§ 1802. Parts for the determination of small claims established.

The chief administrator shall assign the times and places for holding,
and the judges who shall hold, one or more parts of the court for the
hearing of small claims as herein defined, and the rules may regulate
the practice and procedure controlling the determination of such claims
and prescribe and furnish the forms for instituting the same. There
shall be at least one evening session of each part every month for the
hearing of small claims, provided however, that the chief administrator
may provide for exemption from this requirement where there exists no
demonstrated need for evening sessions. Such practice, procedure and
forms shall differ from the practice, procedure and forms used in the
court for other than small claims, notwithstanding any provision of law
to the contrary. They shall constitute a simple, informal and
inexpensive procedure for the prompt determination of such claims in
accordance with the rules and principles of substantive law. The
procedure established pursuant to this article shall not be exclusive of
but shall be alternative to the procedure now or hereafter established
with respect to actions commenced in the court by the service of a
summons. No rule to be enacted pursuant to this article shall dispense
with or interfere with the taking of stenographic minutes of any hearing
of any small claim hereunder, except that in cities with a population of
fifty thousand or less hearings may be recorded mechanically.