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

  • Case Management Conferences and Failure Hearings may be continued by stipulation of counsel. Request to continue Trial, Trial Readiness Conference and Motion Cut-off dates may be requested by Stipulation and Proposed Order.

Request must include

Proposed New Dates

Communication

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

Clerk

Scheduling
Phone
Court-wide

Duty Judge

Emergencies
Filters:

Document Filing Requirements3 rules

Filing RequirementsCivil cases

A short declaration stating the issues in dispute along with attached copies of what has been requested and any responses given must be filed.

department 31 - policies and procedures · Feb 2026 · p. 1|SectionEx Parte Matters
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

A Joint Trial Notebook with ten specified components must be provided at Trial Call.

Document
Joint trial notebook

Should include

  • Table of contents

Court's wording

Counsel are to provide a Joint Trial Notebook on this date that includes: 1. Table of Contents; 2. Joint Trial Readiness Report; 3. Motions In Limine / Oppositions with an index of the motions; 4. Joint Witness List with a short sentence describing the witness (i.e. "Dr. Jane Smith, an internist from Mercy Hospital"); 5. Joint Exhibit List (follow grid format on attachment to the Advance Trial Review Orders); 6. Trial Briefs; 7. Joint Statement of the Case (if not in Joint Trial Readiness Report); 8. Proposed Voir Dire questions counsel want the Court to ask; 9. Jury Instructions - One set in sequential order with a post-it note indicating who objects to the instruction; 10. Special Verdict Forms - either agreed upon forms or each side’s proposed forms. The forms should follow CACI as closely as possible and include all cause of actions and all parties. The verdict forms should be complete and on pleading paper without the firm name.

department 31 - policies and procedures · Feb 2026 · p. 2|SectionTrial Call
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

A complete joint trial readiness conference report must be filed five days prior to the scheduled hearing.

department 31 - policies and procedures · Feb 2026 · p. 2|SectionTrial Readiness Conference

Filing & Service rules

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

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

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

Civil cases

Page 1 | Ex Parte Matters

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 Compromise

Joint trial readiness conference report must be filed five days before the hearing.

A complete joint trial readiness conference report must be filed five days prior to the scheduled hearing.

Civil cases

Page 2 | Trial Readiness Conference

Filing Fees and Waivers

A CM-020 form may be filed with a $60.00 filing fee.

A CM-020 form may be filed with a $60.00 filing fee.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Continuances

No filing fee is required for a Declaration Re: Discovery Meet and Confer.

There is no fee for filing a Declaration Re: Discovery Meet and Confer.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Law and Motion Matters

No filing fee is required for a Minor's Compromise hearing.

There is no fee for a Minor's Compromise hearing.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Minor's Compromise

Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

Counsel must meet and confer before filing a demurrer.

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

Civil cases

Page 1 | Law and Motion Matters

Parties must meaningfully meet and confer before setting an ex parte hearing; a mere email is insufficient.

Meaningful meet and confer required before setting an Ex parte hearing. Sending an email to opposing counsel stating that the matter has been set for a hearing is not considered meaningful.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Ex Parte Matters

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Case Management Conferences and Failure Hearings may be continued by stipulation of counsel. Request to continue Trial, Trial Readiness Conference and Motion Cut-off dates may be requested by Stipulation and Proposed Order.

Case Management Conferences and Failure Hearings may be continued by stipulation of counsel. Request to continue Trial, Trial Readiness Conference and Motion Cut-off dates may be requested by Stipulation and Proposed Order.

Civil cases

Page 1 | Continuances

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 Victor M. Torres

Victor M. Torres is a judge on the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, the state trial court serving San Diego County. The court handles trial-level civil and criminal matters.

Practitioners will find this judge's published procedures in the document 'Department 31 - Policies and Procedures,' which describes that department's policies and procedures.

Common questions about Judge Victor M. Torres's rules

Does Judge Victor M. Torres require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Parties must meaningfully meet and confer before setting an ex parte hearing; a mere email is insufficient.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Ex Parte Matters

What must be included with joint trial notebook filings before Judge Victor M. Torres?

The rule requires table of contents and statement of facts. A Joint Trial Notebook with ten specified components must be provided at Trial Call.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Trial Call

What must be included with joint trial readiness report filings before Judge Victor M. Torres?

A complete joint trial readiness conference report is required.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Trial Readiness Conference

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Victor M. Torres?

The request must include proposed new dates. Case Management Conferences and Failure Hearings may be continued by stipulation of counsel. Request to continue Trial, Trial Readiness Conference and Motion Cut-off dates may be requested by Stipulation and Proposed Order.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Continuances

Are filing fees or waivers addressed before Judge Victor M. Torres?

A fee is required for covered filings. A CM-020 form may be filed with a $60.00 filing fee.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Continuances

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Victor M. Torres?

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 hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Ex Parte Matters
Complete rules summary for Judge Victor M. Torres

Parties must meaningfully meet and confer before setting an ex parte hearing; a mere email is insufficient.

A CM-020 form may be filed with a $60.00 filing fee.

Case Management Conferences and Failure Hearings may be continued by stipulation of counsel. Request to continue Trial, Trial Readiness Conference and Motion Cut-off dates may be requested by Stipulation and Proposed Order.

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

Counsel must meet and confer before filing a demurrer.

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

Joint trial readiness conference report must be filed five days before the hearing.

A Joint Trial Notebook with ten specified components must be provided at Trial Call.

A complete joint trial readiness conference report is required.

Ex parte filings must include a declaration stating disputed issues and attaching requests and responses.

No filing fee is required for a Declaration Re: Discovery Meet and Confer.

No filing fee is required for a Minor's Compromise hearing.

More Judges in San Diego Superior Court

Adam Wertheimer
Judge
Blaine K. Bowman
Judge
Carolyn M. Caietti
Judge
Christopher S. Morris
Judge
Cynthia A. Freeland
Judge
Daniel S. Belsky
Judge
Daniel Segura
Judge
Euketa Oliver
Judge