Sonoma County trial binder and trial document requirements

4.15 READINESS CONFERENCE [Repealed] Rule 4.14 repealed effective January 1, 2021, adopted effective January 1, 1997; renumbered January 1, 2016. Formerly Rule 4.14

Printed page 33. Verified independently. A full-text search of the 2026 rule set returns three hits for readiness conference: the table of contents entry, this repealed heading, and one in the criminal division rules, which do run a readiness conference. There is no hit anywhere for final status conference, issue conference or trial setting conference on the civil side. The only conferences in the civil rules are the Case Management Conference under Rule 4.2 and the settlement conference under Rule 4.6. The only pretrial appearance the civil trial rule contemplates is the motion in limine hearing referenced in Rule 4.10(E), whose date the rules do not fix.

At the discretion of the Assigned Judge a mandatory settlement conference shall be held in all cases set for trial. These settlement conferences shall be at such times and places as designated by the pro tem panelist, as set forth in the Notice of Mandatory Settlement Conference and Trial.

Printed page 24. The sentence is internally awkward, reading both "at the discretion of" and "shall be held in all cases set for trial." The court's Civil Settlement Conferences page resolves it toward discretion: "Please note that not all civil cases will be referred for a mandatory settlement conference. Referral will be determined on a case by case basis by the civil judge assigned to your case." The conference is run by volunteer pro tem panelists from the local bar, attorneys in practice at least ten years, not by a judge. Coordinator is Lauren Angel, msc@sonomacourt.org, (707) 521-6729. The rule states no interval between the conference and trial. Numbering hazard confirmed: the court's Civil Settlement Conferences page cross-references "Local Rule 4.7" and links a standalone PDF headed 4.7 whose revision history stops at 1/1/2023. The current consolidated rules number this rule 4.6. The text is substantively identical, so the two are the same rule under two numbers.

No later than five (5) court days before the date set for the settlement conference, each party shall deliver their Settlement Conference Statement directly to the pro tem panelist(s) and serve a copy on opposing counsel.

Printed pages 24 to 25. The court's civil division page, not the Civil Settlement Conferences page, adds an operational gloss the rule does not: "The ORIGINAL Civil Settlement Conference Statement shall be delivered directly to the panelist, no later than five (5) court days prior to the conference. Copies of Settlement Conference Statements will no longer be required. The Court will not provide the statements to the panelist(s)." The same page encourages establishing email contact with the assigned panelist for delivery of briefs. There is no local civil form for this statement. The only Settlement Conference Statement/Trial Brief local form, FL048, is family law and must not be used in a civil case.

The date, time, and location of the settlement conference must be typed on the first page of the statement. The parties shall notify the panelist(s) and appropriate settlement conference coordinator of a pre-conference settlement. Failure to comply will result in monetary sanctions being imposed.

Printed page 25. The rule says "will result," which is stronger than the "may result" language in the general sanctions rules at 1.4 and 4.5. Do not overread it. The court's own civil division page states the same two duties with "may": "Failure to comply with this directive may result in monetary sanctions being imposed" on the statement delivery, and "Failure to comply may result in monetary sanctions being imposed" on the pre-conference settlement notice. So the mandatory reading rests on the rule text alone and the court's published gloss cuts the other way. The caption requirement exists because the panelist is a volunteer attorney receiving the statement outside the court file and needs to know which conference it belongs to. The requirement rides the five court day statement deadline; the settlement-notice duty has no stated deadline of its own.

By 3:30 p.m. on the sixth (6th) court day before trial or as otherwise ordered by the court, the parties must file the documents listed below with the Civil Clerk's Office, serve the documents on all parties, and deliver endorsed copies to the chambers of the Assigned Judge the same day.

Printed page 27. Three separate acts, one deadline, and the chambers delivery is expressly the same day. Civil filing is mandatory e-filing under Rule 17.22(A)(1), so the filed copies are electronic and the chambers copies are conformed paper. The rule says "copies" without stating a number. "Or as otherwise ordered by the court" is the express hook for a judge to move this. Confirm the physical delivery address before the run: the court announced on July 8, 2026 that it would relocate to a new courthouse at 625 Administration Drive beginning July 20, 2026, the cover page of this rules edition carries that address, and Rule 16.7 inside the same PDF still names the Civil and Family Law Courthouse at 3055 Cleveland Avenue. Civil Clerk's Office (707) 521-6610. Rule 4.10(D) also carves out Lanterman-Petris-Short Act matters, where timelines are set by the judge presiding over that matter, not by the court's Presiding Judge.

All documents authorized by this rule that a party files with or otherwise submits to the court must be served by a means that is reasonably calculated to assure delivery to all other parties by the earlier of (1) the time when delivery to the court is due under this rule, or (2) the time when the document is actually delivered to the court.

Printed page 29. The service deadline is same-day, pegged to the court delivery, so the usual mail and extension arithmetic does not help on trial documents. The "earlier of" construction means filing early accelerates the service obligation. Confirmed in the source: the subdivision ends mid-sentence after "no slower than fax" with no period, a printing defect in the 7/1/2026 edition, but the operative timing sentence quoted here is complete. Civil e-service and mandatory e-filing under Rules 17.22 and 17.27 satisfy this in the ordinary case.

A joint list, in alphabetical order, of all witnesses to be called, indicating which party intends to call each witness. The list should also note any anticipated issue concerning a witness that might require the court's attention, including but not limited to scheduling constraints, health problems, security precautions, and the need for a translator or interpreter.

Printed page 27. Joint and alphabetical, not per party and not in call order, which means the parties have to exchange lists at the Rule 4.10(C) meet and confer seven court days out and then merge them. The rule does not ask for expert designation, subject of testimony, or time estimates per witness. The witness-issue flagging duty is phrased with "should" rather than "must," unlike the list itself.

On the day that motions in limine are heard, prior to that hearing, each party must show all other parties all electronic presentations, demonstrative exhibits, charts, diagrams, photographs, enlargements, and all other tangible things that the party intends to use in the party's opening statement and/or during trial. Any party who objects to any such material must make the objection at the hearing of the motions in limine, and the judge will rule on all such objections presented.

Printed page 28. This is the only trial exhibit provision in the Sonoma civil rules and it is a party-to-party disclosure, not a filing or a lodging. Verified independently: the strings exhibit list, list of exhibits and pre-mark return zero hits across the entire 2026 rule set. Two consequences. First, the objection deadline is effectively the in limine hearing, so a party that does not object then has a waiver problem. Second, the rules never fix the in limine hearing date, so this obligation floats on whatever date the assigned department sets, which is why the anchor is the court order rather than the trial date. The rule reaches electronic presentations and enlargements, so opening slide decks are covered. The unpublished Trial Orders of the Court under 4.10(D)(11) could still require a list.

A list of all requested California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI) by number, in numerical order, with titles.

Printed page 27. Read together with (D)(9) and Rule 4.10(G), Sonoma wants three distinct things on jury instructions: a numbered index list, a set with full proposed wording, and a physical packet with a face sheet. Build all three. The rule does not say whether this list is joint or per party. The Rule 4.10(C) meet and confer duty reaches it, and a joint list is permitted under 4.10(C).

A list of all proposed CACI jury instructions and special jury instructions, with all proposed wording.

Printed pages 27 to 28. This is the substantive set, covering both CACI and specials. The format constraints in Rule 4.10(G)(3) apply to it: black ink, one instruction per sheet, no party identification on the instruction, packet with face sheet. Sonoma does not require a separate memorandum supporting contested special instructions.

In every jury trial, before the first witness is sworn, six (6) court days prior to the first day of trial, each party must deliver to the judge, and serve upon all other parties, all proposed jury instructions on all applicable law disclosed by the pleadings, and all proposed verdict forms.

Printed page 28. The phrase "before the first witness is sworn, six (6) court days prior to the first day of trial" is redundant as published, but the operative date is the sixth court day before trial, which lines up with 4.10(D). The scope limit matters: this covers instructions on law disclosed by the pleadings. Instructions on law that emerges from the evidence go in later under 4.10(G)(2).

Before closing argument begins, each party must deliver to the judge and serve upon all other parties any additional proposed jury instructions on questions of law arising from the evidence that were not disclosed by the pleadings.

Printed page 28. The mid-trial supplement. The operative anchor is the start of closing argument, an in-trial event, not a fixed interval before the trial date, and the category is limited to law that came out of the evidence rather than the pleadings. Track it during trial rather than treating the sixth court day package as the end of the instruction work.

Each proposed jury instructions must be printed in black ink on a separate piece of paper. Proposed instructions must not identify the requesting party or any party or counsel in the case. The jury instructions must be assembled in a packet with a face sheet that lists all requested instructions and the requesting parties.

Printed pages 28 to 29. This is the closest thing in the Sonoma rules to a required assembled submission, and it covers jury instructions only. The anonymity rule exists because the instruction sheets go back to the jury room, and the face sheet is where attribution lives. Note the tension with Rule 17.21, which requires original documents to be submitted without staples and not two-hole punched, and provides that "No tabs shall be included in any original document submitted for filing." Build the packet with a face sheet index, not tabs. Rule 4.10(G)(4) carves out Lanterman-Petris-Short Act matters, with timelines set by the judge presiding over that matter.

All proposed verdict forms.

Printed page 28. Verdict forms appear twice in the rule, here and at 4.10(G)(1), both at the sixth court day mark. The rule does not require a joint verdict form, does not state a preference between general and special verdicts, and sets no format.

A joint neutral statement of the case to be read to the jury.

Printed page 27. All three constraints matter: joint, neutral, and written to be read aloud. The rule sets no length limit and provides no procedure if the parties deadlock on wording, so the practical answer is to raise it at the motion in limine hearing.

The court finds trial briefs to be very helpful and encourages their submission. Any trial brief must be filed with the Civil Clerk's Office, and an endorsed filed copy delivered to the Assigned Judge, by 3:30 p.m. six (6) court days before trial. This does not preclude supplemental briefs on specific issues that arise during the trial.

Printed page 28. Permissive on whether to file, mandatory on when. No page limit and no required contents. The subdivision also carves out Lanterman-Petris-Short Act matters, with timelines set by the judge presiding over that matter rather than by the court's Presiding Judge. The brief rides the same deadline and the same file-plus-chambers-copy mechanics as the 4.10(D) package, so build it into the same delivery. Do not use local form FL048, which is the family law Settlement Conference Statement/Trial Brief.

Identification by each party of all deposition testimony that the party intends to offer in evidence on the ground that the witness is unavailable to testify at trial, designated by witness, date or volume, and pages and lines.

Printed page 27. Note the narrow trigger. This covers only testimony offered because the witness is unavailable, not deposition excerpts used for impeachment or as party admissions, and the rule requires no counter-designations, no objections chart, and no lodging of the transcripts themselves. This is one of the few items in 4.10(D) that is expressly per party rather than joint.

All motions in limine.

Printed page 27. In limine motions ride the same 3:30 p.m. sixth court day deadline and the same file, serve and deliver-to-chambers mechanics as everything else in 4.10(D). The rule imposes no page limit, no numbering convention, no separate statement, and no requirement to meet and confer on in limine motions specifically, although the general Rule 4.10(C) duty covers subdivision (D) as a whole. The rules do not fix the date of the in limine hearing, but Rule 4.10(E) shows it is a real appearance that happens before trial.

Any written opposition to a motion in limine must be filed with the Civil Clerk's Office, and an endorsed filed copy delivered to the Assigned Judge, by 3:30 p.m. three (3) court day before trial.

Printed page 27. Quoted exactly as published, including "three (3) court day" in the singular, which reads as a drafting error in the 7/1/2026 text. The numeral 3 controls. Practical effect: a three court day window to oppose, and the rule provides for no reply brief. For a Friday trial with no intervening holiday this falls on the Tuesday of trial week.

At least seven (7) court days before trial, all attorneys of record and unrepresented parties must meet and confer in a good faith effort to reach agreement and enter into written stipulations or written joint statements on the matters described in subdivisions (D) and (G) of this rule. All such stipulations and statements must be filed, and courtesy copies delivered, at the time and in the manner stated in subdivisions (D) and (G). A stipulation or joint statement may be filed instead of any submission of an individual party that this rule requires or permits.

Printed pages 26 to 27. This is the real start of the trial preparation clock in Sonoma. The meet and confer sits one court day ahead of the sixth court day filing deadline, which is tight. For a Friday trial with no intervening holiday the meet and confer falls on the Wednesday of the prior week and the filing falls on the Thursday of the prior week. Three of the eleven items in 4.10(D) are affirmatively joint, the witness list, the trial length estimate and the statement of the case, so the conference is not optional in practice for those. The last sentence is the permission that lets a joint document replace separate ones across the rest of the package.

Any proposed voir dire questions which, due to unusual or sensitive circumstances, a party requests the judge to ask prospective jurors.

Printed page 27. Read with Rule 4.11: "The trial judge shall conduct general voir dire. Counsel will be permitted to conduct supplemental questioning." So the judge handles general voir dire and this submission is for the narrow category of sensitive questions counsel wants coming from the bench rather than from the lawyer table.

Any proposed jury questionnaire.

Printed page 27. The rule sets no format, length or approval procedure, and no deadline for objecting to another party's proposed questionnaire.

A joint estimate of the length of the trial.

Printed page 27. Joint, so it has to be negotiated at the meet and confer. The rule does not say what to do if the parties cannot agree on a number, and does not require hours or days as the unit.

Signed copies of the Trial Orders of the Court, containing those provisions to which the parties have stipulated.

Printed page 28. This is the trap in the Sonoma rule and it qualifies every negative finding on this tab. The Trial Orders of the Court is a court-generated document the parties must return signed, and it is not on the court's local forms page. The complete civil local form list is CV-1, CV-2, CV-7, CV-25, CV-33a, CV-33b, CV-35, CV-40, CV-42 and CV-43, verified against the page, none of which is a trial order. It presumably accompanies the Notice of Trial or the Notice of Mandatory Settlement Conference and Trial. It may carry department-specific trial requirements the local rules do not state, an exhibit list or a binder among them, so read it before relying on this research alone. Civil department contact is through the assigned judge's judicial assistant; the Civil Clerk's Office is (707) 521-6610.

Each case is called for trial on the Friday as specified by the court in its Notice of Trial as served on all parties. Unless otherwise ordered, parties and their counsel are to appear in-person and should expect and be prepared to begin the trial of a case on the first date of Trial.

Printed page 26. A Friday call date, which makes the court day arithmetic predictable. Counting backward from a Friday trial with no intervening holiday: Thursday is the first court day, Wednesday the second, Tuesday the third, Monday the fourth, the prior Friday the fifth, the prior Thursday the sixth. So the sixth court day filing deadline lands on the Thursday of the previous week, eight calendar days before trial, not the Thursday immediately before it. The seventh court day meet and confer lands on the Wednesday of the previous week, and the third court day in limine opposition deadline lands on the Tuesday of trial week. A court holiday pushes every one of these earlier, so count against the published Judicial Council holiday calendar rather than assuming the pattern. In-person attendance at the call is mandatory unless excused, which Rule 4.9(A) repeats: "In-person attendance by counsel at the call of the Trial is mandatory unless excused by the Assigned Judge."

Judges may, in the exercise of discretion, order different procedures based on the particular requirements of an individual case.

Printed page 26. The full subdivision also excepts expedited jury trials under Code of Civil Procedure section 630.01 et seq., which are governed by California Rules of Court, rules 3.1545 through 3.1552 instead. Paired with the "or as otherwise ordered by the court" clause in 4.10(D), this is the express delegation to the department. Sonoma publishes no department standing orders, confirmed against the Notices and Standing Orders page, so the delegation is exercised through the Notice of Trial and the Trial Orders of the Court referenced at 4.10(D)(11). The four civil departments are Courtroom 16 Judge Broderick, 17 Judge Gaskell, 18 Judge Simonds and 19 Judge Pardo, verified on the civil division page, which also lists each judge's ex parte review day.

Any motion for continuance must be calendared for hearing before the Assigned Judge on the Trial calendar at least seven (7) calendar days in advance of the trial date, unless good cause is shown for a shortening of such time.

Printed page 26. Calendar days here, not court days, which is the opposite of everything in Rule 4.10. The rule also states "Failure to complete discovery does not constitute good cause" and "Stipulation of trial counsel by itself does not constitute good cause for granting a continuance." Arithmetic for a Friday trial with no intervening holiday: the last available continuance hearing date is the prior Friday, and the Rule 4.10(D) pretrial package is due at 3:30 p.m. the prior Thursday, one day earlier. So the package comes due before the continuance is heard, and it has to be built while the continuance request is still pending. Small claims continuances follow Code of Civil Procedure section 116.570 instead.

Failure to comply with these rules or the California Rules of Court may result in the imposition of sanctions.

Printed page 24. The rest of Rule 4.5 names the authority: where an attorney, a represented party, or a party in pro per fails to comply with any requirement of or order made pursuant to Rules 2, 4, 5, 7 or 9, or the California Rules of Court, the court may impose sanctions on motion or on its own motion under Government Code section 68609(d), Code of Civil Procedure sections 128.5, 128.7, 177.5 and 575.2, and California Rules of Court, rule 2.30. Rule 4 is the civil rule, so every Rule 4.10 deadline is inside the sanctions reach. Unless otherwise ordered, monetary sanctions are payable forthwith to the Sonoma County Superior Court. Rule 1.4 is the court-wide parallel, keyed to Code of Civil Procedure section 575.2. Rule 4.4(A) adds that each case is reviewed for compliance and orders to show cause may issue. Rule 4.6 on settlement conference statements is the one place the rules say "will result" rather than "may," though the court's civil division page states those same duties with "may."