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San Diego County Guide
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San Diego Superior Court Exhibit Requirements

San Diego follows standard California exhibit rules under CRC 3.1110. Unlike LA, no Bates numbering required—standard exhibit stamps work.

San Diego County exhibit facts at a glance
  • San Diego Superior Court operates under California Rules of Court 3.1110, requiring tabbed exhibits, an exhibit index, and bookmarks for electronic filings.
  • San Diego does not impose a county-specific Bates numbering requirement, in contrast to LA Superior Court Local Rules 3.52 and 3.53.
  • Plaintiffs label exhibits with sequential numbers (1, 2, 3) and defendants with sequential letters (A, B, C) per CRC 3.1110(c).
  • Exhibits must be exchanged at least 5 court days before the Mandatory Settlement Conference (MSC), and again 5 court days before trial.
  • San Diego e-filing uses the Odyssey portal with a 25 MB-per-document file-size cap and requires PDF format.
  • The San Diego Imaging Department reviews filings to confirm compliance with PDF, bookmark, and indexing requirements before acceptance.
  • CRC 2.256 controls the e-filing format statewide and requires text-searchable PDFs when reasonably available.
  • Cases assigned to the San Diego Complex Civil Litigation department may add case-management-order exhibit procedures on top of the standard CRC 3.1110 baseline.

E-file through Odyssey (25MB limit) or submit physical exhibit binders at trial.

Prepare San Diego Exhibits

San Diego vs LA: Key Differences

No Bates Numbering Required

Unlike LA (Local Rules 3.52-3.53), San Diego accepts standard exhibit stickers. Simpler compliance.

Standard CA Conventions

Plaintiff: Numbers (1, 2, 3). Defendant: Letters (A, B, C). Yellow/blue stickers optional.

Odyssey E-Filing

25MB per document limit. PDF format required. Text-searchable preferred.

5-Day MSC Deadline

Exchange exhibits 5 days before Mandatory Settlement Conference.

Trial Exhibit Preparation

Number plaintiff exhibits sequentially: 1, 2, 3...
Letter defendant exhibits: A, B, C...
Create tabbed exhibit binder with index
Prepare exhibit list with descriptions
Exchange exhibits 5 days before MSC
File exhibit list with court before trial
Bring 2 copies of binders (court + witness stand)

Complex Civil Cases

Cases assigned to the Complex Civil Litigation department may have additional requirements. Check your case management order for specific exhibit procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are San Diego Superior Court exhibit requirements?

San Diego Superior Court follows CRC 3.1110 requirements. Exhibits must be tabbed, indexed, and exchanged 5 days before the MSC. E-filing through Odyssey with 25MB file limits.

Does San Diego require Bates numbering like LA?

No. Unlike Los Angeles, San Diego does not have a mandatory Bates numbering requirement. Standard exhibit stickers (numbers for plaintiff, letters for defendant) are acceptable.

What is the San Diego exhibit exchange deadline?

Exhibits must be exchanged at least 5 days before the Mandatory Settlement Conference (MSC). Trial exhibit lists are typically due 5 days before trial.

How do I e-file exhibits in San Diego Superior Court?

San Diego uses the Odyssey e-filing system. File size limit is 25MB per document. PDF format required. Court also accepts physical exhibit binders for trial.

Prepare San Diego Court Exhibits

CRC 3.1110 compliant stamps. No Bates numbering required. Export files ready for Odyssey e-filing.

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