James E. McFetridge

Courtwide

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 limine

Local Rules Effective July 1, 2026 ↗

Courtwide

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 format

Local Rules Effective July 1, 2026 ↗

Courtwide

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 counsel

Local Rules Effective July 1, 2026 ↗

Courtwide

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 Player

Digital Evidence Policy ↗

Courtwide

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 format

Digital Evidence Policy ↗

Courtwide

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 zipped

Digital Evidence Policy ↗

Courtwide

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 policy

Digital Evidence Policy ↗

Statewide

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 recording

California Rule 2.1040, Electronic recordings presented or offered into evidence ↗

Statewide

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 367.75

California Rule 3.672, Remote proceedings ↗

Statewide

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 technology

California Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75 ↗

Statewide

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 ↗

Statewide

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 conference

California Rule 3.1551, Case presentation ↗

Statewide

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 jury

California Rule 3.1548, Pretrial submissions for voluntary expedited jury trials ↗

Statewide

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 ↗