San Joaquin — Preparing for Trial Handout

Source: https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/forms/2026-02/Preparing-for-Trial-Handout.pdf

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN JOAQUIN 315 W. ELM STREET LODI, CA 95240

PREPARING FOR TRIAL RESOURCES FOR SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS If you do not have an attorney, you are responsible for gathering and presenting your evidence properly. Courts have rules about evidence so that judges will make decisions based on good information, not gossip and guesswork. Here are some resources to help prepare you when presenting evidence in a court trial. Sacramento Law Library - https://saclaw.org/

Discovery a 10 video series - https://saclaw.org/law-101/discovery-video-series/ Part 1: Introduction (13:17) Part 2: Propounding Requests for Admissions (12:09) Part 3: Responding to Requests for Admissions (6:47) Part 4: Propounding Form Interrogatories (23:50) Part 5: Responding to Form Interrogatories (7:43) Part 6: Propounding Special Interrogatories (7:51) Part 7: Responding to Special Interrogatories (1:39) Part 8: Propounding Requests for Production (11:02) Part 9: Responding to Requests for Production (6:09) Part 10: General Tips (7:16)

Trial Prep for the Self-Represented Litigant a 6 video series - https://saclaw.org/video-library/ Part 1: Intro & and Jury vs. Non-Jury Trials (19:37) Part 2: Experts, Pretrial Conference (18:35) Part 3: Trial Notebook, Preparing Witnesses (16:14) Part 4: Overview of Trial (17:37) Part 5: Direct Examination (11:44) Part 6: Evidence, Cross-Exam, Closing (15:04)

Judicial Council of California

Getting Evidence for Court (pamphlet) https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/getting-evidence.pdf

Disclaimer: This Guide is intended as general information only. Your case may have factors requiring different procedures or forms. The information and instructions are provided for use in the San Joaquin County Superior Court. Please keep in mind that each court may have different requirements. If you need further assistance consult a lawyer.

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) 10 Steps for Presenting Evidence in Court a publication by Nancy Ver Steegh available on NCJFCJ’s website and as a video on YouTube. https://www.ncjfcj.org/publications/10-steps-for-presenting-evidence-in-court/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvXq3Tm1Lmw

For more assistance: San Joaquin County Public Law Library 20 N. Sutter Street Stockton, CA 95202 (209) 468-9968 https://sjclawlibrary.org Monday-Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm The San Joaquin County Public Law Library provides general information and basic assistance to self-represented litigants on a variety of civil legal issues.

For legal advice: Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) 20 N. Sutter Street, Suite 300 (209) 948-4620 https://www.sjcbar.org/lawyer-referral-service/

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