San Diego Superior Court Document Format Requirements

Motion papers must comply with CRC 3.1110 et seq. and San Diego Local Rule 2.1.4.1 for formatting, bookmarking, and filing.

The parties are reminded to comply with California Rule of Court 3.1110 et. seq. and San Diego Superior Court local rule 2.1.4.1 regarding formatting, bookmarking, and filing requirements of motion papers.

Required

Always

All exhibits must be pre-marked in an up-to-date exhibit book(s) of no more than 2 inches each.

All exhibits must be pre-marked in an up-to-date exhibit book(s) of no more than 2” each.

All exhibits must be pre-marked and tabbed with court exhibit numbers (Petitioner 1-300, Respondent 301-600, Third Party/Minor's Counsel 601-900).

Whether uploaded via the portal, or provided in hardcopy or on an IPad, all exhibits, should be pre-marked and tabbed as Court's exhibits: Petitioner 1- 300; Respondent 301- 600 (Respondent's first exhibit will be number 301); Third Party or Minor's Counsel 601-900.

Each exhibit must be labeled with its exhibit number on the first page, multi-page exhibits page-numbered (e.g., 5-1, 5-2), exhibit number in the lower right corner, and each exhibit uploaded separately to the portal.

Each exhibit must be labeled on the first page with the proper exhibit number (e.g., Exhibit 1, Exhibit 305 etc.). If an exhibit contains multiple pages, and they are not already Bates-stamped, give each page an identifying number. For instance, if Exhibit 5 is a four-page document, the pages should be marked "5-1," "5-2," "5-3," and, the last page, "5-4." The exhibit number is to be placed in the lower righthand corner. If uploaded to the portal, each exhibit must appear separately on the portal.

Hardcopy exhibits over 50 pages must be compiled in 3-ring binders (unless IPads are used), with spine/front identifying contents and exhibits separated by tabs labeled with exhibit numbers.

If exhibits are provided in hardcopy form, and they consist of more than 50 pages of exhibits, they must be compiled in 3-ring binders, unless IPads are being utilized (see below). If you are submitting more than one binder, identify on the spine and the front of the binder the exhibits contained therein. The exhibits must be separated with tabs labeled with that exhibit's number, for ease of use and reference.

The Court cannot present electronically stored evidence with its own equipment; parties must provide their own laptop or other equipment to present such evidence.

Be advised that the Court does not have the capability of presenting electronically stored evidence using its own equipment. The Court has a screen on which evidence can be shown, and cables that can be connected to a laptop, but will not be able to insert flash drives, memory sticks, CDs or other storage devices into court computers or laptops. Therefore, you must provide your own laptop or other equipment to present that evidence during the trial.

Petitioner's exhibits must be pre-marked and tabbed with numbers in numerical order; Respondent's exhibits with letters in alphabetical order.

All of Petitioner's exhibits should be pre-marked and tabbed as numbers in numerical order. All of Respondent's exhibits should be pre-marked and tabbed as letters in alphabetical order.

Multi-page exhibits must be bate stamped with an identifying number unless an exception applies.

Unless the exception shown below is applicable, an Exhibit which contains multiple pages, must have an identifying number (bate stamped).

Exhibits must be tabbed with exhibit number/letter in all binders and tagged with an exhibit sticker tag on the Clerk's copy.

The exhibits are to be TABBED (side or bottom of exhibit) with exhibit number/letter (all binders) and TAGGED (Clerk's copy only) with an exhibit sticker tag or likeness.

Exhibit sticker tags must be placed in the lower right-hand corner without covering document content; if no space, place on the back of the last page.

The exhibit sticker tag/likeness is to be placed in the lower right-hand corner by way of an exhibit tag/likeness as long as it does not cover any part of the document. If there is no empty place to put it, place the sticker on the backside of the last page of that exhibit.

Exhibits not properly tabbed or tagged may be returned to be corrected.

***FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE EXHIBITS TABBED/TAGGED APPROPRIATELY, MAY RESULT IN THEIR RETURN TO HAVE THEM DONE CORRECTLY***

Exhibits subject to judicial notice are not marked 'RECEIVED'; impeachment exhibits are identified as 'the next in order' and the clerk marks and adheres the tag.

When judicial notice is taken of a document/exhibit, it is NOT indicated 'RECEIVED' on the exhibit tag. If there are impeachment exhibits, they can be identified as 'the next in order' and the clerk will mark and adhere the exhibit tag.

Exhibit binders must not exceed 1.5 inches and must be labeled on the spine with the exhibits they contain.

Exhibit binders/notebooks shall not exceed 1.5 inches. The spine of the binder/notebook shall be labeled with the exhibits that are contained in that particular binder/notebook (example: Binder 1 – exhibits 1-50).

Applies to

Advance trial review conference document

The Advance Trial Review Conference document must be complete, on pleading paper, and without the firm name.

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

Exhibits submitted with motions must be separately tabbed and electronically bookmarked.

Exhibits submitted with motions should be separately tabbed (for lodgments and courtesy copies) and electronically bookmarked.

IDC hearings are conducted in person on Monday mornings only, unless the Court authorizes otherwise.

Unless otherwise authorized by the Court, IDC hearings are conducted in person on Monday mornings only.

Required

Always

Remote witnesses must use a plain or blurred background, be alone in the room, and have physical copies of exhibits they will reference.

Witnesses appearing by video should have a plain or blurred background. If testifying remotely, witnesses must be alone in the room and have physical copies of any exhibits to which the witness will refer to during their testimony.

Exhibits must be pre-marked and tabbed: Petitioner uses numbers and Respondent uses letters; if Respondent exceeds 26 exhibits, Petitioner uses 1-400 and Respondent 401-800; Minor's Counsel uses brown Court tags beginning at 801.

All exhibits should be pre-marked and tabbed as: Petitioner - numbers; Respondent letters. If Respondent has more than 26 exhibits, Petitioner shall use 1-400 and Respondent shall use 401-800. Minor's Counsel may use the Court's Exhibit tags (brown) and shall begin with number 801.

Each page of a multi-page exhibit must be bates stamped in the lower right-hand corner.

If an Exhibit contains multiple pages, please give each page an identifying number (bates stamped) in the lower righthand corner.

Exhibit tags must not cover exhibit content; if no front space, place on the back; for multi-page exhibits, place on the last page; exhibit number goes in the lower right-hand corner using pink (Petitioner) or yellow (Respondent) tags with case and exhibit numbers pre-written.

The exhibit tag should not cover any part of the exhibit, i.e. the writing/numbers and/or photo. If there is not a place to adhere the tag on the front of the exhibit, place it on the back. If there are multiple pages, place it on the last page of the exhibit. The exhibit number is to be placed in the lower right-hand corner by way of an exhibit tag (Pink tag – Petitioner; Yellow tag – Respondent,) and have the case number and exhibit number pre-written

Required

Always

Exhibit lists must follow a specific column format (Pet #, Description, ID'd, Rec'd, Resp #, etc.).

To assist the clerk and for the benefit of all to ensure the exhibits are correctly identified and received, please be sure the exhibit list is formatted as follows: Pet # | Description | ID'd | Rec'd | Resp # | Description | ID'd | Rec'd

Required

Always

Exhibit binders must not exceed two inches in thickness; oversized binders may be returned for reorganization.

No exhibit binders should be more than two (2) inches thick. Binders that exceed this limit will most likely be returned to the party for reorganization.

Required

Always

When submitting more than one exhibit binder, identify the exhibits contained on the front and spine of each binder.

If you are submitting more than one binder, identify on the front and spine of the binder the exhibits contained therein.

Exhibits must be pre-marked and tabbed with Petitioner using numbers and Respondent using letters, with specified numbering ranges (1-400, 401-800, and 801+ for Minor's Counsel).

All exhibits should be pre-marked and tabbed as: Petitioner - numbers; Respondent letters. If Respondent has more than 26 exhibits, Petitioner shall use 1-400 and Respondent shall use 401-800. Minor's Counsel may use the Court's Exhibit tags (brown) and shall begin with number 801.

Multi-page exhibits must have each page identified with a bate-stamped number in the lower right-hand corner.

If an Exhibit contains multiple pages, please give each page an identifying number (bate stamped) in the lower righthand corner.

Documents such as bank records must be broken down into monthly periods, each labeled as a separate exhibit, with multi-page documents bate stamped.

Documents such as bank records should be broken down to monthly periods. For example, bank statements for the period 1/1/22 through 1/31/22 shall be labeled as exhibit 1; bank statements for the period 2/1/22 through 2/28/22 shall be labeled as exhibit 2, and so on and so forth. The multi-paged documents should be bate stamped as indicated above.

Exhibit tags must not cover any part of the exhibit, are placed on the back or last page if needed, and the exhibit number goes in the lower right-hand corner using a pink tag for Petitioner or yellow tag for Respondent with case and exhibit numbers pre-written.

The exhibit tag should not cover any part of the exhibit, i.e. the writing/numbers and/or photo. If there is not a place to adhere the tag on the front of the exhibit, place it on the back. If there are multiple pages, place it on the last page of the exhibit. The exhibit number is to be placed in the lower right-hand corner by way of an exhibit tag (Pink tag – Petitioner; Yellow tag – Respondent,) and have the case number and exhibit number pre-written as follows:

Exhibit lists must be formatted with columns for exhibit number, description, ID'd, and Rec'd for both petitioner and respondent exhibits.

To assist the clerk and for the benefit of all to ensure the exhibits are correctly identified and received, please be sure the exhibit list is formatted as follows: Pet # Description ID'd Rec'd Resp # Description ID'd Rec'd

Exhibit binders must not exceed three inches in thickness; oversized binders will likely be returned for reorganization.

No exhibit binders should be more than three (3) inches thick. Binders that exceed this limit will most likely be returned to the party for reorganization.

Witnesses authorized to appear via videoconferencing must know how to connect to Microsoft Teams and have a good connection prior to the hearing.

If your witness has been authorized to appear via videoconferencing, please ensure that each witness knows how to connect to Microsoft Teams and has a good connection prior to the hearing.

Exhibit binders must not exceed 1 ½ inches thick; thicker binders may be returned to the party for reorganization.

No exhibit binder should be more than 1 ½ inches thick. Thicker binders are unwieldy, heavy, difficult to handle, and prone to breaking apart. Binders that exceed this limit may be returned to the party for reorganization.

Required

Always

Exhibits must be pre-marked (Petitioner numbered with pink tags, Respondent lettered with yellow tags), individually marked, Bates stamped for multi-page exhibits, and photographs individually numbered.

Pre-marked Exhibits (Petitioner should use numbers for their exhibits – pink tags; Respondent should use letters for their exhibits – yellow tags) - Try to eliminate duplicative exhibits. Exhibits should be individually marked. If an exhibit has multiple pages, Bates Stamp the individual pages. If you are submitting photographs, each photograph should have an individual exhibit number.

Exhibits must be submitted in a tabbed binder, not en masse.

The court will not receive exhibits en masse. Exhibits should be provided to the court in a binder and tabbed for ease of reference.

Exhibits subject to judicial notice are not marked 'RECEIVED'; impeachment exhibits are identified as 'the next in order' and the clerk marks and adheres the tag.

When judicial notice is taken of a document/exhibit, it is not indicated "RECEIVED" on the exhibit tag. If there are impeachment exhibits, they can be identified as "the next in order" and the clerk will mark and adhere the exhibit tag.

The Court welcomes iPad use for evidence presentation at trial if resources allow; if iPads are used, only one set of devices should be provided for trial.

The Court welcomes all parties and counsel to utilize iPads for the presentation of evidence during trial if resources allow, particularly in cases where exhibits will be numerous. If iPads are used, only one set of devices should be provided for trial, and each parties’

The Court strongly encourages IPad use for exhibit presentation when a portal exemption is granted or exhibits exceed portal capacity; devices must be provided for the Court, each party, Third Party/Minor's Counsel, and witnesses, and hardcopy binders must still be provided to the clerk.

If the Court has granted an exemption from the Electronic Exhibit Portal rule, or if the number of exhibits exceed the portal's capacity, then the Court strongly encourages all parties and counsel to utilize IPads for the presentation of documentary evidence during the proceeding, if resources allow. If IPads are to be used, one device must be provided for each of the following: the Court; each party, whether represented or unrepresented by counsel; and a participating Third Party or Minor's Counsel, if applicable. A device must also be provided for use by witnesses at the witness stand in Court, and any remote witnesses must have such a device or binders with all the exhibits needed for their testimony. Each party's exhibits must be downloaded on each IPad in an organized, easy-to-access manner. The parties shall meet and confer sufficiently in advance of the trial or evidentiary hearing to determine if using IPads is feasible, who shall provide them, and how the downloading of exhibits shall be accomplished. However, even if IPads are utilized, the parties must in all events provide one set of hardcopy exhibit binders to the clerk of Dept. 904.