Court Rules

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

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

Court-wide

Request must include

Reason for Request
5Court Daysnotice
2Court Daysnotice

Communication

Phone

Clerk

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

Duty Judge

Emergencies
Filters:

Document Filing Requirements4 rules

Filing RequirementsMandatoryCivil cases

Applications for appointment of guardians ad litem will not be granted unless the moving party submits the documents required by the San Diego Superior Court Local Rules, Rule 2.4.6.

department 63 policies and procedures - honorable katherine a bacal · Jan 2026 · p. 1|Section8. Guardian Ad Item/Publication of Summons/Pro Hac Vice/Default prove ups
Filing RequirementsImportantCivil cases

All exhibits should be pre-marked, with pages numbered.

department 63 policies and procedures - honorable katherine a bacal · Jan 2026 · p. 1|Section6. Trials
Filing RequirementsImportantCivil cases

The Court allows virtual appearances at Trial Call only if parties previously submitted a joint trial notebook, containing: 1. Agreed upon statement of the case; 2. Joint Witness List (all witnesses on one list); 3. Joint Exhibit List, with objections noted; 4. Joint set of jury instructions, in the order they are to be given with objections noted; 5. Proposed verdict form(s).

Document
Joint trial notebook

Include

  • Exhibit list
department 63 policies and procedures - honorable katherine a bacal · Jan 2026 · p. 1|Section5. Trial Calls
Filing RequirementsImportantCivil cases

Guardian and Testament/Publication of Summons/Pro Hac Vice/Default prove ups: Submit moving papers for the court, with proof of service, if applicable; the court may set a hearing if deemed necessary.

Document
Application

Include

  • Certificate of service
department 63 policies and procedures - honorable katherine a bacal · Jan 2026 · p. 1|Section8. Guardian Ad Item/Publication of Summons/Pro Hac Vice/Default prove ups

Filing & Service rules

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Motions in Limine must be filed at least 5 court days before Trial Call.

MILs must be filed at least 5 court days prior to Trial Call.

Civil cases

Page 1 | 6. Trials

Ex parte papers must be submitted by noon on the day before the hearing.

Papers are due before noon the day before the hearing, with the appropriate fee.

Civil cases

Page 1 | 1. Ex Parte Matters

Oppositions to Motions in Limine must be filed at least 2 court days before Trial Call.

Oppositions to MILs must be filed at least 2 court days prior to Trial Call.

Civil cases

Page 1 | 6. Trials

The Joint TRC Report is due five court days before the scheduled TRC; if it is late and the matter is not fully resolved, trial counsel must appear in person.

Parties must submit their Joint TRC Report five court days before the scheduled TRC. If a joint TRC report is not timely filed and the matter has not fully resolved, trial counsel must appear in person at the TRC.

Civil cases

Page 1 | 4. Trial Readiness Conferences (TRCs)

Filing Fees and Waivers

The appropriate filing fee must accompany ex parte papers.

Papers are due before noon the day before the hearing, with the appropriate fee.

Civil cases

Page 1 | 1. Ex Parte Matters

Filing Bundling Requirements

Replies to Motions in Limine are not permitted.

No replies to MILs.

Civil cases

Page 1 | 6. Trials

Motions in Limine and any oppositions must be combined in a second notebook, not filed as separate notebooks.

Parties must also submit a second notebook containing Motions in Limine (MIL), followed by Oppositions, if any (not separate notebooks).

Civil cases

Page 1 | 5. Trial Calls

Chambers Communication Rules

Ex parte hearings must be reserved by calling the calendar clerk.

Parties must reserve an ex parte hearing by calling the calendar clerk.

Civil cases

Page 1 | 1. Ex Parte Matters

Informal discovery or pleading conferences can be scheduled with the calendar clerk, but parties must first actually discuss the dispute (an email/letter is not enough).

The court welcomes informal discovery conferences and/or informal pleading conferences, which may be set by calling the calendar clerk. Before reserving an informal conference, parties must actually discuss the dispute with each other (an email/letter is insufficient).

Civil cases

Page 1 | 1. Ex Parte Matters

Law and motion hearings must be reserved by calling the calendar clerk or using the 'Reserve a Motion Date' application on the Court's website.

All law and motion matters are heard by reservation either by calling the calendar clerk or using the "Reserve a Motion Date" application on the Court's website.

Civil cases

Page 1 | 2. Law and Motion Matters

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 Katherine A. Bacal

Katherine A. Bacal 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 63 in the judge's published procedures.

Common questions about Judge Katherine A. Bacal's rules

What must be included with guardian ad litem application filings before Judge Katherine A. Bacal?

Guardian ad litem applications will not be granted unless the moving party submits the documents required by San Diego Superior Court Local Rules, Rule 2.4.6.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 8. Guardian Ad Item/Publication of Summons/Pro Hac Vice/Default prove ups

What must be included with application filings before Judge Katherine A. Bacal?

The rule requires certificate of service. For guardian ad litem, publication, pro hac vice, and default prove-up applications, moving papers must be submitted (with proof of service if applicable) and the court may set a hearing if necessary.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 8. Guardian Ad Item/Publication of Summons/Pro Hac Vice/Default prove ups

How may parties contact Judge Katherine A. Bacal's chambers?

Ex parte hearings must be reserved by calling the calendar clerk.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 1. Ex Parte Matters

Does Judge Katherine A. Bacal require motion papers to be bundled?

Motions in Limine and any oppositions must be combined in a second notebook, not filed as separate notebooks.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 5. Trial Calls

Are filing fees or waivers addressed before Judge Katherine A. Bacal?

A fee is required for covered filings. The appropriate filing fee must accompany ex parte papers.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 1. Ex Parte Matters

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Katherine A. Bacal?

The rule states a 12:00 PM filing cutoff. Ex parte papers must be submitted by noon on the day before the hearing.

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

For guardian ad litem, publication, pro hac vice, and default prove-up applications, moving papers must be submitted (with proof of service if applicable) and the court may set a hearing if necessary.

Ex parte papers must be submitted by noon on the day before the hearing.

Motions in Limine and any oppositions must be combined in a second notebook, not filed as separate notebooks.

Motions in Limine must be filed at least 5 court days before Trial Call.

Replies to Motions in Limine are not permitted.

The Joint TRC Report is due five court days before the scheduled TRC; if it is late and the matter is not fully resolved, trial counsel must appear in person.

All exhibits should be pre-marked, with pages numbered.

Guardian ad litem applications will not be granted unless the moving party submits the documents required by San Diego Superior Court Local Rules, Rule 2.4.6.

Ex parte hearings must be reserved by calling the calendar clerk.

Law and motion hearings must be reserved by calling the calendar clerk or using the 'Reserve a Motion Date' application on the Court's website.

Oppositions to Motions in Limine must be filed at least 2 court days before Trial Call.

The appropriate filing fee must accompany ex parte papers.

Informal discovery or pleading conferences can be scheduled with the calendar clerk, but parties must first actually discuss the dispute (an email/letter is not enough).

Virtual appearance at Trial Call is permitted only if a joint trial notebook has been previously submitted, containing the statement of the case, joint witness list, joint exhibit list, jury instructions, and proposed verdict forms.

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