Court Rules

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Brief
5 pgs
Settlement Conference StatementCourt-wide
5 pgs
Trial BriefCourt-wide
5 pgs

Courtesy Copies

EEC Request

Court-wide
  • 1 copy

ENE Request, Proposed Order

Court-wide
  • 1 copy

Ex Parte Application, Supporting Document

Court-wide
  • By Noon the Court Day Before the Ex Parte Appearance
  • No Later Than Noon the Court Day Before the Ex Parte Appearance

Ex Parte Application, Supporting Documents

Court-wide
  • No Later Than Noon the Court Day Prior to the Ex Parte Appearance

Adjournments

  • Case Management Conferences may be continued 1-2 weeks by stipulation and proposed order.

Request must include

Proposed Rescheduled Date

Communication

Phone

Clerk

Scheduling
Phone
Court-wide
(619) 450-7478
Scheduling
Phone
Court-wide

Duty Judge

Emergencies
Filters:

Page & Word Limits1 rule

Page LimitsMandatoryCivil cases

The briefs shall be no more than five (5) pages.

Brief
Up to 5 pages
department n-27 policies and procedures - honorable cynthia a freeland · Jan 2025 · p. 1|SectionInformal Discovery Conferences

Document Format Requirements1 rule

FormattingImportantCivil cases

It should be complete and on pleading paper without the firm name.

Formatting

  • On pleading paper
  • Without firm name
department n-27 policies and procedures - honorable cynthia a freeland · Jan 2025 · p. 2|SectionAdvance Trial Review Conference

Document Filing Requirements2 rules

Filing RequirementsMandatoryCivil cases

Counsel shall file a Case Management Statement pursuant to California Rules of Court (“CRC”), rule 3.725.

department n-27 policies and procedures - honorable cynthia a freeland · Jan 2025 · p. 1|SectionCase Management Conferences
Filing RequirementsMandatoryCivil cases

On the first day of trial, counsel must provide a Joint Witness List, Joint Exhibit List, Joint Statement of the Case, and Jury Instructions.

Document
Trial call documents

Must include

  • Exhibit list

Court's wording

On the first day of trial, counsel/parties must provide to the Court: 1. Joint Witness List with a short sentence describing the witness (i.e. “Dr. Joe Smith, an internist from Mercy Hospital”); 2. Joint Exhibit List (follow grid format on attachment to the Advance Trial Review Orders); 3. Joint Statement of the Case; 4. Jury Instructions - in sequential order with a post-it note indicating who objects to the instruction;

department n-27 policies and procedures - honorable cynthia a freeland · Jan 2025 · p. 1|SectionTrial Calls

Filing & Service rules

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Minor's compromise papers must be submitted by noon the business day before the hearing.

Minor’s compromise papers must be submitted no later than noon the business day prior to the scheduled hearing.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Minor’s Compromises

IDC briefs must be submitted to the department and opposing counsel two court days before the IDC.

Briefs outlining/summarizing the issues must be submitted to Department 27 and opposing counsel two court days before the IDC.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Informal Discovery Conferences

Ex parte papers must be filed by 11:00 a.m. the business day before the scheduled appearance.

Ex parte papers are due no later than 11:00 a.m. the business day prior to the scheduled ex parte appearance.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Ex Parte Matters

Tentative rulings are posted on the court website by 4:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing.

A tentative ruling will be posted on the San Diego Superior Court website (www.sdcourt.ca.gov) no later than 4:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing date.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Law and Motion Matters

Filing Fees and Waivers

Jury fees must be paid before the start of the next trial day; failure to pay waives the jury trial.

Payment is due before the start of the next trial day, CCP 631(c). Failure to pay the fee then is technically a waiver of a jury trial.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Jury Fees

No filing fee is charged for a minor's compromise hearing.

There is no fee for a minor’s compromise hearing.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Minor’s Compromises

Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

Counsel must meet and confer before filing a demurrer, per CCP 430.41.

Counsel must meet and confer prior to filing demurrers (see CCP 430.41).

Civil cases

Page 1 | Law and Motion Matters

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Case Management Conferences may be continued 1-2 weeks by stipulation and proposed order.

Case Management Conferences may be continued 1-2 weeks by stipulation and proposed order.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Case Management Conferences

Chambers Communication Rules

Ex parte appearances require a reservation with the Calendar Clerk and are held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.

Ex parte appearances are by reservation only with the Calendar Clerk and are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Ex Parte Matters

Law and motion matters are heard Fridays at 1:30 p.m. by reservation only.

Motions are heard on Fridays at 1:30 p.m. by reservation only.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Law and Motion Matters

An IDC is held only upon reservation through the Calendar Clerk and only if all parties agree to participate.

Department 27 will conduct an IDC based on reservations made through the Calendar Clerk and only if all parties to the dispute agree to participate in the IDC.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Informal Discovery Conferences

Default prove-up hearings must be reserved by calling the Calendar Clerk and are held Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Default Prove-up Hearings are heard on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and must be reserved by calling the Calendar Clerk.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Default Prove-up Hearings

Minor's compromise hearings require a reservation and are held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.

Minor’s compromises are heard on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. by reservation only.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Minor’s Compromises

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 304 rules apply across San Diego Superior Court. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 101
  • Applies to
    Request for court reporter

    A request for a court reporter by a party with a fee waiver should use the designated form.

  • Applies to
    Exhibit exception application

    Applications for specified exhibit exceptions must be made in writing to the Criminal Supervising Judge or designee, with notice to the exhibits custodian and all parties.

  • Applies to
    Exhibit record

    When an exhibit is ordered returned, the submitting party must provide the court with a complete photographic or electronic record of it.

Filing Timing

All 48

  • Unless otherwise specified, references to a day mean a calendar day.

  • Such a request should be made using the Request for Court Reporter by a Party with a Fee Waiver form (SDSC Form #ADM-379), available on the court’s website, www.sdcourt.ca.gov, and must be filed with the clerk at least 10 days before the proceeding. If the requesting party received less than 10 days' notice of the hearing or trial, the requesting party must file the request as soon as practicable.

  • A party seeking to be heard about a transfer ordered without a hearing or outside a hearing must request a hearing within 10 days after notice of transfer.

Service

All 46

  • The exhibits custodian and all parties must receive notice of applications for the specified exhibit exceptions.

  • If further proceedings require a civil-case exhibit, the party that introduced it must promptly deliver it to the court and notify all parties.

  • The judgment creditor receives conformed copies showing the appearance date, time, and place for service.

Communication

All 28

  • Court users are asked to request interpreters as far in advance as possible.

  • Requests for disability accommodations should be made as far in advance as possible and pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 1.100.

  • Court users are asked to advise the court as soon as possible when an interpreter is no longer needed.

More categories

View all San Diego Superior Court rules
About Judge Cynthia A. Freeland

Cynthia A. Freeland is a judge on the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, the state trial court serving San Diego County.

Practitioners will find department-specific policies and procedures for Department N-27 in this judge's published procedures.

Common questions about Judge Cynthia A. Freeland's rules

Does Judge Cynthia A. Freeland require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Counsel must meet and confer before filing a demurrer, per CCP 430.41.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Law and Motion Matters

What page or word limits apply to brief before Judge Cynthia A. Freeland?

Judge Cynthia A. Freeland's rule states these limits: attorney: 5 pages. Informal Discovery Conference briefs are limited to 5 pages.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Informal Discovery Conferences

What must be included with case management statement filings before Judge Cynthia A. Freeland?

Counsel must file a Case Management Statement per CRC rule 3.725.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Case Management Conferences

What must be included with trial call documents filings before Judge Cynthia A. Freeland?

The rule requires exhibit list and statement of facts. On the first day of trial, counsel must provide a Joint Witness List, Joint Exhibit List, Joint Statement of the Case, and Jury Instructions.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Trial Calls

How may parties contact Judge Cynthia A. Freeland's chambers?

Ex parte appearances require a reservation with the Calendar Clerk and are held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Ex Parte Matters

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Cynthia A. Freeland?

The request must include proposed rescheduled date. Case Management Conferences may be continued 1-2 weeks by stipulation and proposed order.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Case Management Conferences

Are filing fees or waivers addressed before Judge Cynthia A. Freeland?

A fee is required for covered filings. Jury fees must be paid before the start of the next trial day; failure to pay waives the jury trial.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Jury Fees

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Cynthia A. Freeland?

The rule states a 11:00 AM filing cutoff. Ex parte papers must be filed by 11:00 a.m. the business day before the scheduled appearance.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Ex Parte Matters
Complete rules summary for Judge Cynthia A. Freeland

Ex parte appearances require a reservation with the Calendar Clerk and are held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.

An IDC is held only upon reservation through the Calendar Clerk and only if all parties agree to participate.

Ex parte papers must be filed by 11:00 a.m. the business day before the scheduled appearance.

Case Management Conferences may be continued 1-2 weeks by stipulation and proposed order.

No filing fee is charged for a minor's compromise hearing.

Counsel must file a Case Management Statement per CRC rule 3.725.

Default prove-up hearings must be reserved by calling the Calendar Clerk and are held Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

It should be complete and on pleading paper without the firm name.

Counsel must meet and confer before filing a demurrer, per CCP 430.41.

Informal Discovery Conference briefs are limited to 5 pages.

Minor's compromise papers must be submitted by noon the business day before the hearing.

On the first day of trial, counsel must provide a Joint Witness List, Joint Exhibit List, Joint Statement of the Case, and Jury Instructions.

Minor's compromise hearings require a reservation and are held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.

Law and motion matters are heard Fridays at 1:30 p.m. by reservation only.

IDC briefs must be submitted to the department and opposing counsel two court days before the IDC.

Jury fees must be paid before the start of the next trial day; failure to pay waives the jury trial.

Tentative rulings are posted on the court website by 4:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing.

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