Court Rules
Judge

Judge Donald Alvarez

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

San Bernardino Superior Court

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Mediation BriefCourt-wide
10 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Courtesy copies

  • Upon Case Assignment To Trial

Civil Unlimited Complaint

Court-wide
  • 1 copy

Adjournments

Court-wide

Request must include

Reason For RequestPrevious Requests Granted Or Denied
2Court Daysnotice
Reason For Request

Communication

Clerk7 contacts

  • (909) 708-8678
  • (909) 521-3085
  • (909) 708-8853
  • (909) 521-3447
  • (909) 708-8756
  • (909) 285-3753
Show 1 more
  • (760) 269-4869

Other Contacts1 contacts

  • probatenotes@sb-court.org
Filters:AllMandatoryFormattingJuryExhibitsMemorandaBinders/TabsEvidence/Witnesses

Document Format Requirements3 rules

FormattingCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

Exhibits must be pre-marked in numerical order and, when they contain multiple pages, Bates stamped at the bottom of every page.

Exhibits shall be pre-marked in numerical order and if multiple pages, shall be Bate stamped at the bottom of each page.

s23trialrules|SecREQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL
FormattingCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

Exhibits must be placed in a three-ring binder in two sets, one for the witness and one for the court.

Exhibits shall be placed in a 3-ring binder with two sets for the court. (One for the witness, one for the Court).

Layout & Binding
Binding Style
Three Ring Binder
s23trialrules|SecREQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL
FormattingCivil cases

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Note?

To the extent possible a flash/thumb drive is encouraged to be provided to the Judicial Assistant on the first day of trial.

Summary: To the extent possible, counsel are encouraged to provide the Judicial Assistant with a flash or thumb drive on the first day of trial.

s23trialrules|SecREQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL

Document Filing Requirements8 rules

Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

For jury and court trials, parties must provide a joint witness list containing each witness's name, a brief description, and a time estimate, without implying that the witnesses are agreed upon.

JOINT WITNESS LIST listing the name, brief description, and time estimate for each witness. Note that “JOINT” does not mean “agreed” but does refer to the Court working from one set of documents from counsel. (Jury and Court Trials)

Document Type

Joint Witness List

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s23trialrules|SecREQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

The proposed jury instructions must include a face page listing all requested instructions in sequential order.

A face page listing all requested instructions in sequential order.

Document Type

Jury Instructions

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s23trialrules|SecREQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

All listed trial-readiness items are mandatory, except that the trial brief is optional for jury trials.

All the above-mentioned items are MANDATORY, except for the brief, which is optional for jury trials.

Document Type

Trial Readiness Submissions

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s23trialrules|SecREQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?

JOINT statement of the case. Note that “JOINT” does not mean “agreed” but does refer to the Court working from one set of documents from counsel. (Jury Trials)

Summary: For jury trials, the parties must submit a joint statement of the case from one set of counsel's documents without implying that it is agreed upon.

Document Type

Joint Statement Of The Case

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s23trialrules|SecREQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?

JOINT EXHIBIT LIST and exhibits. Note that “JOINT” does not mean “agreed” but does refer to the Court working from one set of documents from counsel. (Jury and Court Trials)

Summary: For jury and court trials, the parties must submit a joint exhibit list and the exhibits, using one set of documents from counsel without implying that the exhibits are agreed upon.

Document Type

Joint Exhibit List And Exhibits

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s23trialrules|SecREQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?

MOTIONS IN LIMINE, in writing, if any. PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE ORDERS TO BE SIGNED.

Summary: Any written motions in limine must be submitted at trial assignment, and orders to be signed must not be included.

Document Type

Motion In Limine

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s23trialrules|SecREQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?

Proposed SPECIAL VERDICT form (if you are requesting one). (Jury Trials)

Summary: In a jury trial, a proposed special verdict form must be submitted if one is requested.

Document Type

Proposed Special Verdict Form

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s23trialrules|SecREQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?

Proposed CACI jury instructions. (Jury Trials)

Summary: Proposed CACI jury instructions must be submitted for jury trials.

Document Type

Jury Instructions

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s23trialrules|SecREQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL

Filing & Service rules

Electronic Filing Rules

Upon assignment to trial, but not before, the listed trial-readiness items must be submitted electronically with one courtesy copy delivered to the department.

ALL OF THE ITEMS BELOW ARE TO BE SUBMITTED WITH THE COURT UPON THE CASE BEING ASSIGNED TO TRIAL, NOT BEFORE. (Must be submitted by efile, and a courtesy copy delivered to the department)

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | REQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL

Counsel must email one completed joint list to the Judicial Assistant and also electronically file the joint exhibit list.

Counsel will need to return one completed joint list via email to the JA and are also to submit a joint exhibit list to be filed through efile.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | REQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL

Courtesy Copy Requirements

One courtesy copy of the trial-readiness items must be delivered to the department when the case is assigned to trial.

ALL OF THE ITEMS BELOW ARE TO BE SUBMITTED WITH THE COURT UPON THE CASE BEING ASSIGNED TO TRIAL, NOT BEFORE. (Must be submitted by efile, and a courtesy copy delivered to the department)

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | REQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 248 rules apply across San Bernardino Superior Court. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 129
  • Applies to
    Form GC-010

    Counsel seeking inclusion on the Probate court appointed counsel list must complete and submit Form GC-010, with a new form due by March 31 of the following year and each subsequent year.

  • Applies to
    Financial evaluation form

    A person furnished appointed defense services in a criminal case must complete and submit a court financial evaluation form upon appointment.

  • Applies to
    Complaint

    A civil action filed in the court must include a Certificate of Assignment form attached to the complaint or petition.

Filing Timing

All 36
  • Deadline
    5 business days

    IFHMB must receive the mediation request form at least five business days before the court-noticed mediation date.

  • The parties must immediately notify the court and file the Notice of Settlement after settling the case.

  • The Notice of Status of Removed Case must be filed no later than 15 days before the case-management or trial-setting conference.

Service

All 33
  • Applies to
    Mediation brief
    Service
    Email

    An elected mediation brief must be emailed to the two identified IFHMB addresses at least five days before mediation.

  • Applies to
    Initial trial setting conference statement

    The Initial Trial Setting Conference Statement must be served no later than 10 days before the conference.

  • Applies to
    At issue memorandum

    The At Issue Memorandum must be served no later than 15 days before the trial setting conference.

Adjournments

All 13

  • A continuance of the first-set trial date must be requested by a written stipulation of all parties, without an ex parte application, filed at least 15 days before the trial date.

  • Requests for continuances are governed by California Rule of Court, Rule 3.1332.

  • A party seeking a continuance or not intending to proceed must notify the Judicial Assistant and opposing counsel as soon as possible and no later than 4:30 p.m. on the second court day before the hearing.

More categories

View all San Bernardino Superior Court rules
About Judge Donald Alvarez

Department S23, San Bernardino Justice Center, 247 W. Third Street, San Bernardino, CA. 92415

Common questions about Judge Donald Alvarez's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Donald Alvarez?

Details: delivery upon case assignment to trial. One courtesy copy of the trial-readiness items must be delivered to the department when the case is assigned to trial.

View ruleSource: page 1, section REQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Donald Alvarez?

Judge Donald Alvarez's formatting rule includes binding three ring binder and provide one set for the witness and one set for the court.. Exhibits must be placed in a three-ring binder in two sets, one for the witness and one for the court.

View ruleSource: page 1, section REQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL

What must be included with motion in limine filings before Judge Donald Alvarez?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Any written motions in limine must be submitted at trial assignment, and orders to be signed must not be included.

View ruleSource: page 1, section REQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL

What must be included with joint witness list filings before Judge Donald Alvarez?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. For jury and court trials, parties must provide a joint witness list containing each witness's name, a brief description, and a time estimate, without implying that the witnesses are agreed upon.

View ruleSource: page 1, section REQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL

Is electronic filing required before Judge Donald Alvarez?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Upon assignment to trial, but not before, the listed trial-readiness items must be submitted electronically with one courtesy copy delivered to the department.

View ruleSource: page 1, section REQUIREMENTS FOR TRIAL
Complete rules summary for Judge Donald Alvarez

Upon assignment to trial, but not before, the listed trial-readiness items must be submitted electronically with one courtesy copy delivered to the department.

One courtesy copy of the trial-readiness items must be delivered to the department when the case is assigned to trial.

Any written motions in limine must be submitted at trial assignment, and orders to be signed must not be included.

For jury and court trials, parties must provide a joint witness list containing each witness's name, a brief description, and a time estimate, without implying that the witnesses are agreed upon.

For jury and court trials, the parties must submit a joint exhibit list and the exhibits, using one set of documents from counsel without implying that the exhibits are agreed upon.

Exhibits must be placed in a three-ring binder in two sets, one for the witness and one for the court.

Exhibits must be pre-marked in numerical order and, when they contain multiple pages, Bates stamped at the bottom of every page.

To the extent possible, counsel are encouraged to provide the Judicial Assistant with a flash or thumb drive on the first day of trial.

Counsel must email one completed joint list to the Judicial Assistant and also electronically file the joint exhibit list.

Proposed CACI jury instructions must be submitted for jury trials.

The proposed jury instructions must include a face page listing all requested instructions in sequential order.

For jury trials, the parties must submit a joint statement of the case from one set of counsel's documents without implying that it is agreed upon.

In a jury trial, a proposed special verdict form must be submitted if one is requested.

All listed trial-readiness items are mandatory, except that the trial brief is optional for jury trials.

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