Court Rules
About Judicial Officer County of Los Angeles Superior Court of California

The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles is the state trial court serving Los Angeles County. It handles trial and other proceedings for the county.

Practitioners will find the court's local rules, presented in numbered chapters, along with a forms listing.

Common questions about Los Angeles Superior Court rules

Are courtesy copies required in Los Angeles Superior Court?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for trial readiness documents. Details: 1 copy, delivery at trial readiness conference, by chambers drop off. Parties must jointly lodge one set of tabbed 3-ring binders containing copies of their Trial Readiness Documents at the TRC.

View ruleSource: page 10, section k) Trial Readiness Binder and USB Drive

Does Los Angeles Superior Court require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

The rule does not state that a pre-motion letter is required, but it sets the applicable pre-motion procedure. Before preparing an ex parte application for emergency relief, parties must post a joint request for an informal conference on the e-service bulletin board and contact courtroom staff to obtain a time and date.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 1) Judge Cunningham's Philosophy - b) Ex Parte Applications Should Not be Necessary

What page or word limits apply to memorandum in Los Angeles Superior Court?

Los Angeles Superior Court's rule states these limits: 15 pages; 20 pages. Memoranda are strictly limited to 15 pages (20 pages for summary adjudication motions) under CRC 3.113(d).

View ruleSource: page 5, section 8) MOTIONS

What page or word limits apply to joint discovery statement in Los Angeles Superior Court?

Los Angeles Superior Court's rule states these limits: 5 pages. When the court orders an IDC, the joint statement of discovery in dispute must be no more than five pages.

View ruleSource: page 2, section INFORMAL DISCOVERY CONFERENCES

What formatting rules apply to filings in Los Angeles Superior Court?

Los Angeles Superior Court's formatting rule includes binding tabbed 3-ring, three sets of exhibits required: one for the court, one for the judicial assistant, and one for the witnesses, exhibits must be internally paginated, exhibits must be properly marked, exhibits must be organized numerically, non-documentary exhibits must be marked, and a simply written description of each non-documentary exhibit must be inserted behind the corresponding numerical tab in the exhibit binder.

View ruleSource: page 8, section 14) FINAL STATUS/TRIAL READINESS CONFERENCES ('TRCs') - b) Exhibit Binders

What must be included with joint isc statement filings in Los Angeles Superior Court?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Upon assignment to Department 11, an ISC Order stays all proceedings and the parties must submit a joint ISC statement as directed in that Order.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Initial Status Conference / Status Conferences (p. 2, before Section 3)

What must be included with joint status conference statement filings in Los Angeles Superior Court?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. The parties must file a joint statement outlining recent progress in the case before every status conference.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Initial Status Conference / Status Conferences (p. 2, before Section 3)

How may parties contact Los Angeles Superior Court?

The rule addresses phone communications with the court. The rule lists phone (213) 310-7011. To reserve a hearing date for a motion, a party must telephone the Courtroom Assistant at (213) 310-7011.

View ruleSource: page 5, section 8) MOTIONS

How does Los Angeles Superior Court handle sealed or redacted filings?

A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings in Los Angeles Superior Court. Sealing is governed by CRC 2.550 and 2.551; party agreement alone is insufficient because the Court must make specific findings for every sentence to be sealed, be persuaded of a legal justification, and enter a narrowly tailored sealing order.

View ruleSource: page 5, section 9) FILING AND LODGING DOCUMENTS UNDER SEAL

How do I request an adjournment or extension in Los Angeles Superior Court?

Requests should be made at least 2 business days in advance when this rule applies in Los Angeles Superior Court. Motions must be taken off calendar no later than two business days before the hearing.

View ruleSource: page 2, section TENTATIVE RULINGS

Does Los Angeles Superior Court require motion papers to be bundled?

Yes. Los Angeles Superior Court requires bundling for covered papers. Uncontested CACI instructions must be submitted as a single joint packet, with each counsel's individually requested instructions inserted into that same packet.

View ruleSource: page 5, section Trials

Is electronic filing required in Los Angeles Superior Court?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Documents must be filed with the court in accordance with the Code of Civil Procedure and the Rules of Court; the Court will not download documents from e-service providers for filing.

View ruleSource: page 2, section 3) E-Service Providers

Are filing fees or waivers addressed in Los Angeles Superior Court?

A fee is required for covered filings. Motion fees must be paid online at the time the hearing date is reserved through the Court Reservation System.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Law and Motion

When is a filing treated as filed in Los Angeles Superior Court?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. The joint status conference statement must be filed at least five court days before every status conference.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Initial Status Conference / Status Conferences (p. 2, before Section 3)

What rule applies to service for complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: all parties. All defendants must be served with the complaint no later than the case management conference.

View ruleSource: page 1, section B. CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES
Complete rules summary for Los Angeles Superior Court

For discovery disputes (other than deposition impasses), parties may request an informal conference by making a joint posting on the e-service bulletin board.

Before preparing an ex parte application for emergency relief, parties must post a joint request for an informal conference on the e-service bulletin board and contact courtroom staff to obtain a time and date.

Upon assignment to Department 11, an ISC Order stays all proceedings and the parties must submit a joint ISC statement as directed in that Order.

The parties must file a joint statement outlining recent progress in the case before every status conference.

The joint status conference statement must be filed at least five court days before every status conference.

If both parties agree, they may file a stipulation and proposed order to continue a status conference at least five court days in advance, explaining why the continuance is warranted.

Once the Court appoints the e-service provider (CaseAnywhere, File&ServeXpress, or CaseHomePage), parties should effectuate service through that provider, but e-service does not substitute for filing with the court.

Documents must be filed with the court in accordance with the Code of Civil Procedure and the Rules of Court; the Court will not download documents from e-service providers for filing.

Parties must make joint bulletin board postings rather than unilateral postings, which are treated as prohibited ex parte communications.

Parties must meet and confer twice by telephone or video before requesting an IDC, and are expected to extend motion-to-compel deadlines to accommodate the process.

A party resisting discovery on privilege grounds should prepare a privilege log identifying each communication, its originator, and all recipients.

A joint posting to the Court should very succinctly describe the nature of the impasse.

A joint posting is required even if one side contends that an IDC is premature or unnecessary.

A unilateral IDC posting is permitted only when the other side ignored or refused repeated meet-and-confer requests, and it must be limited to describing the impasse and the facts substantiating the refusal.

The Court's order scheduling an IDC stays any deadline to file a motion to compel under CCP 2016.080(c)(2).

When more than a few issues are in dispute, the parties must prepare a joint statement identifying each overarching disputed issue and briefly stating each side's position.

Each side's position in the joint statement must be set forth in less than one page of text.

Parties must meet and confer in real time (video conference or telephone) before preparing any motion challenging or seeking to amend the pleadings.

Before filing a motion challenging or amending the pleadings, the parties must confer with the Court at a status conference or an informal pleadings conference scheduled via joint bulletin board posting.

Parties must meet and confer with opposing counsel to try to agree on recoverable costs before filing a motion to tax costs.

Counsel must identify all intended motions at status conferences, and before working on a motion not previously discussed with the Court must request an informal conference via the bulletin board or propose the motion at the next status conference.

To reserve a hearing date for a motion, a party must telephone the Courtroom Assistant at (213) 310-7011.

Memoranda are strictly limited to 15 pages (20 pages for summary adjudication motions) under CRC 3.113(d).

An application under CRC Rule 3.113(e) is required to obtain permission to file a memorandum longer than 15 pages (20 pages for summary adjudication motions).

Sealing is governed by CRC 2.550 and 2.551; party agreement alone is insufficient because the Court must make specific findings for every sentence to be sealed, be persuaded of a legal justification, and enter a narrowly tailored sealing order.

Confidential material filed with discovery motions is exempt from CRC 2.550/2.551 and must instead be narrowly redacted, submitted unredacted in a sealed envelope stapled behind a caption page identifying the discovery-motion submission, and filed in redacted public form.

Motions for preliminary or final approval of class action settlements must adhere to the guidelines posted on the Court's website.

Requests to dismiss class claims must comply with CRC 3.770, including filing a declaration describing the consideration in detail.

A motion or application for PAGA settlement approval must establish the settlement is fair to the aggrieved employees, the LWDA, the employer, the plaintiff, and plaintiff's counsel, and a PAGA plaintiff may only release civil penalties recoverable for violations alleged in the original LWDA notice.

The moving party must notify the Court as early as possible that a matter will go off calendar under CRC 3.1306(b), by posting the announcement on the e-service bulletin board and telephoning the courtroom.

More Judges in Los Angeles Superior Court

Michelle Lim
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A. Ashley Tabaddor
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Alan B. Honeycutt
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Alexander C. D. Giza
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Alison Mackenzie
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Allison L. Westfahl Kong
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Andrew E. Cooper
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Andrew Esbenshade
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