jury office. Prior to January 2, 1992, any such status conferences shall be held at least 3 days prior to trial.