Rule 8.803. Definitions

#(1) "Action" includes special proceeding.

#(2) "Case" includes action or proceeding.

#(3) "Civil case" means a case prosecuted by one party against another for the declaration, enforcement, or protection of a right or the redress or prevention of a wrong. Civil cases include all cases except criminal cases.

#(4) "Unlimited civil cases" and "limited civil cases" are defined in Code of Civil Procedure section 85 et seq.

#(5) "Criminal case" means a proceeding by which a party charged with a public offense is accused and brought to trial and punishment.

#(6) "Rule" means a rule of the California Rules of Court.

#(7) "Local rule" means every rule, regulation, order, policy, form, or standard of general application adopted by a court to govern practice and procedure in that court or by a judge of the court to govern practice or procedure in that judge's courtroom.

#(8) "Presiding judge" includes the acting presiding judge or the judge designated by the presiding judge.

#(9) "Judge" includes, as applicable, a judge of the superior court, a commissioner, or a temporary judge.

#(10) "Person" includes a corporation or other legal entity as well as a natural person.

#(11) "Appellant" means the appealing party.

#(12) "Respondent" means the adverse party.

#(13) "Party" is a person appearing in an action. Parties include both self-represented persons and persons represented by an attorney of record. "Party," "applicant," "petitioner," or any other designation of a party includes the party's attorney of record.

#(14) "Attorney" means a member of the State Bar of California.

#(15) "Counsel" means an attorney.

#(16) "Prosecuting attorney" means the city attorney, county counsel, or district attorney prosecuting an infraction or misdemeanor case.

#(17) "Complaint" includes a citation.

#(18) "Service" means service in the manner prescribed by a statute or rule.

#(19) "Declaration" includes "affidavit."

#(20) "Trial court" means the superior court from which an appeal is taken.

#(21) "Reviewing court" means the appellate division of the superior court.

#(22) "Judgment" includes any judgment or order that may be appealed.

#(23) "Attach" or "attachment" may refer to either physical attachment or electronic attachment, as appropriate.

#(24) "Copy" or "copies" may refer to electronic copies, as appropriate.

#(25) "Cover" includes the cover page of a document filed electronically.

#(26) "Written" and "writing" include electronically created written materials, whether or not those materials are printed on paper.