Court Rules
Judge

Judge Katherine A. Bacal

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

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San Diego Superior Court

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Document Filing Requirements4 rules

Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Applications for the appointment of guardians ad litem will not be granted unless the moving party submits the documents required by the San Diego Superior Court Local Rules, Rule 2.4.6.

Summary: Guardian ad litem applications will not be granted unless the moving party submits the documents required by San Diego Superior Court Local Rules, Rule 2.4.6.

Document Type

Guardian Ad Litem Application

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
department 63 policies and procedures - honorable katherine a bacal · Jan 2026 · p. 1
|Sec8. Guardian Ad Item/Publication of Summons/Pro Hac Vice/Default prove ups
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

All exhibits should be pre-marked, with pages numbered.

Summary: All exhibits must be pre-marked and have numbered pages.

Document Type

Exhibits

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

The Court allows virtual appearances at Trial Call only if parties previously submitted a joint trial notebook, containing: 1. Agreed upon statement of the case; 2. Joint Witness List (all witnesses on one list); 3. Joint Exhibit List, with objections noted; 4. Joint set of jury instructions, in the order they are to be given with objections noted; 5. Proposed verdict form(s).

Summary: Virtual appearance at Trial Call is permitted only if a joint trial notebook has been previously submitted, containing the statement of the case, joint witness list, joint exhibit list, jury instructions, and proposed verdict forms.

Document Type

Joint Trial Notebook

Content & Formatting
Exhibit List
Statement Of Facts
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

Guardian and Testament/Publication of Summons/Pro Hac Vice/Default prove ups: Submit moving papers for the court, with proof of service, if applicable; the court may set a hearing if deemed necessary.

Summary: For guardian ad litem, publication, pro hac vice, and default prove-up applications, moving papers must be submitted (with proof of service if applicable) and the court may set a hearing if necessary.

Document Type

Application

Content & Formatting
Certificate Of Service
department 63 policies and procedures - honorable katherine a bacal · Jan 2026 · p. 1
|Sec8. Guardian Ad Item/Publication of Summons/Pro Hac Vice/Default prove ups

Filing & Service rules

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Motions in Limine must be filed at least 5 court days before Trial Call.

MILs must be filed at least 5 court days prior to Trial Call.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | 6. Trials

Ex parte papers must be submitted by noon on the day before the hearing.

Papers are due before noon the day before the hearing, with the appropriate fee.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | 1. Ex Parte Matters

Oppositions to Motions in Limine must be filed at least 2 court days before Trial Call.

Oppositions to MILs must be filed at least 2 court days prior to Trial Call.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | 6. Trials

The Joint TRC Report is due five court days before the scheduled TRC; if it is late and the matter is not fully resolved, trial counsel must appear in person.

Parties must submit their Joint TRC Report five court days before the twenty TRC. If a joint TRC report is not timely filed and the matter has not fully resolved, trial counsel must appear in person at the TRC.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | 4. Trial Readiness Conferences (TRCs)

Filing Fees and Waivers

The appropriate filing fee must accompany ex parte papers.

Papers are due before noon the day before the hearing, with the appropriate fee.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | 1. Ex Parte Matters

Filing Bundling Requirements

Replies to Motions in Limine are not permitted.

No replies to MILs.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | 6. Trials

Motions in Limine and any oppositions must be combined in a second notebook, not filed as separate notebooks.

Parties must also submit a second notebook containing Motions in Limine (MIL), followed by Oppositions, if any (not separate notebooks).

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | 5. Trial Calls

Chambers Communication Rules

Ex parte hearings must be reserved by calling the calendar clerk.

Parties must reserve an ex parte hearing by calling the calendar clerk.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | 1. Ex Parte Matters

Informal discovery or pleading conferences can be scheduled with the calendar clerk, but parties must first actually discuss the dispute (an email/letter is not enough).

The court welcomes informal discovery conferences and/or informal pleading conferences, which may be set by calling the calendar clerk. Before reserving an informal conference, parties must actually discuss the dispute with each other (an email/letter is insufficient).

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | 1. Ex Parte Matters

Law and motion hearings must be reserved by calling the calendar clerk or using the 'Reserve a Motion Date' application on the Court's website.

All law and motion matters are heard by reservation either by calling the calendar clerk or using the "Reserve a Motion Date" application on the Court's website.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | 2. Law and Motion Matters

About Judge Katherine A. Bacal

Katherine A. Bacal is a judge on the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, the state trial court serving San Diego County.

Practitioners will find department-specific policies and procedures for Department 63 in the judge's published procedures.

Common questions about Judge Katherine A. Bacal's rules

What must be included with guardian ad litem application filings before Judge Katherine A. Bacal?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Guardian ad litem applications will not be granted unless the moving party submits the documents required by San Diego Superior Court Local Rules, Rule 2.4.6.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 8. Guardian Ad Item/Publication of Summons/Pro Hac Vice/Default prove ups

What must be included with joint trial notebook filings before Judge Katherine A. Bacal?

The rule requires exhibit list and statement of facts. Virtual appearance at Trial Call is permitted only if a joint trial notebook has been previously submitted, containing the statement of the case, joint witness list, joint exhibit list, jury instructions, and proposed verdict forms.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 5. Trial Calls

How may parties contact Judge Katherine A. Bacal's chambers?

The rule addresses phone communications with Judge Katherine A. Bacal's clerk. Ex parte hearings must be reserved by calling the calendar clerk.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 1. Ex Parte Matters

Does Judge Katherine A. Bacal require motion papers to be bundled?

Yes. Judge Katherine A. Bacal requires bundling for covered papers. Motions in Limine and any oppositions must be combined in a second notebook, not filed as separate notebooks.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 5. Trial Calls

Are filing fees or waivers addressed before Judge Katherine A. Bacal?

A fee is required for covered filings. The appropriate filing fee must accompany ex parte papers.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 1. Ex Parte Matters

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Katherine A. Bacal?

The rule states a 12:00 PM filing cutoff. Ex parte papers must be submitted by noon on the day before the hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 1. Ex Parte Matters
Complete rules summary for Judge Katherine A. Bacal

The appropriate filing fee must accompany ex parte papers.

Ex parte papers must be submitted by noon on the day before the hearing.

The Joint TRC Report is due five court days before the scheduled TRC; if it is late and the matter is not fully resolved, trial counsel must appear in person.

Virtual appearance at Trial Call is permitted only if a joint trial notebook has been previously submitted, containing the statement of the case, joint witness list, joint exhibit list, jury instructions, and proposed verdict forms.

Motions in Limine and any oppositions must be combined in a second notebook, not filed as separate notebooks.

Motions in Limine must be filed at least 5 court days before Trial Call.

Oppositions to Motions in Limine must be filed at least 2 court days before Trial Call.

Replies to Motions in Limine are not permitted.

All exhibits must be pre-marked and have numbered pages.

For guardian ad litem, publication, pro hac vice, and default prove-up applications, moving papers must be submitted (with proof of service if applicable) and the court may set a hearing if necessary.

Guardian ad litem applications will not be granted unless the moving party submits the documents required by San Diego Superior Court Local Rules, Rule 2.4.6.

Ex parte hearings must be reserved by calling the calendar clerk.

Informal discovery or pleading conferences can be scheduled with the calendar clerk, but parties must first actually discuss the dispute (an email/letter is not enough).

Law and motion hearings must be reserved by calling the calendar clerk or using the 'Reserve a Motion Date' application on the Court's website.

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