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Court Rules
Judge

Judge Stephen Gallon

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Rules last changed:
Riverside Superior Court

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Brief
3 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Deposition Transcript

Court-wide
  • On First Day of Trial

Witness List, Exhibit List, Exhibits, Judicial Notice Request, Motion in Limine, Opposition, Trial Brief, Stipulation, Jury Instructions, Verdict Form

Court-wide
  • 1 copy

Communication

Email

Chambers

deptm301@riverside.courts.ca.gov
Phone

Chambers

(760) 904-5722
Scheduling
Filters:

Page & Word Limits1 rule

Page Limits

File a joint IDC brief (3 pages max) three court days before the IDC.

Brief
Up to 3 pages
M-301 Dept Rules · Jun 2026 · p. 2|SectionII. Law and Motion

Document Filing Requirements1 rule

Filing Requirements

The listed joint trial documents, jury instructions, and motions in limine binder with oppositions are due by 8:30 a.m. on the trial date.

Court's wording

All parties must comply with Local Rule 3401 and Reales Investment, LLC v. Johnson (2020) 55 Cal.App.5th 463. The following documents are due by 8:30 a.m. on the date set for trial: • Joint Statement of the Case • Joint Exhibit List (exchange all exhibits 14 days before trial; excludes impeachment evidence) • Joint Witness List (with time estimates) • Jury Instructions (Joint; Plaintiff’s; Defendant’s) • Joint Verdict Form(s) • Motions in Limine Binder (with oppositions)

M-301 Dept Rules · Jun 2026 · p. 2|SectionIII. Trials — Pre-Trial Filings

Filing & Service rules

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

The joint IDC brief must be filed three court days before the IDC.

File a joint IDC brief (3 pages max) three court days before the IDC.

Page 2 | II. Law and Motion

The specified pretrial filings must be submitted by 8:30 a.m. on the date set for trial.

All parties must comply with Local Rule 3401 and Reales Investment, LLC v. Johnson (2020) 55 Cal.App.5th 463. The following documents are due by 8:30 a.m. on the date set for trial: • Joint Statement of the Case • Joint Exhibit List (exchange all exhibits 14 days before trial; excludes impeachment evidence) • Joint Witness List (with time estimates) • Jury Instructions (Joint; Plaintiff’s; Defendant’s) • Joint Verdict Form(s) • Motions in Limine Binder (with oppositions)

Page 2 | III. Trials — Pre-Trial Filings

Service and Proof of Service Rules

A party requesting oral argument must inform all other parties by 4:30 p.m. the day before the hearing.

To request oral argument, parties must notify Judicial Secretary Kari Gates at (760) 904-5722 and inform all other parties by 4:30 p.m. the day prior.

Page 1 | II. Law and Motion

The parties must exchange all exhibits 14 days before trial, except impeachment evidence.

Joint Exhibit List (exchange all exhibits 14 days before trial; excludes impeachment evidence)

Page 2 | III. Trials — Pre-Trial Filings

Before leaving court, counsel must provide opposing counsel the next day’s witness order and related exhibits in order of use.

Counsel must provide opposing counsel with the next day’s witness order and related exhibits (in order of use) before leaving court.

Page 3 | V. Witnesses

Filing Fees and Waivers

A request to shorten notice or advance a hearing date will be considered only after the motion is filed, a hearing date is set, and the appropriate fee is paid or waived.

Requests to shorten notice or advance a hearing date will not be considered unless: o The motion is filed; o A hearing date is set; o The appropriate fee is paid or waived.

Page 1 | I. Ex Parte Applications

Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

Before pursuing a discovery motion, parties must meet and confer and, if unresolved, request an IDC; a joint brief of no more than three pages is due three court days before the IDC, and failure to first seek an IDC may result in denial of sanctions.

Discovery Motions: o Parties must first meet and confer (by phone, in person, or video). *Note this is different than the Code of Civil Procedure o If unresolved, request an Informal Discovery Conference (IDC) by emailing DeptM301@riverside.courts.ca.gov (cc all parties). o File a joint IDC brief (3 pages max) three court days before the IDC. o Discovery motions filed without first seeking an IDC may result in denial of sanctions.

Page 2 | II. Law and Motion

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Trial continuances require a noticed motion; ex parte requests require exigent circumstances, and day-of-trial requests require extraordinary circumstances.

Trial continuances require a noticed motion. Ex parte requests require exigent circumstances. Day-of-trial requests require extraordinary circumstances.

Page 3 | 4. Conduct During Trial

Chambers Communication Rules

A party requesting oral argument must notify the judicial secretary by phone and inform all other parties by 4:30 p.m. the day before the hearing.

To request oral argument, parties must notify Judicial Secretary Kari Gates at (760) 904-5722 and inform all other parties by 4:30 p.m. the day prior.

Page 1 | II. Law and Motion

If discovery meet-and-confer efforts do not resolve the dispute, parties must request an IDC by email and copy all parties.

If unresolved, request an Informal Discovery Conference (IDC) by emailing DeptM301@riverside.courts.ca.gov (cc all parties).

Page 2 | II. Law and Motion

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 58 rules apply across Riverside Superior Court. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 42
  • Applies to
    Statement of case

    A jury-trial statement of the case must be neutral and non-argumentative, state basic uncontested facts and each party's contentions, generally not exceed four or five sentences, and use plain English.

  • Applies to
    Motion in limine

    A motion to exclude evidence or prejudicial matter must be supported by a declaration of a meet-and-confer with opposing counsel and must explain the specific prejudice if the motion is denied.

  • Applies to
    Verdict form

    In jury trials, counsel must submit an agreed verdict form or, failing agreement, a partial joint form with separate proposals on the contested aspects.

Service

All 5

  • Counsel are encouraged to exchange exhibits electronically in a standardized format.

  • Applies to
    Pre trial documents

    Counsel for all parties must exchange the listed pre-trial documents no later than 14 days before trial, or by another time the parties agree upon.

  • Applies to
    Complaint

    Plaintiff's counsel must serve all defendants and file proofs of service within 60 days of filing the complaint.

Formatting

All 2

  • Each page of each exhibit must bear a unique and consecutive page number.

  • Exhibits must be numbered in advance, with each exhibit bearing a separate exhibit number.

Courtesy Copies

All 2

  • A party intending to read from a deposition transcript must lodge the original transcript with the court on the first day of trial.

  • Counsel must provide the original and one copy of each listed trial document to the Court on the first day of trial.

More categories

View all Riverside Superior Court rules
About Judge Stephen Gallon

Stephen Gallon is a district judge with the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, which is the state trial court serving Riverside County.

Their published procedures consist of the M-301 department rules, which provide the specific requirements for practice in that department.

Common questions about Judge Stephen Gallon's rules

Does Judge Stephen Gallon require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Before pursuing a discovery motion, parties must meet and confer and, if unresolved, request an IDC; a joint brief of no more than three pages is due three court days before the IDC, and failure to first seek an IDC may result in denial of sanctions.

View ruleSource: page 2, section II. Law and Motion

What page or word limits apply to brief before Judge Stephen Gallon?

Judge Stephen Gallon's rule states these limits: 3 pages. The parties must file a joint IDC brief no longer than three pages, three court days before the IDC.

View ruleSource: page 2, section II. Law and Motion

What must be included with pretrial filings filings before Judge Stephen Gallon?

The listed joint trial documents, jury instructions, and motions in limine binder with oppositions are due by 8:30 a.m. on the trial date.

View ruleSource: page 2, section III. Trials — Pre-Trial Filings

How may parties contact Judge Stephen Gallon's chambers?

The rule lists phone (760) 904-5722. A party requesting oral argument must notify the judicial secretary by phone and inform all other parties by 4:30 p.m. the day before the hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section II. Law and Motion

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Stephen Gallon?

Trial continuances require a noticed motion; ex parte requests require exigent circumstances, and day-of-trial requests require extraordinary circumstances.

View ruleSource: page 3, section 4. Conduct During Trial

Are filing fees or waivers addressed before Judge Stephen Gallon?

A fee is required for covered filings, and the rule identifies waiver availability. A request to shorten notice or advance a hearing date will be considered only after the motion is filed, a hearing date is set, and the appropriate fee is paid or waived.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. Ex Parte Applications

What filing deadlines does Judge Stephen Gallon set?

The joint IDC brief must be filed three court days before the IDC.

View ruleSource: page 2, section II. Law and Motion

What rule applies to serving all parties before Judge Stephen Gallon?

Details: recipient: all parties, timing: before hearing. A party requesting oral argument must inform all other parties by 4:30 p.m. the day before the hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section II. Law and Motion
Complete rules summary for Judge Stephen Gallon

A party requesting oral argument must inform all other parties by 4:30 p.m. the day before the hearing.

A request to shorten notice or advance a hearing date will be considered only after the motion is filed, a hearing date is set, and the appropriate fee is paid or waived.

A party requesting oral argument must notify the judicial secretary by phone and inform all other parties by 4:30 p.m. the day before the hearing.

Before pursuing a discovery motion, parties must meet and confer and, if unresolved, request an IDC; a joint brief of no more than three pages is due three court days before the IDC, and failure to first seek an IDC may result in denial of sanctions.

The parties must file a joint IDC brief no longer than three pages, three court days before the IDC.

The joint IDC brief must be filed three court days before the IDC.

If discovery meet-and-confer efforts do not resolve the dispute, parties must request an IDC by email and copy all parties.

The listed joint trial documents, jury instructions, and motions in limine binder with oppositions are due by 8:30 a.m. on the trial date.

The specified pretrial filings must be submitted by 8:30 a.m. on the date set for trial.

The parties must exchange all exhibits 14 days before trial, except impeachment evidence.

Trial continuances require a noticed motion; ex parte requests require exigent circumstances, and day-of-trial requests require extraordinary circumstances.

Before leaving court, counsel must provide opposing counsel the next day’s witness order and related exhibits in order of use.

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