Judge Shirley K. Watkins
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Exhibit Book
- 5 copies
Adjournments
- Trial continuances require a noticed motion, ex parte application, or stipulation and order accompanied by a mandatory good cause declaration; a stipulation alone is insufficient.
- Trial continuances require a noticed motion, ex parte application, or stipulation and order with a mandatory good cause declaration.
Request must include
Communication
Phone
Document Format Requirements2 rules
Any stipulations at an Informal Discovery Conference shall be in writing.
Delivered-5 Sets of Exhibit Books, tabbed and indexed, and delivered to Dept. T.
Document Filing Requirements23 rules
Any party otherwise seeking the presence of a court reporter must secure the service of a private court reporter with a proposed order designating the court reporter as the official reporter.
Any party otherwise seeking the presence of a court reporter must secure the service of a private court reporter with a proposed order designating the court reporter as the official reporter.
- Document
- Request for court reporter
Must include
- •Proposed order
LODGING DEPOSITIONS: Depositions shall be lodged before trial with a Notice of Lodging Depositions.
Please submit proposed orders for all motions and ex parte applications.
- Document
- Motion
Include
- •Proposed order
Please submit proposed orders for all motions and ex parte applications.
- Document
- Motion
Include
- •Proposed order
Also, please review Judicial Council Form, RA-010 for mandatory use for Evidentiary and Trial Remote Appearances.
The Court requires timely compliance with California Rules of Court 3-300 regarding Notice of Related Cases.
5. Filed-List of jury instructions
3. Filed-Joint Statement of the Case.
Filed-Joint Witness List
Filed-Joint Exhibit List, include columns for DATE ID'd and DATE ADMITTED.
Delivered-5 Sets of Exhibit Books, tabbed and indexed, and delivered to Dept. T. (One set for the clerk, one set for the judge, one set for the witness box and each side to have a copy.)
2. Filed-Joint Exhibit List, include columns for DATE ID'd and DATE ADMITTED.
- Document
- Joint exhibit list
Include
- •Exhibit list
4. Filed-Proposed Verdict Form
Filed-Proposed Verdict Form
Filed-List of jury instructions
Delivered-Jury instructions, fully edited, printed out and delivered to Dept. T.
Questionnaires will not include questions concerning the location of the prospective jurors' residences in accordance with changes to the Standards for Judicial Administration.
1. Filed-Joint Witness List
Proposed Juror Questionnaires (if requested) must not include questions about jurors' residences.
Court's wording
8. Filed-Proposed Juror Questionnaire, if requested. Questionnaires will not include questions concerning the location of the prospective jurors' residences in accordance with changes to the Standards for Judicial Administration.
Filed-Joint Statement of the Case.
If there is a lack of cooperation in preparing joint documents, then please file individual documents with a declaration explaining the difficulty.
Filed-Proposed Juror Questionnaire, if requested.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
All complaints and answers (or petitions and responses) must be separately filed (efiled if by counsel).
All complaints and answers (or petitions and responses) must be separately filed (efiled if by counsel).
Civil cases
Page 2 | COMPLAINTS AND ANSWERS AS ATTACHMENTS
All complaints and answers (or petitions and responses) must be separately filed (efiled if by counsel).
All complaints and answers (or petitions and responses) must be separately filed (efiled if by counsel).
Civil cases
Page 2 | COMPLAINTS AND ANSWERS AS ATTACHMENTS
Requests for Informal Discovery Conferences may be filed electronically on the court's website.
Also, you may file a request for an Informal Discovery Conference on the court's website, www.lacourt.ca.gov.
Civil cases
Page 4 | INFORMAL DISCOVERY CONFERENCES
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Complaints and answers cannot be deemed filed as an attachment to another document.
Complaints (or amended complaints) and answers (or amended answers) cannot be "deemed" filed as an attachment to another document.
Civil cases
Page 2 | COMPLAINTS AND ANSWERS AS ATTACHMENTS
Case Management Conference statements must be filed no later than 15 calendar days before the CMC per CRC 3.725.
CMC Statements are required no later than 15 calendar days prior to the CMC per CRC 3.725.
Civil cases
Page 2 | CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES
Case management statements must be filed no later than 15 calendar days before the case management conference per CRC 3.725.
CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES: CMC Statements are required no later than 15 calendar days prior to the CMC per CRC 3.725.
Civil cases
Page 2 | CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES
The proposed order for a private court reporter must be received by the court before the hearing.
The court must be in receipt of the order prior to the hearing.
Civil cases
Page 3 | COURT REPORTERS
The proposed order designating the private court reporter must be received by the court prior to the hearing.
The court must be in receipt of the order prior to the hearing.
Civil cases
Page 3 | COURT REPORTERS
For an Ex Parte Application to Shorten Time on a Motion, the motion date should be reserved on CRS before the ex parte hearing.
For an Ex Parte Application to Shorten Time on a Motion, the motion date should be reserved on CRS before the ex parte hearing.
Civil cases
Page 3 | EX PARTE APPLICATIONS
Jury fee payments or waiver requests must be filed 30 days before trial.
Jury fees must be posted, or a jury fee waiver order obtained, no later than 30 days before trial.
Civil cases
Page 4 | JURY FEES
All motion hearing dates (except Motions in Limine) must be reserved in advance using the Court Reservation System (CRS), unless leave of court is obtained.
MOTIONS: All motion hearing dates (except not for Motions in Limine) must be reserved in advance using the Court Reservation System (CRS) except with leave of Court.
Civil cases
Page 4 | MOTIONS
Depositions must be lodged before trial with a Notice of Lodging Depositions.
Depositions shall be lodged before trial with a Notice of Lodging Depositions.
Civil cases
Page 4 | LODGING DEPOSITIONS
Motions in Limine are set to be heard on the date of the FSC on regular, statutory notice like regular law and motion (16 court days for motion, 9 court days for opposition, 5 court days for reply).
Motions in Limine are set to be heard on the date of the FSC on regular, statutory notice like regular law and motion (16 court days for motion, 9 court days for opposition, 5 court days for reply).
Civil cases
Page 6 | Final Status Conference Orders
Motions in limine must be filed on 16 court days' notice and are heard at the Final Status Conference without reserving a date.
Filed-Motions in Limine are set to be heard on the date of the FSC on regular, statutory notice like regular law and motion (16 court days for motion, 9 court days for opposition, 5 court days for reply). You do not need to reserve a date as the FSC will be the hearing date.
Civil cases
Page 6 | FINAL STATUS CONFERENCE ORDERS
Failure to timely comply with court orders results in a $250 monetary sanction against counsel of record under CCP section 177.5.
Failure to timely comply will result in monetary sanctions in the sum of $250 against counsel of record for violation of court orders, CCP section 177.5.
Civil cases
Page 7
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Ex parte applicants must notify all parties by 10:00 a.m. the court day before the ex parte appearance per CRC 3.1203.
CRC Rule 3.1203. Time of notice to other parties (a) Time of notice - A party seeking an ex parte order must notify all parties no later than 10:00 a.m. the court day before the ex parte appearance, absent a showing of exceptional circumstances that justify a shorter time for notice.
Civil cases
Page 3 | EX PARTE APPLICATIONS
A party seeking an ex parte order must notify all parties no later than 10:00 a.m. the court day before the ex parte appearance absent exceptional circumstances; unlawful detainer parties may give shorter notice if reasonable.
CRC Rule 3.1203. Time of notice to other parties (a) Time of notice - A party seeking an ex parte order must notify all parties no later than 10:00 a.m. the court day before the ex parte appearance, absent a showing of exceptional circumstances that justify a shorter time for notice. (b) Time of notice in unlawful detainer proceedings - A party seeking an ex parte order in an unlawful detainer proceeding may provide shorter notice than required under (a) provided that the notice given is reasonable.
Civil cases
Page 3 | EX PARTE APPLICATIONS
Orders are effective only once the proof of service of the conformed order on all parties and the clients has been filed.
Orders are effective only upon filing the proof of service of the conformed order on all parties and the clients.
Civil cases
Page 5
Filing Fees and Waivers
A filing fee is required for trial continuances.
A filing fee is required.
Civil cases
Page 2 | CONTINUANCES
A filing fee is required for trial continuance requests.
A filing fee is required.
Civil cases
Page 2 | CONTINUANCES
Jury fees must be paid or a waiver obtained 30 days before trial.
Jury fees must be posted, or a jury fee waiver order obtained, no later than 30 days before trial.
Civil cases
Page 4 | JURY FEES
Jury fees must be posted, or a jury fee waiver order obtained, no later than 30 days before trial.
Jury fees must be posted, or a jury fee waiver order obtained, no later than 30 days before trial.
Civil cases
Page 4 | JURY FEES
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Five sets of tabbed and indexed exhibit books must be delivered to Department T for trial.
7. Delivered-5 Sets of Exhibit Books, tabbed and indexed, and delivered to Dept. T. (One set for the clerk, one set for the judge, one set for the witness box and each side to have a copy.)
Civil cases
Page 6 | Final Status Conference Orders
Department T will accept courtesy copies, though no quantity, timing, or format is specified.
COURTESY COPIES: Department T will accept courtesy copies.
Civil cases
Page 3 | COURTESY COPIES
Filing Bundling Requirements
Complaints and answers cannot be deemed filed as attachments to another document and must be filed separately.
Complaints (or amended complaints) and answers (or amended answers) cannot be "deemed" filed as an attachment to another document.
Civil cases
Page 2 | COMPLAINTS AND ANSWERS AS ATTACHMENTS
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Meet and confer per CRC 3.724 and 3.727 is required prior to each Case Management Conference.
Meet and confer per CRC 3.724 and 3.727 is required prior to each CMC.
Civil cases
Page 2 | CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Trial continuances require a noticed motion, ex parte application, or stipulation and order accompanied by a mandatory good cause declaration; a stipulation alone is insufficient.
CONTINUANCES: Trial continuances must be heard on a noticed motion OR Ex Parte Application OR by Stipulation and Order with a mandatory declaration showing Good Cause. A stipulation alone without a good faith reason stated by declaration is insufficient.
Civil cases
Page 2 | CONTINUANCES
Trial continuances require a noticed motion, ex parte application, or stipulation and order with a mandatory good cause declaration.
Trial continuances must be heard on a noticed motion OR Ex Parte Application OR by Stipulation and Order with a mandatory declaration showing Good Cause. A stipulation alone without a good faith reason stated by declaration is insufficient.
Civil cases
Page 2 | CONTINUANCES
Chambers Communication Rules
Parties may not email the department without prior court approval, and the courtroom email is not regularly monitored.
From time to time counsel/parties may receive emails from the courtroom. However, you may not email the department without prior court approval. The courtroom email is not regularly monitored.
Civil cases
Page 3 | EMAILS
If a party is not admitted to the remote call within 10 minutes, they must call the department at (818) 901-4612.
COURTCONNECT: If you are not admitted to the call within 10 minutes, please call the department at (818) 901-4612.
Civil cases
Page 3 | COURTCONNECT
However, you may not email the department without prior court approval. The courtroom email is not regularly monitored.
However, you may not email the department without prior court approval. The courtroom email is not regularly monitored.
Civil cases
Page 3 | EMAILS
If on hold for more than 10 minutes without audio during a remote appearance, call the department at (818) 901-4612.
If you are on hold for more than 10 minutes and cannot hear anything, please call the department at (818) 901-4612.
Civil cases
Page 3 | DIFFICULTIES WITH SIGNING IN FOR REMOTE APPEARANCES
If not admitted to a remote appearance call within 10 minutes, call the department at (818) 901-4612.
If you are not admitted to the call within 10 minutes, please call the department at (818) 901-4612.
Civil cases
Page 5 | REMOTE APPEARANCES