Judiciary & Court Staff

• Judicial Assignments
• Judicial Assignments - Civil Disqualifications
• Judicial Assignments - Criminal Disqualifications
• Judicial Assignments - Juvenile Disqualifications

2023 Courtroom Assignments

Effective September 6, 2023

All departments are located at the Main Courthouse.

Main Courthouse 1st Floor - Traffic & Family Support

Commissioner Elizabeth Diaz is assigned all traffic cases for all purposes including case management, law and motion, settlement and court trial under Rule 3.734, California Rules of Court.  Jury trials once confirmed shall be assigned to a Criminal Department for Final Trial Confirmation.  She is assigned to Department 17.

Commissioner Douglas Treisman is assigned all Family Support cases for all purposes including law & motion, settlement and trial under Rule 3.734, California Rules of Court.  He is assigned to Department 17.

Main Courthouse 2nd Floor - Criminal

Hon. Katherine M. Rigby is assigned to hear all criminal cases in the Criminal Division.  This is a direct calendar court and once assigned to a case is assigned for all purposes, including law and motion matters, settlement and trial under Rule 3.734, California Rules of Court.  She is assigned to Department 21.  

Hon. Dale J. Blea, Assistant Presiding Judge, is assigned to hear criminal cases filed at the Main Courthouse. This is a direct calendar court and once assigned to a case is assigned for all purposes, including law and motion matters, settlement and trial under Rule 3.734, California Rules of Court. He is assigned to Department 22.

Hon. Ernest J. LiCalsi, Presiding Judge, is assigned to hear criminal cases filed at the Main Courthouse. This is a direct calendar court and once assigned to a case is assigned for all purposes including law and motion matters, settlement and trial under Rule 3.734 of the California Rules of Court. He is the Presiding Judge of the Drug Court. He is assigned to Department 23.

Hon. Sosi C. Vogt is assigned to hear criminal cases filed at the Main Courthouse. This is a direct calendar court and once assigned to a case is assigned for all purposes, including law and motion matters, settlement and trial under Rule 3.734, California Rules of Court. She is assigned to Department 29.

Main Courthouse 3rd Floor - Juvenile/Family Law/Specialty Criminal Courts

Hon. Thomas L. Bender is assigned all juvenile, education code and adoptions cases for all purposes including law and motion, settlement and trial under Rule 3.734, California Rules of Court. Judge Bender is the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court. He is assigned to Department 36.

Hon. Brian Austin is assigned all family law cases (except child support proceedings) and all probate guardianship proceedings concerning a child only which is filed in the Civil Division of the Madera Superior Court for all purposes, including law and motion matters, ex parte matters and trials under Rule 3.734, California Rules of Court. In addition, he is assigned to hear all traffic misdemeanor proceedings under the Vehicle Code including law and motion, settlement and court trial (jury trials once confirmed shall be assigned to the criminal department for Final Trial Confirmation).  He is assigned Batterers' Treatment Cases as identified in the Misc. Judicial Order - Assignment of Judges for All Purposes Pursuant to Rule 3.734 of the California Rules of Court. He is the Presiding Judge of the Veterans' Treatment Court. He is assigned to Department 37.

Main Courthouse 4th Floor - Civil / Family Law/Criminal Specialty Courts

Hon. D. Lynn Collet is assigned all family law cases (except child support proceedings) and all probate guardianship proceedings concerning a child only which is filed in the Civil Division of the Madera Superior Court for all purposes, including law and motion matters, ex parte matters and trials under Rule 3.734, California Rules of Court. She is assigned Batterers' Treatment Cases as identified in the Misc. Judicial Order - Assignment of Judges for All Purposes Pursuant to Rule 3.734 of the California Rules of Court. Judge Collet is the Presiding Judge of the Behavioral Health Court and the Presiding Judge of the Appellate Department. She is assigned to Department 40 .

Hon. Michael Jurkovich is assigned to hear all matters filed within the Civil Division of the Madera Superior Court including law and motion, settlement and trial pursuant to Rule 3.734, California Rules of Court.  Judge Jurkovich is the Supervising Judge of the Civil Division and is also the Supervising Judge of the Grand Jury.  He is assigned to Department 44.

Hon. Brian W. Enos is assigned to hear all matters filed within the Civil Division of the Madera Superior Court including law and motion, settlement and trial pursuant to Rule 3.734, California Rules of Court.  He is assigned to Department 45.

Ex Parte hearings will be heard in Departments 37, 40, 44 and 45, Monday through Friday beginning at 8:15 a.m.

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