Singh v. Superior Court
This writ challenges a $250 sanctions order imposed on “Mishya” Rimpel Singh, a deputy public defender, for making a tardy request to continue a jurisdiction hearing in juvenile court. The Superior Court of Contra Costa County found good cause for the continuance, but nevertheless imposed the $250 sanction for Singh’s having filed an untimely request. We conclude the court based this sanctions order on a facially ambiguous local rule. Because Singh cannot be sanctioned for knowingly violating a rule that, by its terms, may or may not apply, we agree with Singh that imposing sanctions here was an abuse of discretion.
Now that the Superior Court has been called upon to take a position on what precise conduct it deems to be a violation of the rule, thus clarifying the ambiguity in application, the court has identified the offending conduct as Singh’s having sent an unprepared colleague to report on whether she intended to make a motion for a continuance. Separ
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