# Orange County Superior Court — Local Rules

- Citation: OCSC Local Rules
- Subject: Local procedural rules for Orange County Superior Court
- Source: https://www.occourts.org/general-public/local-rules/
- Last verified: 2026-05-13

> Authored from canonical California sources; verify against
> occourts.org before relying. OCSC local rules are updated
> periodically; always check the court's website for the current version.

---

## Overview

The Orange County Superior Court (OCSC) is one of California's largest trial courts. Civil law and motion matters in unlimited civil cases are heard at the Central Justice Center (700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana) and at branch courthouses (Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach; North Justice Center in Fullerton). Each branch maintains its own departments and calendar.

Key features of OCSC civil practice:
- Mandatory Informal Discovery Conference (IDC) before most discovery motions
- Tentative rulings posted by 1:30 p.m. the court day before the hearing (earlier than most courts)
- Complex litigation assigned to dedicated departments (40 and 42 at Central Justice Center)
- Strong preference for e-filing in unlimited civil cases

---

## Division 1 — General Rules

### Rule 1.01 — Application

**Summary.** OCSC Local Rules apply in supplement to the CRC and CCP. Counsel and self-represented parties must be familiar with current local rules.

### Rule 1.08 — Electronic Filing

**Summary.** Mandatory e-filing for represented parties in unlimited civil cases filed in the Central Justice Center. E-filing is through approved EFSPs. Paper filing requires prior court approval except for self-represented litigants.

---

## Division 2 — Civil Division

### Rule 2.01 — Case Assignment

**Summary.** Unlimited civil cases are assigned to a single department at filing. The department handles all matters from the CMC through trial. Reassignment requires a showing of good cause to the presiding judge.

### Rule 2.03 — Case Management Conference

**Summary.** The CMC is set at filing and scheduled approximately 150–180 days from the filing date. The CMC statement (Form CM-110) must be filed and served 15 calendar days before the CMC. The court sets the trial date at or shortly after the CMC.

---

## Division 3 — Law and Motion

### Rule 3.01 — Motion Calendar

**Summary.** Law and motion matters are heard on specific days of the week for each department. Hearing dates must be obtained from the department's calendar (available on occourts.org under "Department information").

### Rule 3.02 — Tentative Rulings

**Summary.** OCSC posts tentative rulings by 1:30 p.m. the court day before the hearing (earlier than the CRC's default of 3:00 p.m.). Parties must contest the tentative ruling and request oral argument by notifying the department before 4:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing.

```
(a) Posting.
    Tentative rulings are posted at
    https://www.occourts.org/media-relations/tentative-rulings/
    by 1:30 p.m. the court day before the scheduled hearing.

(b) Requesting oral argument.
    Any party wishing to contest the tentative ruling must:
    (1) Notify all other parties of the intent to argue; and
    (2) Notify the department by telephone by 4:00 p.m. the
    court day before the hearing.

(c) No request — ruling becomes final.
    If no party requests oral argument by the 4:00 p.m. deadline,
    the tentative ruling becomes the final order without a hearing.
```

**Practice note.** The 1:30 p.m. posting time is earlier than SFSC and LASC. Check the OCSC tentative ruling website by 2:00 p.m. the day before to ensure you are not surprised.

---

### Rule 3.05 — Working Copies

**Summary.** Working copies (courtesy copies) are required for all law and motion filings in unlimited civil departments. They must be delivered to the assigned department no later than noon on the day the opposition or reply is due.

```
(a) Requirement.
    Counsel must provide working copies of all motion papers,
    opposition papers, and reply papers to the assigned department.

(b) Contents.
    Working copies must include:
    (1) All motion papers with exhibits tabbed and indexed;
    (2) A "Working Copy" notation on the cover page;
    (3) The case number and hearing date prominently displayed.

(c) Delivery deadline.
    Working copies must be delivered to the department no later
    than noon on the day the papers are due to be filed.
```

---

### Rule 3.08 — Ex Parte Applications

**Summary.** Ex parte applications must be submitted to the clerk's office of the assigned department. Notice to all parties is required by 10:00 a.m. the court day before (consistent with CRC 3.1302). The application and all supporting papers must be filed by 8:30 a.m. on the day of the ex parte hearing.

---

## Division 4 — Discovery

### Rule 4.01 — Informal Discovery Conference (IDC) — Required

**Summary.** OCSC requires an IDC before a motion to compel further responses may be filed in most unlimited civil departments. The IDC is the most distinctive feature of OCSC discovery practice.

```
(a) IDC requirement.
    Before filing any motion relating to discovery (other than an
    ex parte application), the moving party must request and complete
    an Informal Discovery Conference (IDC) with the court.

(b) Requesting the IDC.
    The moving party requests an IDC by:
    (1) Contacting the assigned department's judicial assistant by
    phone or email to request an IDC date; or
    (2) Submitting an IDC request through the court's online system.

(c) IDC procedure.
    The IDC is typically held with the judicial officer (or research
    attorney) presiding over the case. The parties briefly present
    their positions. The court may attempt to resolve the dispute
    informally.

(d) After IDC.
    If the dispute is not fully resolved at the IDC:
    (1) The moving party may file a motion to compel; and
    (2) The motion must include an IDC declaration describing the
    IDC, the date it was held, and the issues not resolved.

(e) Exception.
    An IDC is not required for:
    (1) Discovery motions that are truly emergency in nature (ex parte);
    (2) Cases in which the IDC has already been attempted without success;
    (3) Cases where the court's standing order for the department
    expressly waives the IDC requirement.
```

**Practice note.** Schedule the IDC as early as possible — IDC dates may be several weeks out. Budget for the IDC delay when calculating discovery motion timelines.

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### Rule 4.02 — Discovery Motion — Declaration

**Summary.** In addition to the CRC 3.1345 separate statement and the CRC 3.1000 meet-and-confer declaration, an OCSC discovery motion must include a declaration describing the IDC (if held).

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## Division 5 — Complex Litigation

### Rule 5.01 — Complex Litigation Program

**Summary.** Complex cases designated under CRC 3.400–3.402 are assigned to Departments 40 or 42 at the Central Justice Center. The complex departments issue a detailed initial CMC order covering the discovery timeline, class certification briefing (if applicable), Bellwether trial selection (for coordinated proceedings), and trial date.

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## Key OCSC Resources

| Resource | URL |
|---|---|
| Local Rules | https://www.occourts.org/general-public/local-rules/ |
| Tentative Rulings | https://www.occourts.org/media-relations/tentative-rulings/ |
| Department info and calendars | https://www.occourts.org/media-relations/departments/ |
| eFiling | https://efiling.occourts.org/ |
| ADR Program | https://www.occourts.org/general-public/alternative-dispute-resolution/ |

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## Cross-References

| Topic | OCSC Rule | CRC Rule | CCP Section |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motion notice | 3.01 | 3.1300 | § 1005(b) |
| Tentative rulings | 3.02 | 3.1308 | — |
| Ex parte | 3.08 | 3.1302 | — |
| Working copies | 3.05 | — | — |
| IDC (discovery) | 4.01–4.02 | 3.1000 | § 2016.040 |
| e-Filing | 1.08 | 2.252–2.253 | § 1010.6 |