Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 188 rules apply across Los Angeles Superior Court. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 60
  • Applies to
    Joint isc statement

    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.

  • Applies to
    Joint status conference statement

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

  • Applies to
    Bulletin board posting

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

Filing Timing

All 28
  • Deadline
    5 business days

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

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

  • The Court cannot shorten the notice period for summary judgment/adjudication motions, though it may hear such motions fewer than 30 days before trial.

Communication

All 20
  • Contact
    Phone to chambers
    Phone
    (213) 310-7011

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

  • Contact
    Phone to chambers

    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.

  • Contact
    Phone

    Parties at an impasse during a deposition may telephone the courtroom at (213) 310-7011 to arrange an immediate conference call with the Court.

Pre-Motion Conferences

All 18
  • 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.

  • 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.

About Judge Theresa M. Traber

Judge Theresa M. Traber is a judge on the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, the state trial court serving Los Angeles County.

Judge Traber's procedures are published through the court's general rules.

Common questions about Judge Theresa M. Traber's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Theresa M. Traber?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for exhibits. Details: 2 copies, delivery for trial. For trial, parties should prepare one additional copy of the exhibit binder(s) for the Court and one for the witness stand, plus copies for themselves.

View ruleSource: page 11, section TRIAL PROCEDURES

Does Judge Theresa M. Traber require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Theresa M. Traber's rules set a pre-motion procedure for discovery. The Court requires an informal discovery conference before a hearing on a pending motion to compel, and before filing a discovery motion if the parties agree.

View ruleSource: page 9, section DISCOVERY DISPUTES AND DISCOVERY MOTIONS

What page or word limits apply to joint idc report before Judge Theresa M. Traber?

Judge Theresa M. Traber's rule states these limits: 5 pages. A joint IDC report is limited to five pages.

View ruleSource: page 10, section DISCOVERY DISPUTES AND DISCOVERY MOTIONS

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Theresa M. Traber?

Judge Theresa M. Traber's formatting rule includes binder or set of binders for the clerk must contain pre-numbered exhibits per lasc rule 3.52 and each exhibit must be inserted behind a numbered tab corresponding to the exhibit number on the joint exhibit list. Parties must prepare binder(s) for the Clerk containing pre-numbered exhibits, with each exhibit inserted behind a numbered tab matching the exhibit number on the joint exhibit list per LASC Rule 3.52.

View ruleSource: page 11, section TRIAL PROCEDURES

What must be included with motion for preliminary approval of class action settlement filings before Judge Theresa M. Traber?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Parties seeking preliminary approval of a class action settlement must consult and follow the preliminary approval checklist, though form agreements themselves are recommended but not mandatory.

View ruleSource: page 6, section CLASS ACTION AND PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ACT (PAGA) SETTLEMENTS

What must be included with notice of related case filings before Judge Theresa M. Traber?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Parties must serve and file a Notice of Related Case in each allegedly related case as soon as possible and have a continuing duty to file such notices upon learning of related cases.

View ruleSource: page 7, section Related Cases and Freestanding PAGA Actions

How may parties contact Judge Theresa M. Traber's chambers?

The rule addresses phone communications with Judge Theresa M. Traber's clerk. Department 1 does not use the Court Reservation System; attorneys should contact court staff to reserve a motion hearing date (court open 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m. daily).

View ruleSource: page 8, section Setting Matters for Hearing

How does Judge Theresa M. Traber handle sealed or redacted filings?

A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Theresa M. Traber. Process: file unredacted to clerk. The Court generally will not rule on a CRC 3.770 dismissal request until presented with a fully executed unredacted settlement agreement, which may be filed conditionally under seal with an application for a sealing order under CRC 2.500.

View ruleSource: page 8, section Requests for Dismissal of Class Claims and PAGA Actions

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Theresa M. Traber?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. The request must include adversary position. Agreed continuances should be requested via bulletin board post or stipulation and proposed order, unresolved continuances may be sought by ex parte or noticed motion, and requests should be made as soon as practicable.

View ruleSource: page 9, section Requests For Continuances

Does Judge Theresa M. Traber require motion papers to be bundled?

Yes. Judge Theresa M. Traber requires bundling for covered papers. All motions in limine and oppositions must be combined into a single joint binder, tabbed with each motion, supporting declarations/exhibits, and proposed order, followed by the respective opposition with supporting evidence.

View ruleSource: page 11, section TRIAL PROCEDURES

Is electronic filing required before Judge Theresa M. Traber?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. All documents in cases pending in this courtroom must be electronically filed, with certain exceptions for self-represented litigants.

View ruleSource: page 4, section GENERAL INFORMATION

Are filing fees or waivers addressed before Judge Theresa M. Traber?

A fee is required for covered filings. Defendants must pay all fees connected with a first paper filing.

View ruleSource: page 7, section COMPLEX CASE MANAGEMENT

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Theresa M. Traber?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Late filings will not be considered without leave of court obtained in advance.

View ruleSource: page 8, section Tentative Rulings

What rule applies to service for all documents before Judge Theresa M. Traber?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: method: e-service, recipient: all parties. Parties must engage an e-service provider (preferably Case Anywhere) to serve all documents and use the bulletin board to communicate with the Court; self-represented litigants are exempt but encouraged to comply.

View ruleSource: page 4, section GENERAL INFORMATION

Does Judge Theresa M. Traber encourage junior lawyer participation?

Yes. Judge Theresa M. Traber's rules include a junior lawyer participation incentive. Two attorneys per party may participate in court proceedings and divide tasks and arguments, with a more experienced attorney permitted to back up another attorney (Local Rule 3.93); no experience-year threshold is specified in the text.

View ruleSource: page 5, section GENERAL INFORMATION - Promoting Attorney Development and Diversity
Complete rules summary for Judge Theresa M. Traber

Paper courtesy copies of electronically filed documents are not required unless extraordinary circumstances (e.g., time constraints or in camera review) or legal requirements (e.g., provisional sealing) apply.

All documents in cases pending in this courtroom must be electronically filed, with certain exceptions for self-represented litigants.

Parties must engage an e-service provider (preferably Case Anywhere) to serve all documents and use the bulletin board to communicate with the Court; self-represented litigants are exempt but encouraged to comply.

Posting documents on the e-service provider does not replace filing; documents that require filing, such as motion papers, must be filed with the Court and separately served via the selected e-service provider.

Class action/PAGA settlement approval motion hearing dates are obtained by calling the Judicial Assistant once the motion is ready to file.

A Notice of Settlement in class action/PAGA cases must be filed as soon as practicable.

Parties seeking preliminary approval of a class action settlement must consult and follow the preliminary approval checklist, though form agreements themselves are recommended but not mandatory.

Supplemental filings on approval motions should, whenever possible, be filed before the scheduled hearing date or non-appearance case review.

Defendants are to timely file a Notice of Appearance as provided in the Initial Status Conference Order.

Defendants must pay all fees connected with a first paper filing.

The plaintiff is responsible for serving the ISC and Minute Orders scheduling the Initial Status Conference as set forth in the ISC Order.

Parties must serve and file a Notice of Related Case in each allegedly related case as soon as possible and have a continuing duty to file such notices upon learning of related cases.

In freestanding PAGA actions, parties must file a timely Notice of Related Cases under Rule 3.300.

Dismissal of class claims requires court approval under CRC 3.770 and must be accompanied by a sworn declaration setting forth the facts relied upon.

The declaration supporting a class-claim dismissal must clearly state whether consideration is being given and describe the consideration in detail, if applicable.

The Court generally will not rule on a CRC 3.770 dismissal request until presented with a fully executed unredacted settlement agreement, which may be filed conditionally under seal with an application for a sealing order under CRC 2.500.

A private interest in sealing must generally involve more than a confidentiality agreement between the parties to outweigh the public interest in open court files.

A plaintiff dismissing a pending PAGA action must serve the dismissal request, supporting declarations, complaint, predicate LWDA letter, and settlement release portions on the LWDA at or around the time of filing, with proof of service filed with the Court.

Department 1 does not use the Court Reservation System; attorneys should contact court staff to reserve a motion hearing date (court open 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m. daily).

Parties may not file additional documents to cure a deficiency identified in a tentative ruling; a request to do so may be raised in oral argument.

Late filings will not be considered without leave of court obtained in advance.

When a motion will not go forward as calendared, the parties should immediately call the Court and post on the bulletin board.

Agreed continuances should be requested via bulletin board post or stipulation and proposed order, unresolved continuances may be sought by ex parte or noticed motion, and requests should be made as soon as practicable.

The Court may hold an informal conference to resolve pleadings disputes without motion practice; when held, attending attorneys must be familiar with the pleadings and have authority to make and accept proposals and stipulations, though conferences are not required in every instance.

Parties must strictly comply with California Rules of Court 2.550 and 2.551 when filing under seal and should seal only when absolutely necessary because the Court must make specific findings for each part of every sealed document.

A proposed order accompanying a motion to seal must be narrowly tailored to seal only information protected by privacy, trade secrets law, or other applicable principles.

The Court requires an informal discovery conference before a hearing on a pending motion to compel, and before filing a discovery motion if the parties agree.

Counsel should meet and confer in person to resolve or at least narrow a dispute before filing a discovery motion.

After a motion to compel is filed on an unresolved dispute, counsel must contact court staff to arrange a video IDC with Judge Traber before the hearing.

Parties may optionally agree to schedule an IDC before any discovery motion is filed, which most often eliminates the need for full briefing and hearing.

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