Civil Code Section 170.6 deals with peremptory challenges against a
judge. Why does this matter? Well, it doesn't. Unless, of course,
you're facing a judge who refuses to allow your client release on his or
her own recognizance.
This is exactly what happened to me this morning. The judge had a
policy to deny all O.R. (own recognizance) releases. Since I was
appearing without my client, I would have had to continue the matter and
my client would have had to pay the entire bail before he could get a
trial date. Since the bail was for around $1,000.00, would would have
posed a hardship.
Thus, I filed the C.C.P. 170.6 challenge, and my matter was transferred
to a more reasonable judge.
So the point here is don't forget your right to challenge the judge if
he is mean.