Michael J. Gaffey at a glance
- Current role
- Superior Court Judge
- Court
- Superior Court of California, County of Alameda
- Jurisdiction
- California · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Michael J. Gaffey
Superior Court Judge · Superior Court of California, County of Alameda
Available research
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Courtroom rules and guidance
Civil Trial Scope
Alameda Local Rule 3.35 supplies standing pretrial orders for all civil jury trials and, except for jury instructions and verdict forms, all civil court trials, unless the assigned judge modifies them.
the following standing orders will apply to: (1) All civil jury trialsTitle 3 - Civil Rules ↗
Trial Exhibits
Counsel must prepare an exhibit index and exchange the indices and exhibit copies at least three court days before the pretrial conference, or three court days before trial if no conference is scheduled; an undisclosed exhibit may be excluded.
These indices and copies of the exhibits must be exchanged by counselTitle 3 - Civil Rules ↗
Audio Video Presentations
Parties proposing an audio or video presentation must meet and confer and should stipulate when possible; objections to the presentation or transcript must be raised by motion in limine.
The parties must meet and confer concerning the proposed use of any video or audio presentationTitle 3 - Civil Rules ↗
Electronic Trial Documents
If the court orders electronic copies of proposed juror questionnaires, jury instructions, or verdict forms, counsel must provide them in the format ordered in addition to the required printed versions.
Electronic copies must be in the format ordered by the court.Title 3 - Civil Rules ↗
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-rosterCalifornia 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-trialTitle 3 - Civil Rules
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 28, 2026
https://www.alameda.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/03-title-3-20260701.pdf