Court Rules
Judge

Judge Thomas Garza

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

San Bernardino Superior Court

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Mediation BriefCourt-wide
10 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Exhibits

  • 1 copy

Binding: Three Ring Binder

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 Contacts2 contacts

  • 909 708-8849
  • probatenotes@sb-court.org
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingJuryExhibitsTRO/InjunctionCourtroom ConductConferencesMemorandaEvidence/Witnesses

Document Format Requirements3 rules

FormattingCivil cases

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

Exhibits must be pre-marked in numerical order, and every page of a multipage exhibit must be bates-stamped at the bottom.

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

s27trialsettingorders · p. 1|SecTRIAL SETTING ORDERS — TRIAL DOCUMENTS
FormattingCivil cases

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

It will NOT play Blu-ray disks.

Summary: The courtroom's standard DVD/VCR player cannot play Blu-ray discs.

s27trialsettingorders · p. 2|SecSUA SPONTE RULINGS OF THE COURT FOR TRIAL — Audio-Visual Equipment
FormattingCivil cases

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

When creating your DVD be sure that you are setting the correct software options to ensure proper playback in a DVD player.

Summary: DVDs intended for courtroom playback must be created with the correct software options to ensure compatibility with standard DVD players.

s27trialsettingorders · p. 2|SecSUA SPONTE RULINGS OF THE COURT FOR TRIAL — Audio-Visual Equipment

Document Filing Requirements8 rules

Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

A joint exhibit list must be filed, with exhibits pre-marked numerically and each page of multipage exhibits bates-stamped at the bottom.

2. Joint exhibit list (Exhibits shall be pre-marked in numerical order and if multiple pages, bate stamped at the bottom of each page)

Document Type

Joint Exhibit List

Content & Formatting
Exhibit List
s27trialsettingorders · p. 1|SecTRIAL SETTING ORDERS — TRIAL DOCUMENTS
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

Motions in limine must comply with Local Rule 415, and the parties are expected to be familiar with the three cited decisions.

Motions in limine shall comply with Local Rule 415 and the parties are expected to read and be familiar with Amtower v Photon Dynamics Inc., (2008) 158 CA4th 1582; Kelly v New West Financial Services (1996) 49 CA4th 659; and R & B Auto Center Inc. v Farmers Group Inc. (2006) 140 CA4th 327.

Document Type

Motion In Limine

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s27trialsettingorders · p. 1|SecTRIAL SETTING ORDERS — MOTIONS IN LIMINE
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

Plaintiff must submit a complete set of jury instructions under CRC Rule 2.1055, with a generic pleading cover sheet and an itemized list of any CACI and special instructions.

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.

Document Type

Plaintiff Jury Instructions

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s27trialsettingorders · p. 1|SecTRIAL SETTING ORDERS — JURY INSTRUCTIONS
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

The quote provides a heading for Plaintiff’s Jury Instructions/Special Verdict but states no rule or requirement.

4. Plaintiff’s Jury Instructions/Special Verdict

Document Type

Plaintiff Jury Instructions Special Verdict

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s27trialsettingorders · p. 1|SecTRIAL SETTING ORDERS — TRIAL DOCUMENTS
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

The rule addresses trial briefs.

5. Trial briefs

Document Type

Trial Briefs

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s27trialsettingorders · p. 1|SecTRIAL SETTING ORDERS — TRIAL DOCUMENTS
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

1. Joint witness list

Summary: A joint witness list must be filed by the date of the Trial Resolution Conference.

Document Type

Joint Witness List

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s27trialsettingorders · p. 1|SecTRIAL SETTING ORDERS — TRIAL DOCUMENTS
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

3. Joint Statement of the Case.

Summary: A Joint Statement of the Case must be filed by the date of the Trial Resolution Conference.

Document Type

Joint Statement Of The Case

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s27trialsettingorders · p. 1|SecTRIAL SETTING ORDERS — TRIAL DOCUMENTS
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

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.

Summary: Defendant's jury instructions should include only additional instructions not previously submitted by Plaintiff and a list of objections to Plaintiff's instructions.

Document Type

Defendant Jury Instructions

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
s27trialsettingorders · p. 1|SecTRIAL SETTING ORDERS — JURY INSTRUCTIONS

Filing & Service rules

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

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

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL SETTING ORDERS — JURY INSTRUCTIONS

Witness notice must be given no later than the end of the court day preceding the court day before the witness is scheduled to testify.

Such notice shall be given no later than at the end of the court day preceding the court day before the witness is to testify.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 2 | SUA SPONTE RULINGS OF THE COURT FOR TRIAL — Rule 1

The required trial documents must be filed directly in Department S27 on the date of the Trial Resolution Conference.

on the date of the TRC, the following documents are filed directly in DEPARTMENT S27:

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL SETTING ORDERS — TRIAL DOCUMENTS

Service and Proof of Service Rules

A witness generally may not be called without notice to all parties of the testimony date, except with court permission in exceptional circumstances.

No witness may be called, except with court permission in exceptional circumstances, unless notice has been given to all parties of the date when the witness will testify.

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

Page 2 | SUA SPONTE RULINGS OF THE COURT FOR TRIAL — Rule 1

Courtesy Copy Requirements

Exhibits must be placed in three-ring binders, with one copy each for the Court, the witness, and the opposing party.

Exhibits shall be placed in 3-ring binders with 1 copy for the Court, 1 for the witness and 1 for opposing party.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL SETTING ORDERS — EXHIBITS

Chambers Communication Rules

Questions may be directed by telephone to the judge's judicial assistant, Debra Pedrosa, at 909-708-8849.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL MY JUDICIAL ASSISTANT, DEBRA PEDROSA at 909 708-8849

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL SETTING ORDERS

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 Thomas Garza

Department S27, San Bernardino Justice Center, 247 W. Third Street, San Bernardino, CA. 92415

Common questions about Judge Thomas Garza's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Thomas Garza?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for exhibits. Details: 1 copy. Exhibits must be placed in three-ring binders, with one copy each for the Court, the witness, and the opposing party.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TRIAL SETTING ORDERS — EXHIBITS

What must be included with trial briefs filings before Judge Thomas Garza?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. The rule addresses trial briefs.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TRIAL SETTING ORDERS — TRIAL DOCUMENTS

What must be included with joint witness list filings before Judge Thomas Garza?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A joint witness list must be filed by the date of the Trial Resolution Conference.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TRIAL SETTING ORDERS — TRIAL DOCUMENTS

How may parties contact Judge Thomas Garza's chambers?

The rule addresses phone communications. The rule lists phone 909 708-8849. Questions may be directed by telephone to the judge's judicial assistant, Debra Pedrosa, at 909-708-8849.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TRIAL SETTING ORDERS

What filing deadlines does Judge Thomas Garza set?

The required trial documents must be filed directly in Department S27 on the date of the Trial Resolution Conference.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TRIAL SETTING ORDERS — TRIAL DOCUMENTS

What rule applies to serving all parties before Judge Thomas Garza?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: all parties. A witness generally may not be called without notice to all parties of the testimony date, except with court permission in exceptional circumstances.

View ruleSource: page 2, section SUA SPONTE RULINGS OF THE COURT FOR TRIAL — Rule 1
Complete rules summary for Judge Thomas Garza

The rule addresses trial briefs.

The required trial documents must be filed directly in Department S27 on the date of the Trial Resolution Conference.

A joint witness list must be filed by the date of the Trial Resolution Conference.

A joint exhibit list must be filed, with exhibits pre-marked numerically and each page of multipage exhibits bates-stamped at the bottom.

A Joint Statement of the Case must be filed by the date of the Trial Resolution Conference.

The quote provides a heading for Plaintiff’s Jury Instructions/Special Verdict but states no rule or requirement.

Exhibits must be pre-marked in numerical order, and every page of a multipage exhibit must be bates-stamped at the bottom.

Exhibits must be placed in three-ring binders, with one copy each for the Court, the witness, and the opposing party.

Plaintiff must submit a complete set of jury instructions under CRC Rule 2.1055, with a generic pleading cover sheet and an itemized list of any CACI and special instructions.

Defendant's jury instructions must be filed on the first day of trial.

Defendant's jury instructions should include only additional instructions not previously submitted by Plaintiff and a list of objections to Plaintiff's instructions.

Motions in limine must comply with Local Rule 415, and the parties are expected to be familiar with the three cited decisions.

Questions may be directed by telephone to the judge's judicial assistant, Debra Pedrosa, at 909-708-8849.

A witness generally may not be called without notice to all parties of the testimony date, except with court permission in exceptional circumstances.

Witness notice must be given no later than the end of the court day preceding the court day before the witness is scheduled to testify.

The courtroom's standard DVD/VCR player cannot play Blu-ray discs.

DVDs intended for courtroom playback must be created with the correct software options to ensure compatibility with standard DVD players.

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