Ernest W. Sawtelle at a glance
- Current role
- Superior Court Judge
- Court
- Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento
- Jurisdiction
- California · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Ernest W. Sawtelle
Superior Court Judge · Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento
Available research
Biography
Judicial service
- Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, 2008-present
Education
- University of California-Los Angeles · BA
- University of the Pacific · JD
Personal record
Born 1966
Courtroom rules and guidance
Motions In Limine
At least seven days before trial, parties must meet and confer and exchange motions in limine; motions, oppositions, and the list of disputed motions must be filed at least two court days before the first trial day.
At least seven (7) days before trial, all parties must meet and confer and exchange motions in limineLocal Rules Effective July 1, 2026 ↗
Jury Instructions
On the first day of trial, counsel must submit agreed and disputed jury instructions to the assigned trial judge electronically in Microsoft Word format.
submit to the assigned trial judge electronically, in Microsoft Word formatLocal Rules Effective July 1, 2026 ↗
Trial Exhibits
Before the first day of trial, counsel must meet and confer on exhibits and prepare binders containing copies of agreed exhibits for the judge, clerk, and counsel.
prepare binders containing copies of the agreed upon exhibits for use by the judge, clerk, and counselLocal Rules Effective July 1, 2026 ↗
Audio Video Presentations
Audio or video presented through court equipment must use a non-proprietary format that works in VLC Media Player or Windows Media Player; parties may instead provide their own equipment.
must be provided in a non-proprietary format that can be played using VLC Media Player or Windows Media PlayerDigital Evidence Policy ↗
Electronic Trial Documents
The court may require electronically presented documents, spreadsheets, and reports to be supplied as text-searchable PDF files.
Documents, spreadsheets and reports must be provided in text searchable PDF formatDigital Evidence Policy ↗
Digital Evidence Security
Digital evidence must be free of viruses and malware, must be scannable, and must not be compressed or zipped.
Digital evidence files may not be compressed or zippedDigital Evidence Policy ↗
Technology Exception
A party unable to comply with the Digital Evidence Policy may move for an exception and, if granted, must supply the technology or software needed to present the evidence.
A party may file a motion seeking an exception to this policyDigital Evidence Policy ↗
Audiovisual Evidence
A party offering an electronic sound or sound-and-video recording must provide the court and opposing parties a transcript and provide opposing parties a duplicate of the recording.
the party must provide to the court and to opposing parties a transcript of the electronic recording and provide opposing parties with a duplicate of the electronic recordingCalifornia Rule 2.1040, Electronic recordings presented or offered into evidence ↗
Remote Proceedings
California courts should permit remote participation in covered civil proceedings, subject to the statute, local rules, and controlling orders.
courts should permit parties to appear remotely at conferences, hearings, and proceedings in civil cases consistent with Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75California Rule 3.672, Remote proceedings ↗
Remote Participants And Witnesses
Covered civil parties and witnesses may appear remotely, and the court may conduct proceedings in whole or in part using remote technology.
that party or witness may appear remotely and the court may conduct conferences, hearings, and proceedings, in whole or in part, through the use of remote technologyCalifornia Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75 ↗
Recording And Broadcasting
Court proceedings may not be photographed, recorded, or broadcast except as Rule 1.150 permits.
Except as provided in this rule, court proceedings may not be photographed, recorded, or broadcast.California Rule 1.150, Photographing, recording, and broadcasting in court ↗
Expedited Jury Trial Presentations
In expedited jury trials, parties may use slides, electronic presentations, projections, exhibit notebooks, and other methods approved at the pretrial conference.
the parties may present summaries and may use photographs, diagrams, slides, electronic presentations, overhead projections, individual notebooks of exhibits for submission to the jurors, or other innovative methods of presentation approved at the pretrial conferenceCalifornia Rule 3.1551, Case presentation ↗
Expedited Jury Trial Pretrial Agreements
Voluntary expedited jury trial submissions must identify party agreements concerning electronic presentations and other proposed presentation methods.
Any agreements of the parties to use photographs, diagrams, slides, electronic presentations, overhead projections, notebooks of exhibits, or other methods of presenting information to the juryCalifornia Rule 3.1548, Pretrial submissions for voluntary expedited jury trials ↗
Exhibit Admission
An exhibit must be admitted by the judge before it may be used in the case.
The judge must to allow you to admit the exhibit as evidence in order for you to use it in your case.How to introduce exhibits at a trial ↗
Sources
Judicial Branch of California official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · checked July 28, 2026
https://courts.ca.gov/courts/superior-courts/judges-rosterCourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/13575/ernest-wayne-sawtelle/California Rule 2.1040, Electronic recordings presented or offered into evidence
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/two/rule2_1040California Rule 3.672, Remote proceedings
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/three/rule3_672California Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=367.75.&lawCode=CCPCalifornia Rule 1.150, Photographing, recording, and broadcasting in court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/one/rule1_150California Rule 3.1551, Case presentation
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/three/rule3_1551California Rule 3.1548, Pretrial submissions for voluntary expedited jury trials
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/three/rule3_1548How to introduce exhibits at a trial
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/how-introduce-exhibits-trialLocal Rules Effective July 1, 2026
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 28, 2026
https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/1208/639184911463700000Digital Evidence Policy
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 28, 2026
https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/221/639084033372830000