The functions referred to in Sections 1297.114, 1297.115, 1297.116, 1297.134, 1297.135, 1297.136, 1297.165, 1297.166, and 1297.167 shall be performed by the superior court of the county in which the place of arbitration is located. The functions referred to in Section 1297.81 shall be performed by the superior court selected pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 1292) of Chapter 5 of Title 9.
§ 1297.61.Functions Performed By Superior Courts
Title 9.3. Arbitration and Conciliation of International Commercial Disputes · Chapter 1. Application and Interpretation · Article 6. Functions · Enacted 1988 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1297.61 assigns most administrative functions under this title to the superior court of the county where the arbitration is located, while assigning the function under Section 1297.81 to the superior court selected under the general arbitration statute's own venue rule.
Full Text of § 1297.61
Plain-English Summary
Even a title designed to keep courts on the sidelines needs to specify which court handles the limited functions it does assign, and this section is where that assignment happens. For a listed set of functions -- covering things like appointing arbitrators and resolving challenges to them under several sections in later chapters -- the superior court of the county where the arbitration is located is the one that acts.
One function breaks from that pattern. The task assigned under Section 1297.81, which falls outside the geographic limit this title otherwise applies because of the exception in Section 1297.12, is instead handled by the superior court selected under the general arbitration statute's own venue provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which court handles most of the administrative functions under this title?
The superior court of the county in which the place of arbitration is located.
Is every function under this title handled by that same county's superior court?
No. The function under Section 1297.81 is instead performed by the superior court selected under the general arbitration statute's venue rule.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 23, Sec. 1. Effective March 7, 1988.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: which court handles international arbitration functionssuperior court venue international arbitration california