Butte County trial binder and trial document requirements

At the Case Management Conference, the Court will ordinarily set the matter for Trial and set a Trial Readiness Conference. Counsel appearing should be prepared with trial counsel's available dates for the next two (2) years.

Rule 3 is Administration of Civil Litigation and applies to all general civil cases filed after July 1, 1992. Rule 3.1(A) excludes juvenile, probate, civil harassment, domestic relations, extraordinary writs, unlawful detainer, small claims and asset forfeiture. Cite carefully: the printed outline indents subparagraphs (a) through (e) under 3.9(A)(3), which is the transferred case paragraph, but they read as general provisions, the rule cross-references itself as "Rule 3.9(a)1" and 3.9(A)(3)(c) points to "3.9(d)1.A. - 1.H.," a subdivision that does not exist. The internal numbering is broken in the published PDF.

For all jury trials, the Court will conduct a TRC in advance of the first day of trial. The Trial Readiness Conference Statement (form GR.020) is available on the Court's website: www.butteCourt.ca.gov. The Court will, at the time of setting the trial date, set a date for the TRC.

Rule 1.9 is titled TRIAL READINESS and sits in Local Rule 1, General Rules, which applies to all cases including limited jurisdiction. Last amended 7/1/25. The civil rules create no final status conference and no issue conference. The TRC is the only conference tied to trial preparation.

The Court will ordinarily set a Trial Readiness Conference (TRC) preceding the trial for all unlimited civil Court trials with a time estimate greater than two (2) hours.

Note the qualifier. For jury trials under subdivision (D) the court will conduct a TRC, no qualifier. For court trials it is ordinarily, and only for unlimited civil. Assume a TRC either way and confirm with the department. The rule does not say what gets filed for a bench trial TRC.

Not less than five (5) Court days prior to the scheduled settlement conference, each party shall file and serve the Settlement Conference Statement.

Rule 3.10 was last amended 1/1/26. Subdivision (A) says good faith efforts to settle "shall be made in conformity with California Rules of Court, Rule 3.1380." Subdivision (C)(3): "Parties may use local Court form entitled Settlement Conference Statement (form DR.040)." Both the rules PDF forms table and the web forms table list DR.040 as Optional, A.D. 1/1/2018, so no conflict. The statement is filed, not just lodged, which differs from many California courts.

The Settlement Conference Statement shall be in writing and shall describe the case and all relevant legal issues, factual issues, and contentions. The statement and supporting material must be sufficiently detailed to enable the settlement conference judge or the pro tem judges to conduct a meaningful settlement conference.

The quotation runs across a printed page break at page 17 of the PDF; both sentences are subdivision (C)(2). The reference to pro tem judges means a volunteer attorney settlement panel may hear it. Subdivisions (C)(4), (5) and (6) add personal injury specifics: bring all examining doctors' reports and records, list all special damages in the statement, supply corroborating evidence, and itemize special damages per plaintiff, listed separately, totaled, and split between health care and loss of earnings.

Representatives of each party, with full authority to settle, shall meet in person or confer by telephone no less than ten (10) calendar days before the settlement conference in a good faith attempt to settle the case. A good faith offer and a good faith demand shall be exchanged.

The first sentence is subdivision (G)(1) and the second is the first sentence of (G)(2); they are separate numbered paragraphs, joined here. The rest of (G)(2): "Failure to make a good faith attempt to settle will result in the Court considering sanctions." Ten calendar days, not court days, and subdivision (G) came in with the 1/1/26 amendment. Putting an actual number on both sides is mandatory, which is stronger than most county rules. No declaration of compliance is required, but GR.020 Exhibit G asks about settlement efforts later.

All counsel shall organize in advance and bring to the conference such medical reports and records and any depositions (with relevant pages premarked), photographs, books, records, diagrams, maps, bills, contracts, memoranda, and all other documents pertinent to settlement of the case for examination by the settlement conference judge.

No format is prescribed: no binder, no tabs, no index, no copy count. Subdivision (C)(6) separately requires opposing counsel to bring copies of all reports and records of their examining doctors. Treat this as the practical case binder in Butte, handed over at the conference and not filed.

Each person required to attend the settlement conference, must have full authority to make decisions and negotiate concerning the case for which the settlement conference is scheduled. The attorney[s] for all parties appearing in the action who attend the conference, must be intimately familiar with the pertinent available evidence involving both liability and damages. The attorney[s] assigned to try the case shall be present at the settlement conference, unless good cause for his or her absence is shown.

The first sentence is subdivision (B)(1); the second and third are subdivision (B)(2). Separate numbered paragraphs, joined here. Subdivision (B)(3) adds the lien duty: "All counsel shall ascertain whether there are claims or liens which may affect a settlement, and if so, request in writing the claimants or lienholders, or their representatives, to attend the settlement conference. A copy of such written request shall be mailed to the Court." In a construction defect case that reaches insurers, subrogation carriers and mechanics lien claimants.

Any application to the Court to excuse attendance of any person whose attendance is required by California Rules of Court, Rule 3.1380 shall be made to the assigned judge not less than five (5) calendar days before the date set for the settlement conference.

Calendar days here, unlike the five court days for the statement. Subdivision (E)(2) requires an excused person to "be and remain immediately available for telephone communication with counsel and the Court at the time set for and throughout the settlement conference." The application goes to the assigned judge, not to the settlement judge, which matters in Butte because civil MSCs are calendared to Department 10 while the case sits in Department 1 or 6.

A Trial Readiness Conference Statement (form GR.020) must be filed at least five (5) Court days prior to the TRC, and a copy must be provided to opposing counsel.

Both the rules PDF forms table and the court's web forms table list GR.020 as Mandatory, A.D. 7/1/2024, so its status is not in dispute. The sentence sits in subdivision (D), which opens "For all jury trials." Whether the same statement is required when the court sets a bench trial TRC under subdivision (C) is not stated anywhere. For a jury trial this one filing is the entire Butte trial document package: witness list, exhibit list, jury instructions, verdict form, case statement and deposition excerpts all ride in as lettered exhibits to it.

This form must be completed in full by an attorney for each represented party and by each non-represented party, filed at least five (5) full court days prior to the Trial Readiness Conference, and a copy provided to opposing counsel.

The form says five full court days; rule 1.9(D) says five Court days. Treat them as the same and count the shorter way. The form runs four pages and the caption block carries both courthouse addresses under one phone number, (530) 532-7002.

This estimate includes the time for all remaining pretrial motions, jury selection (if applicable), testimony of all witnesses for all parties, opening statements, final arguments, and jury instructions (if applicable). It assumes five to six hours of trial per day, but excludes any time for jury deliberations.

The jury fee question is worth checking before filing. Section 1 also asks for the date the complaint was filed and the attorneys of record for each side. Section 5 takes any other matters to be considered at the conference, and section 4 takes additional appended exhibits as U, V, W and onward.

List the names of all witnesses each party intends to call at trial, except witnesses to be used solely for impeachment. As to each witness, state the party calling the witness, the city in which the witness resides or, for expert witnesses, the city in which the expert witness's office is located; whether the witness was deposed; a summary of the witness's expected testimony; and an estimate of time required for direct and cross-examination. For each expert witness, also state his or her field of expertise.

Enforcement on the same page: "Unlisted witnesses are subject to exclusion at trial, except for true impeachment witnesses." Exhibit J carries an Inapplicable box, so a party with no witnesses checks it. Exhibit J is the one list exhibit with no waiver of unstated objections line.

Such trial memoranda, a list of exhibits, and a list of witnesses are to be filed no later than noon on the Monday immediately preceding the trial.

Offset is noon on the Monday immediately preceding trial, so it floats between two and six calendar days out depending on the weekday trial starts and whether that Monday is a holiday. The rule does not say what the list must contain. This sentence applies to any court trial taking more than two hours for presentation by all sides, limited or unlimited; only the TRC sentence later in the same subdivision is limited to unlimited civil.

List and briefly describe all exhibits each party intends to offer at trial, except exhibits to be used solely for impeachment. For each exhibit, state the party offering the exhibit and whether the opposing parties stipulate to its foundation and admissibility; identify any party that objects to foundation or admissibility, and state the grounds for each objection.

Double edged enforcement on the same page: "Unlisted exhibits are subject to exclusion at trial, except for true impeachment exhibits. Unstated objections are deemed waived except on a showing of good cause." A party that lists its own exhibits without stating objections to the other side's exhibits waives them.

Such trial memoranda, a list of exhibits, and a list of witnesses are to be filed no later than noon on the Monday immediately preceding the trial.

Same sentence as the witness list row. The rule requires a list, not the exhibits themselves, and says nothing about pre-marking or delivering exhibits to the court.

List the jury instructions that each party requests the judge to give. List CACI instructions in numerical order first, then special instructions with a brief description (e.g., "Duty to Mitigate", "Alternative to BAJI 2.6", etc.). Include a copy of each special instruction. If any party objects to a proposed instruction, identify that party and state the grounds for the objection.

Exhibit S is one of only two exhibits on the form with no Inapplicable box, so it is required in every jury trial. Enforcement on the same page: "Unlisted instructions are subject to exclusion at trial. Unstated objections are deemed waived except on a showing of good cause." The form still references BAJI, which was discontinued; read that as an example of a non-CACI special instruction. Section 3 is headed ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS APPENDED FOR JURY TRIAL, so Exhibits Q, R, S and T are jury trial only.

The parties agree that there shall be a special verdict. The form of special verdict agreed on by the parties is appended as "Exhibit T: Verdict Form".

Five boxes, check exactly one: parties agree on a general verdict; a named party requests a general verdict; parties agree on a special verdict with an agreed form appended; parties agree on a special verdict but disagree on its form, with both proposals appended as Exhibit T; or a named party requests a special verdict in the form appended. No separate deadline and no separate filing.

Provide a proposed case statement for the judge to read to the jurors at the beginning of the trial. This should identify the parties and state generally what each side claims, giving a brief overview of the case without being argumentative.

Jury trials only. Carries an Inapplicable box. The form does not say whether the statement is joint or per party, and since each party files its own GR.020 the practical answer is per party unless the department directs otherwise.

Trial briefs may set forth any information that will assist the judge.

May, not shall, and Exhibit O carries an Inapplicable box. This is the only trial brief provision for a jury trial. The bench trial rule in the next row is mandatory, which is the reverse of what most practitioners expect.

For any Court trial which is to take in excess of two hours for presentation by all sides, the parties are required to file a trial memorandum setting forth their respective positions, together with citations to all legal authority upon which the parties intend to rely.

Filing deadline is the next sentence of the same subdivision: noon on the Monday immediately preceding trial. The two hour trigger is measured by presentation time for all sides combined, so a short bench trial escapes the requirement. This subdivision is not limited to unlimited civil.

List all excerpts from depositions, responses to interrogatories, responses to requests for admissions, and other discovery responses that each party expects to offer at trial for any purpose other than impeachment. Each excerpt to be offered must be identified as to date, document, page number(s), and line number(s). For each excerpt, state the party offering it and whether the opposing parties stipulate to its admissibility; identify any party that objects to admissibility, and state the grounds for each objection.

Enforcement on the same page: "Unlisted discovery items are subject to exclusion at trial, except for true impeachment matters. Unstated objections are deemed waived except on a showing of good cause." Exhibit H also asks you to state any issue expected to arise at trial about introducing discovered material, with each side's contentions. No counter-designation procedure and no second round. Objections are stated once, in this exhibit.

Any and all motions in limine in connection with any anticipated civil trial shall be filed five (5) Court days prior to the Trial Readiness Conference. The judge may allow filings after this date for good cause.

Rule 1.2 is captioned FILING OF MOTIONS IN LIMINE in the rule text and MOTION IN LIMLINE in the table of contents, a typo in the published PDF. Last amended 1/1/18. The deadline runs off the TRC, so it moves whenever the TRC moves. This is the anchor most likely to make a practitioner late, because the in limine deadline in most counties runs off the trial date.

List all motions remaining to be heard before trial, including all in limine motions anticipated for the entire trial. In limine motions should address the exclusion and admissibility of evidence as well as any legal issues that would require the jurors to be excused during the trial. In limine motions must be filed and served no later than (5) full court days prior to the Trial Readiness Conference (Local Rules 1.2 and 1.9).

Quoted as printed, including the form's own dropped word before "(5)." Rule 1.2(A) says in limine motions shall be filed five court days before the TRC; the form says filed and served. Serve when you file and the conflict never matters. The form's parenthetical citation to Local Rules 1.2 and 1.9 confirms both are civil trial rules.

Completion of this statement requires that counsel (or non-represented parties) have conducted a meaningful "meet and confer" conference.

No declaration of meet and confer is required and no deadline is stated for the conference itself. It has to happen far enough ahead that the statement can be completed five court days before the TRC.

Summarize each party's causes of action and each party's affirmative defenses (assuming that the dismissals and amendments referred to in Exhibits A and B are approved). Unlisted causes of action and defenses may be deemed dismissed.

Exhibit C is the other exhibit with no Inapplicable box, so it is always required. This is the harshest consequence on the form. Exhibit A is requests for dismissal and Exhibit B is proposed amendments to the pleadings or pretrial orders, both with Inapplicable boxes.

State each fact that some or all of the parties have stipulated is true. Indicate the stipulating parties, and set forth each stipulation in a form suitable to be read to the jury. At the conference, the judge will require the parties to attempt in good faith to agree on as many factual issues as possible.

Exhibit D: "Summarize each issue of law that is disputed, stating each side's contentions, and cite authority." Exhibit F: "Summarize each issue of fact that is disputed, stating each side's contentions." All three carry Inapplicable boxes. Draft the stipulations as jury readable sentences.

State whether (if applicable) a mandatory settlement conference has been held.

If an MSC has been held, give the date of each conference and the settlement judge's name. If not, state if true that the parties met, discussed the case and attempted in good faith to settle. In all cases state which of three things is true: the parties believe the case can be settled, they do not, or at least one party believes further discussion with a judge might facilitate settlement.

Summarize each unusual evidentiary issue (not covered by another Exhibit or by a motion in limine referred to in Exhibit N) that is expected to arise during trial, stating each side's contentions.

Exhibit K: "Provide a glossary of any technical or unusual terms expected to be used by any expert witness at trial." Exhibit L requires each fact for which judicial notice is requested, the requesting party, the opposing party, and each side's contentions. All three carry Inapplicable boxes. Exhibit L is a list, not a request; the request itself has to satisfy rule 2.3(A), below. In a construction defect trial the glossary is not a throwaway.

Any request for judicial notice shall be made in a separately captioned document, listing the specific items of which notice is requested. Copies of those items shall be attached to the request as exhibits and shall be indexed and paginated. When judicial notice of a Butte County Court file is requested, the request shall be filed with the Clerk of the Court no less than seven (7) Court days before the hearing.

Rule 2.1(A): "This Rule 2 applies to all civil law and motion proceedings." Last amended 7/1/16. The seven court day clock runs from the hearing, which for an in limine RJN is the TRC unless the department sets the motion elsewhere. This is the only index and pagination requirement in the civil rules, and the draft under review missed it. The same subdivision permits certified copies in lieu of the original for an out of county file, also filed no less than seven court days before the hearing.

If it is anticipated that an attorney, party, or witness will ask to be excused from the trial at any time, state the person who will make that request, the dates affected, and the reason for the calendar conflict. State any other anticipated scheduling problems.

Carries an Inapplicable box. Expert availability windows belong here.

List the voir dire questions that each party requests the judge to ask the jurors. Attach any proposed written questionnaire for the judge to submit to the jurors. If any party objects to a proposed question, identify that party and state the grounds for the objection.

Jury trials only, Inapplicable box available. The form does not say whether the questionnaire must be exchanged separately or on any different schedule.

Parties are encouraged to obtain a stipulation containing the information as set forth in Procedural Stipulations for Jury Trial (form GR.040).

Seven numbered stipulations, initialed by each side's counsel and signed by both. No deadline. The natural time to hand it up is at the TRC. Both the rules PDF forms table and the web forms table list GR.040 as Optional, so no conflict here. Item 7 is the ten day stay of execution under CCP section 918(b).

When a case is ready for trial (at-issue), a Memorandum to Set Case for Trial (form GR.010) shall be filed in the following cases: Civil Harassment, Extraordinary Writs, and Asset Forfeiture cases under Health and Safety Code 11470.

Quoted with the section symbol before 11470 dropped, because pdftotext renders every section symbol in this PDF as a replacement character; the printed page carries a section symbol there. Subdivision (A)(1): "Form GR.010 may also be filed in the following cases: Unlawful Detainer less than $25,000 or other." The words "or other" leave the form permissively available outside the three mandatory categories. Form status is disputed between the court's two official sources: the consolidated rules PDF forms tables list GR.010 as Mandatory, A.D. 7/1/25, in both the by-number and alphabetical listings, while the web forms table lists it as Optional. The three mandatory case types are also outside Rule 3's civil delay reduction program under rule 3.1(A), which is why they set their own trial date.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law or this Rule, the following items may not be electronically filed: ... 7. Documents typically submitted during the course of a proceeding (e.g. Trial Exhibits); 8. Lodged Documents;

The ellipsis stands in for items 1 through 6: wills and codicils, bonds or undertakings, subpoenaed documents, Probate Code section 2620 financial institution and care facility and escrow documents, California state vital records forms, and documents with attachments or exhibits that cannot be accurately transmitted because of size or type. Items 9 through 11 are sealed case documents, copy requests and Labor Commissioner deposits. Rule 21.1(A)(2) makes e-filing mandatory for all civil matters, self-represented parties excepted under 21.1(B). So GR.020 and its appended exhibits are e-filed, but the physical trial exhibits are not, and no rule says how or when they reach the courtroom.

Parties who require the use of the Court's audio/visual presentation equipment shall complete a Request/Notification for Courtroom Audio/Visual Presentation Equipment (form GR.030) and submit the completed form to the Clerk's Office no later than five (5) Court days before the date the equipment is to be utilized. In the event the Court date is set less than five (5) Court days before the hearing, the request must be made at the time the hearing is set or by the close of business on that day.

The offset runs from the day the equipment is used, not from the first day of trial, so a video going in on trial day four carries its own clock. The rule reaches any hearing, not just trial. GR.030 is Mandatory; the action date is disputed between the rules PDF (A.D. 7/1/21) and the web forms table (A.D. 1/1/2026). Subdivision (A)(2) warns that court staff and deputies will not set up or operate party supplied equipment, and that if you cannot get it working in a reasonable time as judged by the bench officer, "the matter will proceed without use of the equipment." Subdivision (A)(3): the court has limited equipment, allocated first come first served unless the Presiding Judge sets a priority. Subdivision (A) opens by saying the procedure "shall apply at all Court facilities."

Multimedia (e.g. Flash Drives, DVDs, et al) and other non-documentary items, whether labeled or presented as Exhibits or Attachments, will not be accepted by the Court as part of any filed pleading, motion, or document.

Subdivision (B)(1): "Exhibits or Attachments or other non-documentary items no matter how labeled, of a non-documentary nature, may be accepted by the Clerk's Office only after receiving prior authorization from a judicial officer." (B)(2) requires pre-marking and a coversheet with the case name and number, the related pleading or motion, the hearing date and time, and the contents. (B)(3) says such items are marked Received and stored "in accordance with its standard Exhibit processing procedures for trial exhibits," which is the only reference in the rules to a trial exhibit procedure, and the procedure itself is not published. Last amended 7/1/25. This rule aims at filed papers, not at exhibits offered during trial.

Each appearing party shall file and serve the completed Case Management Statement no later than fifteen (15) calendar days before the Case Management Conference. Subsequent Case Management Statements may be required at the discretion of the Court for further evaluation.

Fifteen calendar days, not court days. The CMC is set within 180 days of filing the original complaint for unlimited civil and within 120 days for limited general civil (rule 3.9(A)(1)(a)). Counsel appearing at the CMC, including counsel specially appearing for counsel of record, is subject to sanctions if not fully prepared to address the items the court will rule on (rule 3.9(A)(3)(c)). Same outline numbering caveat as the TRC row.

The Court may, in its discretion, refuse to consider late filed papers or may impose sanction, including monetary sanctions. Where opposition papers are late or entirely omitted, no oral argument by the opposing party will be allowed unless the Court otherwise directs. Relief from the operation of this Rule must be sought from the Court by ex parte application or noticed motion and will be granted only upon a showing of good cause.

Subdivision (A) is the favorable half: "No paper shall be rejected for filing on the ground that it was submitted for filing after the time set forth in these Rules. Late filed papers shall be filed by the Clerk and shall be marked conspicuously as 'Late Filed Document.'" So a late GR.020 gets filed, it just may not get read. The quoted (B) text continues: "Such relief may also be conditioned upon payment of sanctions for noncompliance." Rule 3.11 was added 1/1/19 and amended 7/1/20.

If the Court finds that any party has not proceeded with due diligence or has otherwise failed to comply with Butte County Superior Court Local Rules and California Rules of Court, Rules 2.100-2.30, the following sanctions may be imposed: 1. Strike all or any part of the pleadings of the party violating the Rules; 2. Dismiss the action or enter judgment by default against such party; 3. Impose other penalties of a lesser nature as otherwise provided by law; or 4. Order that party or his or her counsel to pay to the moving party reasonable expenses, including attorney fees, incurred in seeking enforcement of the Rules.

The cite to "California Rules of Court, Rules 2.100-2.30" is as printed and reads as a typographical error for 2.100 through 2.130. The rule ends with a bracketed citation to Code of Civil Procedure section 575.2(a); the section symbol prints in the PDF and was dropped here because pdftotext mangles the glyph. Rule 3.12 last amended 1/1/07.

All Civil matters, including Small Claims, are filed at the North Butte County Courthouse located at 1775 Concord Ave., Chico, CA 95928.

Rule 1.3 is captioned SMALL CLAIMS VENUE but its text reaches all civil matters. The rule governs where civil is filed and does not say which courthouse tries a civil case. The court's Civil Division page fills the gap outside the rules: the Civil Division at 1775 Concord Avenue, Chico "handles all Civil matters including Small Claims, Unlawful Detainer, Limited and Unlimited Civil cases for the entire county." Both facilities print in the caption block of every GR form under one phone number, (530) 532-7002.