Judge Shirley K. Watkins
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
All filings
Exhibit Book
- 5 copies • Hand Delivery
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
Chambers
Document Format Requirements2 rules
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Any stipulations at an Informal Discovery Conference shall be in writing.
Summary: Stipulations reached at an Informal Discovery Conference must be in writing.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Delivered-5 Sets of Exhibit Books, tabbed and indexed, and delivered to Dept. T.
Summary: Exhibit books delivered for the Final Status Conference must be tabbed and indexed.
Document Filing Requirements23 rules
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
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.
Summary: Parties seeking a court reporter must retain a private court reporter and submit a proposed order designating that reporter as the official reporter.
Document Type
Request For Court Reporter
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
LODGING DEPOSITIONS: Depositions shall be lodged before trial with a Notice of Lodging Depositions.
Summary: Depositions must be lodged before trial accompanied by a Notice of Lodging Depositions.
Document Type
Lodged Depositions
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Please submit proposed orders for all motions and ex parte applications.
Summary: A proposed order must be submitted with every motion.
Document Type
Motion
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Also, please review Judicial Council Form, RA-010 for mandatory use for Evidentiary and Trial Remote Appearances.
Summary: Judicial Council Form RA-010 is mandatory for remote appearances at evidentiary hearings and trials.
Document Type
RA-010 Remote Appearance Request
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
The Court requires timely compliance with California Rules of Court 3-300 regarding Notice of Related Cases.
Summary: Parties must timely comply with California Rules of Court 3-300 regarding notice of related cases.
Document Type
Notice Of Related Cases
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Filed-Joint Witness List
Summary: A joint witness list must be filed by the time of the Final Status Conference.
Document Type
Joint Witness List
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Filed-Joint Exhibit List, include columns for DATE ID'd and DATE ADMITTED.
Summary: A joint exhibit list, including columns for DATE ID'd and DATE ADMITTED, must be filed by the time of the Final Status Conference.
Document Type
Joint Exhibit List
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
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.)
Summary: Five sets of exhibit books must be delivered to Department T by the FSC — one set each for the clerk, the judge, and the witness box, and one for each side.
Document Type
Exhibit Books
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Filed-Proposed Verdict Form
Summary: A proposed verdict form must be filed by the time of the Final Status Conference.
Document Type
Proposed Verdict Form
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Filed-List of jury instructions
Summary: A list of jury instructions must be filed by the time of the Final Status Conference.
Document Type
List Of Jury Instructions
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Delivered-Jury instructions, fully edited, printed out and delivered to Dept. T.
Summary: Fully edited jury instructions must be printed out and delivered to Department T by the time of the Final Status Conference.
Document Type
Jury Instructions
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Questionnaires will not include questions concerning the location of the prospective jurors' residences in accordance with changes to the Standards for Judicial Administration.
Summary: Proposed juror questionnaires must not include questions concerning the location of prospective jurors' residences.
Document Type
Proposed Juror Questionnaire
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Filed-Joint Statement of the Case.
Summary: A joint statement of the case must be filed by the time of the Final Status Conference.
Document Type
Joint Statement Of The Case
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
If there is a lack of cooperation in preparing joint documents, then please file individual documents with a declaration explaining the difficulty.
Summary: When counsel cannot cooperate in preparing joint documents, individual documents must be filed accompanied by a declaration explaining the difficulty.
Document Type
Individual Documents
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
Filed-Proposed Juror Questionnaire, if requested.
Summary: A proposed juror questionnaire must be filed by the time of the Final Status Conference if requested.
Document Type
Proposed Juror Questionnaire
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
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.
Summary: Parties seeking a private court reporter must submit a proposed order designating the reporter as official.
Document Type
Proposed Order
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
Please submit proposed orders for all motions and ex parte applications.
Summary: Proposed orders are required for all motions.
Document Type
Motion
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
5. Filed-List of jury instructions
Summary: List of jury instructions must be filed by the Final Status Conference.
Document Type
Jury Instructions List
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
3. Filed-Joint Statement of the Case.
Summary: Joint Statement of the Case must be filed by the Final Status Conference.
Document Type
Joint Statement Of The Case
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
2. Filed-Joint Exhibit List, include columns for DATE ID'd and DATE ADMITTED.
Summary: Joint Exhibit List with DATE ID'd and DATE ADMITTED columns must be filed by FSC.
Document Type
Joint Exhibit List
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
4. Filed-Proposed Verdict Form
Summary: Proposed Verdict Form must be filed by the Final Status Conference.
Document Type
Proposed Verdict Form
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
1. Filed-Joint Witness List
Summary: Joint Witness List must be filed by the Final Status Conference.
Document Type
Joint Witness List
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
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.
Summary: Proposed Juror Questionnaires (if requested) must not include questions about jurors' residences.
Document Type
Proposed Juror Questionnaire
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Complaints and answers (or petitions and responses) must be separately filed, and must be e-filed when filed by counsel.
All complaints and answers (or petitions and responses) must be separately filed (efiled if by counsel).
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · 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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 4 | INFORMAL DISCOVERY CONFERENCES
Complaints, answers, petitions, and responses must be separately filed; attorneys must efile these documents.
All complaints and answers (or petitions and responses) must be separately filed (efiled if by counsel).
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Page 2 | COMPLAINTS AND ANSWERS AS ATTACHMENTS
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 2 | CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES
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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 3 | COURT REPORTERS
For an ex parte application to shorten time on a motion, the motion date must 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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 3 | EX PARTE APPLICATIONS
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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 4 | MOTIONS
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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · 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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 7
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.
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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.
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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.
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Page 3 | COURT REPORTERS
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.
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Page 4 | JURY FEES
Depositions must be lodged before trial with a Notice of Lodging Depositions.
Depositions shall be lodged before trial with a Notice of Lodging Depositions.
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Page 4 | LODGING DEPOSITIONS
Motions in Limine must be filed 16 court days (business days) before the FSC hearing.
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).
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Page 6 | Final Status Conference Orders
Service and Proof of Service Rules
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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · 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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 5
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.
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Page 3 | EX PARTE APPLICATIONS
Filing Fees and Waivers
A filing fee is required for trial continuance requests.
A filing fee is required.
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Page 2 | CONTINUANCES
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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 4 | JURY FEES
A filing fee is required for trial continuances.
A filing fee is required.
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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.
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Page 4 | JURY FEES
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Department T will accept courtesy copies, though no quantity, timing, or format is specified.
COURTESY COPIES: Department T will accept courtesy copies.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 3 | COURTESY COPIES
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.)
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Page 6 | Final Status Conference Orders
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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · 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.
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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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · 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.
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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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · 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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 3 | COURTCONNECT
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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · 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.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 5 | REMOTE APPEARANCES
Parties may not email the courtroom without prior court approval; courtroom email is not regularly monitored.
However, you may not email the department without prior court approval. The courtroom email is not regularly monitored.
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Page 3 | EMAILS