Rule 8.921. Exhibits
Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.921
Current text effective January 1, 2016.
#(a) Exhibits deemed part of record
Exhibits admitted in evidence, refused, or lodged are deemed part of the record but may be transmitted to the appellate division only as provided in this rule.
#(b) Notice of designation
#(1) Within 10 days after the last respondent's brief is filed or could be filed under rule 8.927, if the appellant wants the appellate division to consider any original exhibits that were admitted in evidence, refused, or lodged, the appellant must serve and file a notice in the trial court designating such exhibits.
#(2) Within 10 days after a notice under (1) is served, any other party wanting the appellate division to consider additional exhibits must serve and file a notice in trial court designating such exhibits.
#(3) A party filing a notice under (1) or (2) must serve a copy on the appellate division.
#(c) Request by appellate division
At any time the appellate division may direct the trial court or a party to send it an exhibit.
#(d) Transmittal
Unless the appellate division orders otherwise, within 20 days after notice under (b) is filed or after the appellate division directs that an exhibit be sent:
#(1) The trial court clerk must put any designated exhibits in the clerk's possession into numerical or alphabetical order and send them to the appellate division. The trial court clerk must also send a list of the exhibits sent. If the exhibits are not transmitted electronically, the trial court clerk must send two copies of the list. If the appellate division clerk finds the list correct, the clerk must sign and return a copy to the trial court clerk.
#(2) Any party in possession of designated exhibits returned by the trial court must put them into numerical or alphabetical order and send them to the appellate division. The party must also send a list of the exhibits sent. If the exhibits are not transmitted electronically, the party must send two copies of the list. If the appellate division clerk finds the list correct, the clerk must sign and return a copy to the party.
(Subd (d) amended effective January 1, 2016.)
#(e) Return by appellate division
On request, the appellate division may return an exhibit to the trial court or to the party that sent it. When the remittitur issues, the appellate division must return all exhibits not transmitted electronically to the trial court or to the party that sent them.
(Subd (e) amended effective January 1, 2016.)
#History
Rule 8.921 amended effective January 1, 2016; adopted effective January 1, 2009.
What this rule requires
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
(1) Within 10 days after the last respondent's brief is filed or could be filed under rule 8.927, if the appellant wants the appellate division to consider any original exhibits that were admitted in evidence, refused, or lodged, the appellant must serve and file a notice in the trial court designating such exhibits.
(2) Within 10 days after a notice under (1) is served, any other party wanting the appellate division to consider additional exhibits must serve and file a notice in trial court designating such exhibits.
(1) The trial court clerk must put any designated exhibits in the clerk's possession into numerical or alphabetical order and send them to the appellate division.
(2) Any party in possession of designated exhibits returned by the trial court must put them into numerical or alphabetical order and send them to the appellate division.
Service and Proof of Service Rules
(1) Within 10 days after the last respondent's brief is filed or could be filed under rule 8.927, if the appellant wants the appellate division to consider any original exhibits that were admitted in evidence, refused, or lodged, the appellant must serve and file a notice in the trial court designating such exhibits.
(2) Within 10 days after a notice under (1) is served, any other party wanting the appellate division to consider additional exhibits must serve and file a notice in trial court designating such exhibits.
(3) A party filing a notice under (1) or (2) must serve a copy on the appellate division.
Document Format Requirements
(1) The trial court clerk must put any designated exhibits in the clerk's possession into numerical or alphabetical order and send them to the appellate division.
(2) Any party in possession of designated exhibits returned by the trial court must put them into numerical or alphabetical order and send them to the appellate division.
Document Filing Requirements
Exhibits admitted in evidence, refused, or lodged are deemed part of the record but may be transmitted to the appellate division only as provided in this rule.
If the appellant wants the appellate division to consider original admitted, refused, or lodged exhibits, the notice filed in the trial court must designate those exhibits.
The rule's wording
(1) Within 10 days after the last respondent's brief is filed or could be filed under rule 8.927, if the appellant wants the appellate division to consider any original exhibits that were admitted in evidence, refused, or lodged, the appellant must serve and file a notice in the trial court designating such exhibits.
(2) Within 10 days after a notice under (1) is served, any other party wanting the appellate division to consider additional exhibits must serve and file a notice in trial court designating such exhibits.
At any time the appellate division may direct the trial court or a party to send it an exhibit.
If the appellate division clerk finds the list correct, the clerk must sign and return a copy to the trial court clerk.
If the appellate division clerk finds the list correct, the clerk must sign and return a copy to the party.
On request, the appellate division may return an exhibit to the trial court or to the party that sent it.
When the remittitur issues, the appellate division must return all exhibits not transmitted electronically to the trial court or to the party that sent them.
(1) The trial court clerk must also send a list of the exhibits sent. If the exhibits are not transmitted electronically, the trial court clerk must send two copies of the list.
(2) The party must also send a list of the exhibits sent. If the exhibits are not transmitted electronically, the party must send two copies of the list.
Official text: courts.ca.gov , checked October 19, 2026.