Hon. Diana M. Tennis — Judicial Procedures
Domestic Relations
Quick operational summary based on publicly available court procedure materials. Always verify with the official court source before relying on this information.
Quick Rules
UMC / Motion Calendar
Request hearings through the online scheduling platform, coordinate the date and time with the opposing side, and email the Judicial Assistant with the required information and copies to all counsel or self-represented litigants.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
A hearing is not confirmed until the Judicial Assistant sends a confirmation email.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
A hearing request should include the case, party, motion, timing, evidentiary, meet-and-confer, remote-appearance, and incarceration information listed in the procedures.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
A unilateral hearing may be set after noncooperation only with at least 14 days’ written notice, plus 5 days if mailed, and the notice must identify the refusal to coordinate.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
File and serve the notice of hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Courtesy Copies
Submit courtesy copies of case law and proposed orders for any hearing or trial at least 48 hours before the proceeding.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Zoom Hearings
Submit requests for remote appearance seven days before the hearing.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Remote participants must appear from a private, quiet location and may not appear from a moving vehicle.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Proposed Orders
Proposed orders must be in Word format, provided to the opposing side, and accompanied by a cover letter addressing agreement or disagreement.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Submit proposed orders to the court by email at the specified division email; excused self-represented litigants may use U.S. mail or hand delivery.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Submit all materials for the court’s consideration 48 hours in advance on a USB flash drive and provide them to the opposing party 48 hours before the hearing.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Special Set Hearings
Division 38 holds special-set injunction hearings every other Thursday morning and on available Monday, Wednesday afternoon, or Friday settings; Spanish-interpreter cases must be on Wednesday afternoon.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Emergency Motions
An emergency motion must explain the emergency circumstances and requested relief in detail, and must be verified, filed, and emailed to the division email for consideration.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Discovery Disputes
Discovery motions should specifically and thoroughly describe what is needed and include a detailed proposed order sent to the court.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Cancellations
Immediately file and serve a cancellation notice, and email the cancellation notice to the Judicial Assistant; hearings and trials cannot be cancelled unilaterally.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Other
Email communications to the judicial office must include the opposing party or counsel, and communications must also be filed with the Clerk of Court.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Before filing a Notice for Trial, parties must attend mediation within the last 120 days, unless a motion to dispense with mediation is filed and set for hearing.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
A Notice of Trial must include Form 51; the court will not accept it without that form.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
If counsel or a self-represented litigant cannot attend the pretrial conference, a motion for continuance and court order must be obtained before anyone is excused.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Disclose any use of AI in a filing and certify that every legal or record citation has been verified as accurate.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Contact Information
Judicial Assistant
Matthew Lipford
JA Email
38orange@ninthcircuit.orgPhone
407.836.0540Courtroom
10-C
Official Page
Court WebsiteLast Verified
June 30, 2026
Official Sources
Source: Official court page or published division procedure material.
Official court pageDivision procedures pageOther Orange County judges
- Hon. A. James CranerCircuit Criminal
- Hon. Adam McGinnisCounty Civil
- Hon. Alicia L. LatimoreJuvenile Division
- Hon. Alicia Peyton RobinsonDomestic Relations
- Hon. Amanda S. BovaCounty Criminal
- Hon. Amy J. CarterCounty Civil
