Madera — Standing Pre Trial Order - Departments 44 & 45

Source: https://www.madera.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/standing-order-pre-trial-depts-44-and-45-rev-9242026.pdf

MADERA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT STANDING PRE TRIAL ORDERS FOR DEPARTMENT 44 & DEPARTMENT 45

The following ORDER shall apply to all trials in Department 44 and Department 45 unless or until changed by the assigned trial judge:

1. All jury trials and long cause court trials in actions which are assigned to either Department 44 and Department 45 shall be calendared to

commence on Mondays at 9:30 a.m.

2. Parties and trial counsel shall be prepared to participate in a Trial Management Conference promptly at 9:30 a.m. on the Monday on which the trial is calendared.
3. For long cause court trials, the trial will commence on Monday morning immediately following the Trial Management Conference.
4. For jury trials, the process of jury selection will commence at 9:30 am on the Tuesday morning following the Trial Management Conference, subject to hardships first being conducted by the Jury Commissioner under CRC 2.1008(b).
5. Motions in limine and trial briefs: a. Jury Trials: trial briefs and motions in limine shall be due fourteen (14) days before trial. Opposition to motions in limine shall be due seven (7) days before trial. b. Court (bench) Trials: trial briefs shall be due fourteen (14) days before trial. For court trials, there shall be no motions in limine filed absent a prior court order.
6. Exhibits- prior to the Trial Management Conference, and no later than one week before trial, the parties shall meet and confer concerning exhibits to be introduced at trial. This includes stipulating, where possible, to the admissibility of those exhibits. Joint exhibits are encouraged, where possible.
7. At the Trial Management Conference, the parties shall submit to the court and exchange with each other (where not already done – see above) all of the following: All Trials: a. Original discovery to be used during the trial b. Exhibit lists and exhibits. Exhibits should be pre-marked and placed in the separate binders – one for the clerk, one for the witness, and the original for the trial judge. Note: exhibit lists can be emailed to the Judicial Courtroom Assistant. c. Witness lists. Jury Trials: d. Neutral statement of the case e. Verdict forms f. Jury instructions (Actual jury instructions shall be submitted, not simply CACI, BAJI, or CALCRIM numbers. Each instruction shall be fully completed as appropriate to the case being tried.)
8. At the Trial Management Conference, the topics to be discussed will include the following: a. Courtroom Hours b. Courtroom Courtesies c. Time estimates d. Juror hardships, challenges for cause and peremptory challenges e. Motions in limine f. Evidentiary issues g. Special needs h. Witness issues i. Exhibit issues j. Trial objections k. Sidebar conferences l. Bifurcation m. Number of jurors n. Jury instructions o. Waiver of separation admonitions p. Waiver of 24 hour entry of judgement rule
9. Court Reporters: Court reporting services will not be provided for Civil court or jury trials. Instead, parties will be required to provide court reporter services at their own expense if a record is desired except as modified by L.R. 1.4.1, General Order No: 2026.03 and further subject to Family Violence Appellate Project v. Superior Court (2026) 20 Cal.5th 564. Court reporters, when used, must be personally present in court.
10. A copy of these trial policies shall be provided to counsel for all parties, and to all parties not represented by counsel, at the Mandatory Settlement Conference.

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MICHAEL J. JURKOVICH ERIC J. LICALSI JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT DEPARTMENT 44 DEPARTMENT 45