Judge Lily L. Sinfield
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Joint Exhibit List
- 2 copies
Joint Witness List
- 2 copies
Civil Unlimited Complaint
Court-wide- 1 copy
Adjournments
Court-wideRequest must include
Communication
Other Contacts7 contacts
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Clerk1 contacts
Page & Word Limits3 rules
Include a brief summary of why the requested relief should be denied (no longer than two pages);
- Page limit
- Up to 2 pages
An informal discovery conference statement must not exceed two pages.
- Informal discovery conference statement
- Up to 2 pages
Court's wording
For a Request for Informal Discovery Conference, briefly describe the nature of the discovery dispute, including the facts and legal arguments at issue. For an Answer to Request for Informal Discovery Conference, briefly describe why the Court should deny the requested discovery, including the facts and legal arguments at issue. (Do not attach more than two pages. File directly in S31, five days prior to the conference.)
Include a brief summary of the dispute and specify the relief requested. This should not consist of more than two pages;
- Page limit
- Up to 2 pages
Document Format Requirements6 rules
On the date of the TRC, the parties shall bring with them, a three-ring Joint Trial Binder that contains the following, if applicable:
- Binding
- Three-ring binder
The parties shall meet, confer, and bring to Court on the first day of trial, two complete copies of the Joint Exhibit Binder.
No other pleadings, including but not limited to exhibits, declarations, or attachments, will be accepted, unless after receipt of the Request and Answer the Court requests it.
AI-assisted exhibits, demonstratives, and other court materials must identify the AI assistance in the title or caption, in a preceding table, and in a separate contemporaneously filed notice.
- Exhibits
- Demonstratives
Formatting
- •AI assistance must be identified in the title or caption
- •A table identifying AI assistance must precede the body of the material
Court's wording
Any exhibit, demonstrative, or other material to be filed or presented to the Court which was created or drafted with any assistance or use of an AI tool shall be identified as such in its title or caption, in a table preceding the body of exhibit, demonstrative, or other material, and by a separate Notice filed contemporaneously with the document or material.
Each Exhibit shall be marked with a discrete number, and shall be correctly identified.
- Joint exhibit book
Formatting
- •Each exhibit must be marked with a discrete number and correctly identified
Exhibits shall be place in 3-ring binders with 1 copy for the Court, 1 for the witness and 1 for all other parties to the action.
- Binding
- Three-ring binder
- Exhibits
Document Filing Requirements12 rules
Joint Statement of the Case (if the parties do not anticipate giving mini-openings);
Joint exhibit list (Exhibits shall be pre-marked in numerical order and if multiple pates, date stamped at the bottom of each page;
Joint witness list with time estimates for direct examination, cross-examination, re-direct, and re-cross;
Trial briefs are required for bench trials.
No less than five (5) days prior to the Settlement Conference, MSC Briefs must be filed directly in Department S-31 and served on opposing parties that include all four (4) elements enumerated in CRC 3.1380, including, but not limited to settlement discussions.
Plaintiff shall submit, in compliance with CRC RULE 2.1055, a complete set of jury instructions (with a generic pleading cover sheet) with an itemized list of the CACI Instructions and Special Instructions, if any.
Defendant's jury instructions are due filed on the first day of trial and should only include additional instructions not previously submitted by Plaintiff and a list of objections to Plaintiff's instructions.
Plaintiff's Jury Instructions/Special Verdict.
Counsel must contemporaneously serve a sufficiently specific notice identifying AI-generated evidentiary material when it is produced or disclosed, and untagged material will not be considered by the Court.
- Document
- AI-generated evidentiary material notice
Must include
- •AI disclosure
Court's wording
Contemporaneous with the production or disclosure of any such AI-generated evidentiary material, counsel shall serve a Notice to the opposing Party or side identifying such material with sufficient specificity to locate it (such as by Bates or production number, by attaching a copy to such Notice, by promptly responding to any request for counsel to provide a copy of such material, or by any other means which reasonably permits the other ===== PAGE 4 ===== Party or side to identify and locate the material promptly). Any such AI-generated material which does not have an accompanying Notice shall not be considered by the Court.
A separate notice identifying AI assistance must be filed contemporaneously with any AI-assisted exhibit, demonstrative, or other court material.
- Document
- AI-assistance notice
Must include
- •AI disclosure
Court's wording
Any exhibit, demonstrative, or other material to be filed or presented to the Court which was created or drafted with any assistance or use of an AI tool shall be identified as such in its title or caption, in a table preceding the body of exhibit, demonstrative, or other material, and by a separate Notice filed contemporaneously with the document or material.
Unless the parties stipulate or the court orders otherwise, authenticity declarations, affidavits, or sworn testimony must be filed and served when AI-generated material is submitted or filed.
Court's wording
Absent stipulation between the Parties or other order of the Court on scheduling, at the time of the submission or filing of any such material to the Court, the Party or counsel proffering such AI-generated material to the Court shall file and serve any declarations, affidavits, or sworn testimony to address the material's authenticity under the Evidence Code.
Trial briefs are only required for jury trials if the time estimate is over eight days.
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The informal discovery conference statement must be filed directly in S31 five days before the conference.
(Do not attach more than two pages. File directly in S31, five days prior to the conference.)
Civil cases
Page 1 | Informal Discovery Conference Statement
MSC Briefs are due no later than five days before the settlement conference.
No less than five (5) days prior to the Settlement Conference, MSC Briefs must be filed directly in Department S-31
Civil cases
Page 1 | MANDATORY SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE
All motions in limine and their oppositions must be filed directly with Department S31 at least eight days before the Trial Readiness Conference.
Except that all motions in limine and opposition shall be filed directly in Dept. S31 at least 8 days before the Trial Readiness Conference (Local Rule 411)
Civil cases
Page 1 | Footnote 1
Defendant's jury instructions must be filed on the first day of trial.
Defendant's jury instructions are due filed on the first day of trial
Civil cases
Page 1 | THE COURT FURTHER ORDERS AS FOLLOWS
Service and Proof of Service Rules
A Request for Informal Discovery Conference must be served on all parties by an authorized or agreed method no later than the next court day after filing.
Serve all parties pursuant to any authorized or agreed method of service that ensures that the opposing part/ies receive the Request for Informal Discovery Conference no later than the next court day following the filing.
Civil cases
Page 1 | The party requesting the Informal Discovery Conference will
An Answer to a Request for Informal Discovery Conference must be served on the opposing party by an authorized or agreed-upon method no later than the next court day after filing.
Be served on the opposing party pursuant to any authorized or agreed upon method of service that ensures that the opposing party receives the Answer no later than the next court day following the filing.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Any Answer to a Request for Informal Discovery Conference must
Courtesy Copy Requirements
The Joint Witness List must identify each witness, provide a brief description and time estimate, and include two courtesy copies provided to the clerk.
Joint Witness List listing the name, brief description, and time estimate for each witness. Two (2) courtesy copies of the Joint Witness List shall be provided to the clerk.
Civil cases
Page 2 | I. JOINT TRIAL BINDER
Two courtesy copies of the Joint Exhibit List must be provided to the clerk.
Joint Exhibit List. Two (2) courtesy copies of the Joint Exhibit List shall be proved to the clerk.
Civil cases
Page 2 | I. JOINT TRIAL BINDER
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Counsel must meet and confer in good faith before filing and serving motions in limine.
Counsel shall meet and confer in good faith before filing and serving the Motions in Limine.
Civil cases
Page 2 | I. JOINT TRIAL BINDER