Cal. R. Standard 2.2
The recommended goals for case disposition time in the trial courts in this standard are adopted under Government Code sections 68603 and 68620.
The recommended time goals are intended to guide the trial courts in applying the policies and principles of standard 2.1. They are administrative, justice-oriented guidelines to be used in the management of the courts. They are intended to improve the administration of justice by encouraging prompt disposition of all matters coming before the courts. The goals apply to all cases filed and are not meant to create deadlines for individual cases. Through its case management practices, a court may achieve or exceed the goals stated in this standard for the overall disposition of cases. The goals should be applied in a fair, practical, and flexible manner. They are not to be used as the basis for sanctions against any court or judge.
The definition of "general civil case" in rule 1.6 applies to this section. It includes both unlimited and limited civil cases.
The goal of each trial court should be to process general civil cases so that all cases are disposed of within two years of filing.
Each trial court should dispose of at least as many civil cases as are filed each year and, if necessary to meet the case-processing goal in (d), dispose of more cases than are filed. As the court disposes of inactive cases, it should identify active cases that may require judicial attention.
The goal of each trial court should be to manage general civil cases, except those exempt under (g), so that they meet the following case disposition time goals:
The goal of each trial court should be to manage unlimited civil cases from filing so that:
The goal of each trial court should be to manage limited civil cases from filing so that:
The goals in (1) and (2) are guidelines for the court's disposition of all unlimited and limited civil cases filed in that court. In managing individual civil cases, the court must consider each case on its merits. To enable the fair and efficient resolution of civil cases, each case should be set for trial as soon as appropriate for that individual case consistent with rule 3.729.
A general civil case that meets the criteria in rules 3.715 and 3.400 and that involves exceptional circumstances or will require continuing review is exempt from the time goals in (d) and (f). Every exceptional case should be monitored to ensure its timely disposition consistent with the exceptional circumstances, with the goal of disposing of the case within three years.
The goals for small claims cases are:
The goals for unlawful detainer cases are:
Except for capital cases, all felony cases disposed of should have a total elapsed processing time of no more than one year from the defendant's first arraignment to disposition.
The goals for misdemeanor cases are:
The goal for felony cases at the time of the preliminary examination (excluding murder cases in which the prosecution seeks the death penalty) should be disposition by dismissal, by interim disposition by certified plea of guilty, or by finding of probable cause, so that:
If a case is removed from the court's control, the period of time until the case is restored to court control should be excluded from the case disposition time goals. The matters that remove a case from the court's control for the purposes of this section include:
A court that finds its ability to comply with these goals impeded by a rule of court or statute should notify the Judicial Council.
(Subd (n) relettered and amended effective January 1, 2024; adopted as subd (o) effective January 1, 2004.)
Cal. R. Ct. Standard 2.2