Los Angeles Superior Court Filing Rules
Official rules, filing, calendar, and procedure resources for this state court
For Los Angeles Superior Court filings, start with the local rules and the California Rules of Court. Civil Division rules include electronic filing, case assignment, timing, hearings, case management, trial preparation, and courtroom procedures
- Court-level rules
Electronic filings received between 12:00 am and 11:59:59 pm on a court day are deemed filed that day; filings on non-court days deemed filed next court day.
- Judge Nellon, Cherol J.
Ex parte applications and supporting documents must be e-filed by 10:00 a.m. court day before hearing; oppositions by 8:30 a.m. hearing day.
- Judge Murphy, Daniel S.
Ex parte applications and supporting documents must be filed by 10:00 a.m. the court day before the hearing.
- Judge Sirna, Salvatore
Joint trial documents must be filed five court days before the Final Status Conference (FSC).
- Judge Boxer, Doreen B.
Ex parte notice must be given by 10:00 a.m. the court day before the hearing, with hearing details and relief sought; a declaration detailing notice and responses is required.
- Court-level rules
All electronic filings must comply with California Rules of Court Rule 2.257 (electronic signature requirements).
- Judge Nellon, Cherol J.
Motions in limine must include a sworn declaration confirming meet and confer with opposing party and their position.
- Judge Murphy, Daniel S.
Stipulation and proposed order required to request informal discovery conference.
- Judge Sirna, Salvatore
Motions in limine must include a declaration with a certificate of conference, else will be summarily denied.
- Judge Byrdsong, Rupert A.
Ex parte applications must include a separate proposed order.
- Court-level rules
Represented litigants must electronically file all documents through an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP).
- Judge Nellon, Cherol J.
Parties using e-filing must accept electronic service, except where personal service is required by law or any party is self-represented.
- Judge Murphy, Daniel S.
Represented litigants must electronically file ex parte applications and supporting documents by 10:00 a.m. the court day before the hearing.
- Judge Boxer, Doreen B.
All represented parties must e-file civil documents in compliance with the First Amended General Order.
- Judge Byrdsong, Rupert A.
Represented litigants must e-file documents through an approved EFSP.
- Court-level rules
Electronic documents must be filed in text-searchable PDF format when feasible.
- Judge Nellon, Cherol J.
Jury instructions and verdict forms must be submitted as editable Word (DOCX) files to the court’s resource email.
- Judge Sirna, Salvatore
Motions in limine must be in writing, numbered, and filed/served per Local Rule 3.25(f)(2).
- Judge Boxer, Doreen B.
E-filed documents must be in PDF, text searchable format when feasible.
- Judge Byrdsong, Rupert A.
Exhibits must be in three-ring binders with number tabs, each page numbered, exhibit list included, and five binders provided.
- Court-level rules
Parties must notify the clerk by phone immediately upon settlement or resolution of the action.
- Judge Nellon, Cherol J.
Department 300 phone number is (213) 633-0514, available during courtroom hours Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-12:00 PM, 1:30 PM-4:30 PM, closed for lunch 12:00 PM-1:30 PM.
- Judge Murphy, Daniel S.
Telephonic appearance arrangements via LACourtConnect must be made at least 3 hours before hearing.
- Judge Boxer, Doreen B.
Parties may submit on tentative ruling by emailing the courtroom before 8:30 am on the hearing day, with notice to opposing counsel.
- Judge Daum, Nicholas F.
Court email for courtesy copies and tentative ruling submissions.
- Court-level rules
A printed courtesy copy of ex parte oppositions must be provided to the court on the hearing day.
- Judge Nellon, Cherol J.
Paper courtesy copies of all MSJ/MSA moving, opposition, and reply papers required, delivered to Courtroom Assistant on filing date.
- Judge Murphy, Daniel S.
Courtesy copy required for ex parte opposition filed after 4:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing.
- Judge Sirna, Salvatore
Three copies of all exhibits must be provided on the first day of trial for the court, clerk, and witness stand.
- Judge Boxer, Doreen B.
Courtesy copies are not required in this department.
- Court-level rules
Small Claims parties must exchange trial exhibits at least 10 days before trial; confirm receipt if submitted via portal or mail.
- Judge Nellon, Cherol J.
Expert opinion declarations must be presented to court and opposing counsel by Final Status Conference.
- Judge Murphy, Daniel S.
Motions in limine must be served on opposing party 5 court days before final status conference.
- Judge Sirna, Salvatore
Special verdict forms must be submitted to the clerk via email in MS Word format.
- Judge Byrdsong, Rupert A.
Opposition to motions in limine must be served at least five court days before FSC.
- Court-level rules
Parties must meet and confer by phone or in person before filing discovery motions; letters/emails are insufficient.
- Judge Nellon, Cherol J.
Discovery motions (except motions to compel initial responses) require verbal meet and confer, then IDC if unsuccessful; joint IDC statement (max 7 pages) filed 10 calendar days before hearing.
- Judge Murphy, Daniel S.
Meet and confer required before filing discovery motions.
- Judge Boxer, Doreen B.
Before filing a discovery motion, counsel must meet and confer by phone, video, or in person; letters or emails are insufficient.
- Judge Byrdsong, Rupert A.
An Informal Discovery Conference is required before filing any discovery motion.
- Court-level rules
Electronic filing fees and costs are waived for litigants with a court-approved fee waiver.
- Judge Nellon, Cherol J.
Represented parties must have a fee waiver to get a court reporter; fee waiver via form FW-020.
- Judge Murphy, Daniel S.
Motion fees must be paid online when reserving a motion date via CRS.
- Judge Byrdsong, Rupert A.
Continuance by stipulation requires a $20 stipulation and order fee plus first appearance fees.
- Judge Daum, Nicholas F.
Jury fees must be posted at least 30 days before trial.
- Court-level rules
Jury trial binders are required, court trial binders discretionary; must be tabbed 3-ring binders with TOC, lodged 2 calendar days before FSC.
- Judge Nellon, Cherol J.
One joint binder containing all trial documents required for Final Status Conference.
- Judge Murphy, Daniel S.
More than 10 motions in limine require a tabbed, indexed separate notebook.
- Judge Sirna, Salvatore
Exhibits must be placed in a 3-ring binder.
- Judge Boxer, Doreen B.
Multiple related documents can be uploaded in one envelope transaction.
- Court-level rules
Trial briefs are mandatory for all trials and must not exceed 20 pages.
- Judge Nellon, Cherol J.
Joint statement for IDC and attached exhibits limited to 7 pages.
- Judge Boxer, Doreen B.
IDC memorandum limited to 2 pages, filed at least 2 court days before IDC.
- Judge Byrdsong, Rupert A.
Joint statement of discovery in dispute is limited to five pages.
- Judge Daum, Nicholas F.
IDC statement limited to 4 pages if in letter form, or use standard form without extra pages.
- Court-level rules
Continuances or taking a case off calendar is only permitted by court order or stipulation.
- Judge Nellon, Cherol J.
Continuance requests for mediation/settlement conference must include already scheduled date for same.
- Judge Sirna, Salvatore
Trial continuance requests are disfavored, require good cause, and must include specified statements about the proposed date and mediation.
- Judge Boxer, Doreen B.
Trial continuances require good cause; stipulations must demonstrate why continuance is essential.
- Judge Byrdsong, Rupert A.
Continuance by stipulation requires written stipulation with specific content and a $20 fee plus first appearance fees.
- Court-level rules
Court-ordered sealed documents must be electronically filed, with the party responsible for designating them as sealed.
- Judge Murphy, Daniel S.
Materials filed under seal must strictly comply with CRC Rule 2.551 et seq.
- Judge Boxer, Doreen B.
Sealed documents must be e-filed and the filing party must accurately designate them as sealed.
- Judge Brazile, Kevin C.
Sealed motion materials must comply with CRC 2.551; conditionally sealed documents are exempt from e-filing.
- Judge Traber, Theresa M.
Sealed filings must comply with CA Rules of Court 2.550 and 2.551, with motion to seal and narrowly tailored proposed order required.