Santa Cruz Superior Court Document Format Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Exhibits

Attorneys must feasibly convert all exhibits to electronic form.

Attorneys: All exhibits must be feasibly converted to electronic means.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

The administrative record's format must comply with California Rule of Court 3.2205.

The format of the administrative record shall be governed by California Rule of Court 3.2205.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

The trial notebook must include the petition, all answers, briefs, motions set to be heard at trial, the statement of issues, and other documents the parties agree upon.

The trial notebook must consist of the petition, all answers, the briefs, any motions set to be heard at trial, the statement of issues, and any other documents agreed upon by the parties.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Every submitted trial notebook must be marked “Chambers Copy.”

Any submitted trial notebooks are for the convenience of the trial judge and shall be marked “Chambers Copy”.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

The excerpt collection must include every administrative-record page cited in the parties' briefs and the page immediately before and after each cited page.

The collection shall contain each page of the Administrative Record cited in any of the parties’ briefs, including the page before and the page following the cited page in the Administrative Record.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Administrative-record excerpts must be submitted either in a searchable, readable electronic format or in three-ring binders.

The collection of Administrative Record excerpts must be in an electronic format that is both searchable and readable or housed in three-ring binders.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Every submitted administrative-record excerpt collection must be marked “Chambers Copy.”

Any submitted administrative record excerpts are for the convenience of the trial judge and shall be marked “Chambers Copy”.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

For exhibits in one of the above classifications, parties must use photographs, technical reports, or identical dummy objects instead of the original object.

For exhibits that fall into one of the above classifications, photographs, technical reports or identical dummy objects shall be used in lieu of the original object.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Pleading exhibits must be separated by letter-size sheets with centered exhibit-sequence titles in 36-point font, and filed documents may not contain tabs.

Exhibit attachments to pleadings shall be separated by a standard size 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper with a title identifying the sequence of the exhibit. This shall appear in the middle of the page using 36 pt. font. No tabs shall be included in any documents submitted for filing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

A submitted trial notebook must be marked “Chambers Copy.”

Any submitted trial notebooks are for the convenience of the trial judge and shall be marked “Chambers Copy”.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

The Administrative Record excerpts must be submitted either in a readable, searchable electronic format or in three-ring binders.

The collection of Administrative Record excerpts must be in an electronic format that is both searchable and readable or housed in three-ring binders.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Submitted Administrative Record excerpts must be marked “Chambers Copy.”

Any submitted administrative record excerpts are for the convenience of the trial judge and shall be marked “Chambers Copy”.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

In limine motions must be written, address a single subject, and be consecutively numbered; responses must address only the corresponding subject and use the same motion number.

Motions in Limine: All in limine motions must be in writing. Each motion shall be limited to a single subject and the motions shall be numbered consecutively. Responses shall address only the subject of the motion and shall be numbered the same as the motions.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Pleading exhibits must be separated by a titled 8½-by-11-inch sheet using 36-point font, and no tabs may be included in documents submitted for filing.

Exhibit attachments to pleadings shall be separated by a standard size 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper with a title identifying the sequence of the exhibit. This shall appear in the middle of the page using 36 pt. font. No tabs shall be included in any documents submitted for filing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

A paper administrative-record copy is optional, but if lodged it must comply with California Rule of Court 3.2208 and be bound in three-ring binders.

If the party also wishes to lodge a paper copy, it must comply with California Rule of Court 3.2208 and be bound in three ring binders.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Format

PDF

For criminal cases, in limine motions may be combined in one PDF subject to file size limitations, or e-filed separately.

Notwithstanding Rule 5.1.06 in limine motions for criminal cases may be combined in a single Portal Document Format (PDF) (subject to file size limitations) or e-file separately.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

The required electronic administrative record must be searchable and readable.

In accordance with California Rule of Court 3.2206 the party preparing the administrative record must lodge one copy of the record in an electronic format that is both searchable and readable and complies with California Rule of Court 3.2207.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

An optional paper copy of the administrative record must comply with California Rule of Court 3.2208 and be bound in three-ring binders.

If the party also wishes to lodge a paper copy, it must comply with California Rule of Court 3.2208 and be bound in three ring binders.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Format

PDF

Electronically recorded proceeding transcripts requested by appellants must be provided in PDF electronic form only, not paper form.

When requested by appellants pursuant to California Rules of Court §8.835, §8.868, and §8.917, transcripts of electronically recorded proceedings will be provided to parties in electronic form only (pdf), not in paper form.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026INFO

Format

PDF

When criminal-case in limine motions are combined, the combined document must be a PDF and remain within file-size limitations.

Notwithstanding Rule 5.1.06 in limine motions for criminal cases may be combined in a single Portal Document Format (PDF) (subject to file size limitations) or e-file separately.

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

Applies to

Evidence

Format

PDF

Evidence shall be efiled as a single PDF document with a cover sheet and index identifying the items.

Summary: Attorney evidence must be electronically filed as one PDF containing a cover sheet and an index identifying the exhibits.

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

Format

PAPER ?

Exhibits in a format that is not appropriate for electronic filing (i.e. CD/DVD/USB Drive) shall be submitted in the courtroom only. The submitting party shall be responsible for providing the necessary equipment to view/present the exhibits.

Summary: Electronic-format-inappropriate exhibits such as CDs, DVDs, and USB drives must be submitted only in the courtroom, and the submitting party must provide viewing equipment.

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

Foam boards or enlarged photographs that are used in a case shall be replaced by 8 ½” x 11” photographs or copy of photographs at the end of the case. The Court will not store foam boards at the conclusion of a case.

Summary: At the end of the case, foam boards and enlarged photographs must be replaced with 8½-by-11-inch photographs or copies because the Court will not store the foam boards.