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Chapter 9 (Rules 9.00 to 9.28): case management from filing to disposition under Government Code Section 68607, each civil case assigned to one judge for all purposes (Rule 9.00); exempt proceedings (Rule 9.01); uninsured and underinsured motorist cases (Rule 9.02); sanctions (Rule 9.03); no waiver of deadlines by stipulation except as Government Code section 68616 or the court permits (Rule 9.04); court-ordered mediation, notice served within 20 days (Rule 9.07); non-binding judicial arbitration (Rule 9.08); binding arbitration (Rule 9.09); the papers the plaintiff receives on filing, the Case Management Conference set within approximately 180 days (Rule 9.11); service of the summons and complaint within 60 days with the Civil Case Management Policy, the Notice of Assignment and Case Management Conference, a blank Case Management Statement and the ADR Policy Statement (Rule 9.12); transferred cases (Rule 9.13); responsive pleadings and defaults (Rule 9.14); the parties' conference no later than 30 days before the Case Management Conference and statements filed fifteen days before it (Rule 9.15); case evaluation (Rule 9.18); limited civil cases in the branch courts (Rule 9.19); the differential case management plans - disposition within 12, 18 or 24 months (Rule 9.24); venue (Rule 9.27); and small claims venue (Rule 9.28).
California > Second Appellate District > San Luis Obispo County > Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo
CHAPTER 9 – CIVIL TRIAL CALENDAR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RULE 9.00 CASE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSITION POLICIES (a) In accordance with Government Code Section 68607, it is the policy of the court to manage all cases from the time the complaint is filed until a final disposition has been achieved. It is the policy of the court to assign civil cases to one judge for all purposes at the time the complaint or first pleading is filed. It is also the policy of the court to promote early dispositions through alternative dispute resolution techniques. (b) It is the policy of this court to follow the case-disposition goals set forth in Sections 2.1 and 2.3 of the Standards of Judicial Administration. All cases will be assigned to one of the following case management plans based upon the factors set forth in these rules: (1) Plan 1: 90% of all cases must be disposed of within 12 months from the date the complaint is filed; (2) Plan 2: 98% of all cases must be disposed of within 18 months from the date the complaint is filed; and (3) Plan 3: 100% of all cases must be disposed of within 24 months from the date the complaint is filed. (c) Continuances It is the policy of this court that when a matter has been calendared, the date may not be changed without a showing of good cause. Court hearings and appearances are appointments with the court and may not be changed without the consent of the judicial officer assigned to manage the case. Continuances of law and motion matters must be managed by the court attorneys. The court clerk is not authorized to continue a matter or take off calendar, except by direction of the judicial officer assigned to the case. (d) Modifications Nothing in these rules shall be interpreted to prevent the court from issuing an order modifying the application of the above policies if the interest of justice require the modification. (Amended 7/1/03) RULE 9.01 CASE EXEMPT FROM CIVIL CASE MANAGEMENT These rules shall not apply to proceedings as defined in CRC 3.712. (Amended 7/1/02) RULE 9.02 UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED MOTORIST CASES (a) Temporary Exemption From Fast Track When plaintiff’s counsel determines that the defendant is an uninsured/underinsured motorist and that an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim will be made against the plaintiff’s insurer, a declaration captioned “Request for Temporary Exemption – Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Case” must be filed which sets forth the following: (1) A statement that the plaintiff has uninsured motorist’s coverage; (2) The name of the insurer and the limits of the coverage; and (3) A statement that counsel believes that the limits of coverage are adequate to compensate for known losses or damage, that plaintiff will promptly pursue the remedies provided by the insurance contract and that it is counsel’s intention to assign the claim to the insurer or dismiss the pending action upon conclusion of the uninsured motorist claim. (b) Resolution Required Within One Year In any case designated as an Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist case, the plaintiff and the plaintiff’s insurer must settle or arbitrate the dispute. The case must be calendared for a Status Conference 180 days after the designation. The court shall maintain jurisdiction of the case until completion of the mediation and/or arbitration. (c) Mediation Prior to Arbitration. At the request of any party or on the court’s own motion, the court may order mediation before arbitration. (d) Appointment of Arbitrator. Any party seeking arbitration may petition the court to appoint a neutral arbitrator. In the event the parties cannot agree upon an arbitrator, each side shall submit two names for consideration by the court. The Court maintains a list of attorneys practicing in San Luis Obispo County who have agreed to arbitrate these cases for their hourly rates, and will provide the names of those individuals upon request. (Amended 1/1/19) RULE 9.03 SANCTIONS FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH LOCAL RULES (a) Except for good cause shown, sanctions may be imposed upon any person who: (1) Fails to comply with any local rule or order of the court, other than a prior order to pay sanctions; (2) Fails to submit any form or report required by the court; or (3) Fails to appear at any case management conference or any other scheduled event; or court-ordered arbitration. (b) Sanctions may include, but are not limited to, payment of monetary sanctions to the court, payment of the opposing party’s reasonable expenses and attorney’s fees, dismissal of the action or striking an answer and entering a default. (Amended 7/1/02) RULE 9.04 WAIVER OF RULES (a) No procedure or deadline established by these rules or by court order may be waived or extended by stipulation or agreement of the parties unless the waiver or extension is permitted by Government Code section 68616 or by the court. (b) Any party may seek relief from any procedure or deadline imposed by these rules or court order by filing a noticed motion describing the relief sought and the facts upon which the application is based. The motion must be supported by appropriate declarations showing the factual basis for the motion and that injustice to a party will result if the relief is not granted. (Amended 7/1/02) RULE 9.05 LAW AND MOTION (Repealed 1/1/05) RULE 9.06 PRELITIGATION MEDIATION (Reserved Eff 7/1/00) RULE 9.07 MEDIATION (a) The court may order the parties to participate in mediation before a neutral mediator. California Evidence Code sections 1115 et seq., shall govern the proceedings. (1) Within 20 days from the date the Court orders mediation, the plaintiff must serve notice of the mediation to all interested parties, unless the Court provides notice to the parties; (2) The mediator’s fees should be divided according to the agreement of the parties; (3) Within 10 days after the completion of the mediation, the mediator is encouraged to file a report notifying the Court if the case has settled conditionally, or unconditionally.The following persons are required to attend Court-ordered mediation in person, or by remote video technology, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, or excused by the Court or the mediator for good cause: (1) The parties; (2) The parties’ attorneys; (3) The insurer’s representatives with settlement authority; and (4) Any other persons whose consent or authority is necessary to resolve the disputed issues. (c) The parties may request mediation at any stage of the proceedings. Such requests should be directed to the judge assigned for all purposes. Rule 9.07 amended effective June 25, 2020; previously amended effective July 1, 2002 RULE 9.08 JUDICIAL ARBITRATION (a) The court may order the parties to participate in non-binding judicial arbitration before a neutral arbitrator appointed by the court. Matters referred to non-binding judicial arbitration must be conducted in the manner set forth in California Rules of Court 3.810 et seq. (b) The Court does not have an administrative committee. The Presiding Judge, per Rule 3.813, performs the functions and has the power of an administrative committee. (Amended 7/1/03) RULE 9.09 SETTLEMENTS (a) Binding Arbitration When the parties stipulate to binding arbitration, the case must be dismissed. The court will reserve personal and subject matter jurisdiction to enforce the terms of the arbitration agreement and to enter a judgment confirming the arbitration award. (Amended 7/1/02) RULE 9.10 CIVIL CASE MANAGEMENT POLICY (Repealed 7/1/01) RULE 9.11 FORMS TO BE ISSUED BY THE CLERK WHEN THE COMPLAINT IS FILED (a) Upon filing a complaint, the plaintiff shall receive the following from the Court: (1) Notice of Assignment and Case Management Conference (The Case Management Conference will be set within approximately 180 days of the filing of the original complaint for all cases except for limited general civil.); (2) A blank Case Management Statement [Judicial Council Form CM-110] (available upon request from the Clerk’s Office or on the Court’s website at https://www.slo.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing); and (3) An ADR Policy Statement (local form CVDC04, available upon request from the Clerk’s Office or on the Court’s website at https://www.slo.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/local-forms). Rule 9.11 amended effective July 1, 2025. RULE 9.12 SERVICE OF SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT (a) The plaintiff must serve the Summons and Complaint on all defendants within 60 days. The following documents must be attached to the complaint or served at the same time the complaint is served: (1) Civil Case Management Policy; (2) Notice of Assignment and Case Management Conference; (3) A blank Case Management Statement; and (4) The court’s ADR Policy Statement. (b) A Proof of Service must be filed with the court within ten days after the complaint is served on any defendant unless a responsive pleading has been filed. (c) The following documents must be attached to and served with any cross complaint that names new parties: (1) Civil Case Management Policy Statement; (2) Notice of Case Management Conference; (3) A blank Case Management Statement; and (4) ADR Policy Statement. (Amended 1/1/05) RULE 9.13 CASES TRANSFERRED FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS (a) Upon receipt of the file, the Clerk must assign the case to a judge for all purposes and must provide the plaintiff with a copy of the court’s Civil Case Management Policy, a Notice of Assignment and Case Management Conference, a Case Management Statement, and the court’s ADR Policy Statement. (b) Upon receipt of the documents listed in 9.13A, the plaintiff must serve a copy of each document upon each other party to the action. Plaintiff must file a certificate that the documents were served on each defendant within 10 days of receipt of the documents form the clerk. (c) A Case Management Conference will be set within 45 days from the filing of the action in this court. (Amended 1/1/05) RULE 9.14 RESPONSIVE PLEADINGS (a) Each party served must file and serve responsive pleadings within the time required by law. The parties may stipulate to an extension of not more than fifteen days beyond the date the response would otherwise be due. (b) Entry of Default. (1) Plaintiff is required within ten days after the time for filing a responsive pleading to request the entry of a non-responding party’s default. (2) Default hearings and judgments need not be pursued in multi-defendant cases until the entire action against all responding defendants has concluded. (3) Parties may set aside a default by filing a stipulation and proposed order. An answer or other responsive pleading must be attached to the stipulation. (Amended 7/1/02) RULE 9.15 CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE (a) The parties must confer in regard to case management issues no later than 30 days prior to the Case Management Conference (CRC 3.720). (b) Each party must file and serve a completed Case Management Statement fifteen days before the first Case Management Conference. If the questionnaire is filed less than fifteen days before the conference, a sanction will be imposed (CRC 3.720). (c) Counsel must confer with their clients in regard to ADR prior to the conference. Counsel must be able to represent to the court whether mediation and/or arbitration is acceptable to their clients. (d) At the first Case Management Conference, the court must assign the case to a case management plan by applying the factors listed in Rule 9.18. The court must also make other pretrial orders to facilitate the cost-effective resolution of the case. The orders may include the following: (1) Defendants and cross defendants, other than fictitiously-named defendants, who have not been served or appeared may be dismissed unless their default has been requested. The court for good cause may permit service of such defendants or cross defendants by a date certain. (2) It is the policy of the court to encourage and facilitate mediation of litigated disputes by trained and experienced neutral mediators. The court must make orders on stipulations to mediation by an approved mediator. The order must identify the mediator and the time within which the mediation must be completed. A second Case Management Conference may be set to review the result of the mediation. (3) The court must make orders on stipulations to binding arbitration or non-binding judicial arbitration. The court order must identify the arbitrator and the time within which the arbitration must be completed. A second Case Management Conference may be set to review the result of the arbitration. (4) The court must consider bifurcating or severing issues or causes of action and consolidating related cases. (5) The court must consider establishing a discovery plan that regulates the scope, timing and deadlines for completing discovery. (6) The court may make orders scheduling the exchange of information relating to expert witnesses under C.C.P. § 2034 and dispositions of expert witnesses unless the parties stipulate that no expert witnesses will be called to testify. The court will closely examine any claim that multiple experts are required. (7) The court may make orders scheduling the completion of law and motion matters contemplated by the parties. The trial date will not be adjusted to accommodate law and motion matters. (8) The court may make orders scheduling further Case Management Conferences. (e) Counsel who appear at the first Case Management Conference must be familiar with the case and must be prepared to discuss case management issues. Counsel must have authority to agree to and select a mediator or arbitrator from the list of neutral mediators and arbitrators approved by the court. Counsel who fail to attend the case management conferences must be subject to one or more of the sanctions outlined in Rule 9.03. (f) A trial date may be assigned at either the first or the second Case Management Conference. The date will be in the 12th month following the date the complaint was filed. A date for a mandatory settlement conference will also be set in the 11th month following the date the complaint was filed. (Amended 1/1/04) RULE 9.16 SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE (Repealed 7/1/01) RULE 9.17 PRETRIAL PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS (Repealed and Renumbered as 27.02 Effective 7/1/01) RULE 9.18 CASE EVALUATION FACTORS FOR CASE MANAGEMENT PLANS The court must estimate the maximum time that will reasonably be required to dispose of each case in a just and effective manner. The court may reclassify the case to be a “Limited Jurisdiction Civil Case” and order the case managed under the rules applicable to such cases. The court must consider the following factors, and any other information the court deems relevant, understanding that no one factor or set of factors shall be controlling and that cases may have unique characteristics incapable of precise definition: (a) Type and subject matter of the action; (b) Number of causes of action or affirmative defenses alleged; (c) Number of parties with separate interests; (d) Number of cross complaints and the subject matter; (e) Complexity of issues, including issues of first impression; (f) Difficulty in identifying locating and serving parties; (g) Nature and extent of discovery anticipated; (h) Number and location of percipient and expert witnesses; (i) Estimated length of the trial; (j) Likelihood that some or all issues can be mediated or arbitrated; (k) Statutory priority for the issues; (l) Likelihood of review by writ or appeal; (m) Amount in controversy and the type of remedy sought; (n) Pendency of other actions or proceedings which may affect the case; (o) Nature and extent of the law and motion proceedings anticipated; (p) Nature and extent of the injuries and damages; (q) Pendency of underinsured motorist claims; and (r) Any other factor that could affect the timely and cost-effective disposition of the case. (Amended 7/1/02) RULE 9.19 LIMITED CIVIL CASES (a) Limited civil cases filed in branch courts must be assigned for all purposes to the judge assigned to the branch court; (b) Trials of limited civil cases must be held in the branch courts; and (c) Limited civil cases must be generally managed in the manner set forth in these rules. Either party may request that the matter be set for trial at any time during the pendency of the action. (Amended 1/1/09) RULE 9.20 DECLARATION OF UNINSURED MOTORIST STATUS (Repealed 7/1/01) RULE 9.21 ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (Repealed 7/1/01) RULE 9.22 EXEMPTION FROM DELAY REDUCTION PROGRAM (Repealed 7/1/01) RULE 9.23 TRIAL SETTING CONFERENCE (Repealed 7/1/01) RULE 9.24 DIFFERENTIAL CASE MANAGEMENT RULES (a) As required by California Rule of Court 3.711, the following differential case management rules must apply. Disposition under the following case-management plans must be from the date of filing: (Amended 7/1/02) (1) Plan One, disposition within 12 months; (2) Plan Two, disposition within 18 months; and (3) Plan Three, disposition within 24 months. It is presumed that all cases are subject to the disposition goal under case-management Plan One when the case is filed. The Court may modify the assigned case-management plan at any time for good cause shown. (b) The court may in the interest of justice exempt a general civil case from the case-disposition time goals if it finds the case to be complex within the meaning of California Rules of Court 3.400 et. seq. and that exceptional circumstances are involved that will prevent the court and the parties from meeting the goals and deadlines imposed by the program. (Amended 7/1/02) RULE 9.25 CASE PROCESSING TIME STANDARDS (Repealed 7/1/01) RULE 9.26 CONTINUANCE POLICY (Repealed 1/1/09) RULE 9.27 VENUE OF CIVIL PROCEEDINGS Civil cases may be filed at any court location other than the Juvenile Services Center and the Veteran's Hall. The case must be assigned for all purposes to a judge sitting in a branch court, or to a judge sitting in the courthouse in San Luis Obispo, on the following basis: (a) The case must be assigned to a judge sitting in the branch court or the San Luis Obispo Courthouse at the locations as set forth below, based on the principles set forth in sections 392 through 395 of the California Code of Civil Procedure. The term “location” must be substituted for “county,” “city and county” or “judicial district” where those terms are used in the statutes. (b) San Luis Obispo Courthouse: San Luis Obispo, Avila Beach, Cayucos, Los Osos, Morro Bay, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Oceano, Pismo Beach, and unincorporated areas south of the Ontario Grade in between and south of the Cuesta Grade. (c) Paso Robles Branch: Paso Robles, Atascadero, Cambria, Santa Margarita, Templeton, and unincorporated areas north of the Cuesta Grade. (d) The first pleading filed in a civil action must contain an allegation that establishes the proper venue of the action. (e) Unlimited jurisdiction civil cases will be assigned only to the San Luis Obispo Courthouse or the Paso Robles Branch. (f) The court to which any action has been assigned may be changed upon a showing of good cause or upon the court’s own motion. (Amended 1/1/12) RULE 9.28 SMALL CLAIMS PROCEEDINGS (a) Venue (1) An action in small claims is to be filed and heard at the location set forth below, based on the defendant’s residence or principal place of business, unless otherwise ordered by the court. San Luis Obispo Courthouse: San Luis Obispo, Avila Beach, Cayucos, Los Osos, Morro Bay, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Oceano, Pismo Beach and unincorporated areas in between and south of the Cuesta Grade. Paso Robles Branch: Paso Robles, Atascadero, Cambria, Santa Margarita, Templeton, and unincorporated areas north of the Cuesta Grade. (2) If the defendant’s residence or principal place of business is outside the County of San Luis Obispo, then the case must be assigned to a judge by using the principles set forth in sections 392 through 395 of the California Code of Civil Procedure. The term “location” must be substituted for “county,” “city and county” or “judicial district” where those terms are used in the statutes. (b) Costs Costs for personal service are in the discretion of judicial officer if the plaintiff has not first unsuccessfully attempted service by certified mail. (c) Continuances Continuances of small claims proceedings will be granted by the court only if the request is in writing, is made at least ten (10) calendar days before trial and/or upon a showing of good cause. (d) Post Judgment Motions (1) The court will schedule all small claims post judgment hearings not less than ten (10) calendar days after the filing of the proper papers. (2) Post judgment hearings will be calendared at the same time as small claims cases are heard. (Amended 1/1/04) (e) Exhibits Exhibits retained by the court are held for 60 days from the date of mailing of the notice of final disposition and destroyed unless the party(s) contact the court to arrange for their return. (Eff. 1/1/12) RULE 9.29 MANDATORY MEDIATION (Repealed 7/1/01)
CHAPTER 9 – CIVIL TRIAL CALENDAR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RULE 9.00 CASE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSITION POLICIES (a) In accordance with Government Code Section 68607, it is the policy of the court to manage all cases from the time the complaint is filed until a final disposition has been achieved. It is the policy of the court to assign civil cases to one judge for all purposes at the time the complain
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-10-08 (California T4 San Luis Obispo build 2026-10-08) from BenchPath custody ca/t4/ca-san-luis-obispo/docs/local-rules/local-rules-be-effective-july-1-2026.pdf (the court's rule book, “Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, Effective July 1, 2026”, as fetched 2026-10-08; 1342001 bytes, sha256 529d32bded120bc75a274269fb81bc94001fed283619190951cbc84909e80ffe; 144 pages) with the shared verbatim composer (v2 reflow) over the rule body (PDF pages 11 to 130, printed 1 to 120): each page's running header (“San Luis Obispo Superior Court”) and printed page number removed as chrome; lines reflowed into the rules' paragraphs; the one struck word in the book (Rule 11.1902(c), read on the page image) set aside as chrome with the composer's strike_out, so the card reads the rule as amended; the body cut at the chapter headings (“CHAPTER N –”), which reassemble it; proof 1 (whitespace-only) and proof 2 (same character multiset as the text layer minus chrome) pass. The cover, the table of contents, Appendix I (the schedule of fees), Appendix II (the local forms lists) and the index belong to no chapter; Chapters 6, 8, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 29 print only repealed rules and have no card; the book has no Chapter 17.
Division XI: information forms for data processing (Rule 11.2); required action - action taken on all calendared cases and a future date always set (Rule 11.19); and pro tem judges - an attorney named as a plaintiff in a civil or small claims case may not sit as a judge pro-tem during the case or within six months following its resolution, nor one named as a defendant in two or more such cases (Rule 11.22). Rules 11.1, 11.3 to 11.5, 11.7 to 11.18, 11.20 and 11.21 are repealed, and Rule 11.6 (voluntary arbitration; see Local Rule 10.2) was repealed and renumbered.
Duval County's indigent-defense and magistration rules under the Texas Fair Defense Act (S.B. 7): who may be booked into the county jail and on what paper; arrest-case numbering; presentment to a magistrate within 48 hours (art. 15.16); the magistrate's warnings, counsel inquiry, interpreter duty, indigence determination and appointment of counsel within 24 hours of a request; the alternative appointment plan under art. 26.04(g)-(h) with annual applications, seven attorney categories (capital, first and second degree, third degree/state jail/misdemeanor, competency, appeals, post-conviction, extradition), CLE and experience standards, random rotation within each category, written acceptance within 48 hours, first contact by the end of the next working day, replacement and suspension of counsel, fee applications within five days of completing services and the compensation attachment ($500 pleas; $175/$150 hourly; $1,400 per jury-trial day; appellate caps); bail schedules by offense class with a personal bond office (fee $20 or 3%), pre-trial supervision and revocation hearings within two working days; arraignment settings and notice; repeal of conflicting rules.