Honorable Steven R. Denton, Presiding

1. Ex parte. Ex parte appearances are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m., by reservation only. Papers should be filed by noon on the day prior to the hearing, with the appropriate fee. Reservations may be made by calling the I/C Clerk at (619) 450-7006.  The court makes itself available to the parties during ex parte hours to discuss discovery disputes prior to the filing of motions to compel.  Although this is not required prior to filing a motion, the court encourages such a discussion to efficiently resolve discovery impasses. 
   
   Petitions for appointment of Guardian Ad Litem and Applications for Orders for Publication of Summons may be made ex parte without the necessity of an appearance. The moving papers shall be submitted to the Court for review and the Court may set a hearing if such a hearing is deemed necessary. 

2. Law and Motion. Counsel may obtain reservations for noticed motion hearings by calling the I/C Clerk at (619) 450-7006. Law and Motion hearings are heard on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. Tentative rulings, if provided, will be made available after 4:00 p.m. one day prior to the hearing date. Counsel may obtain tentative rulings by navigating the Court's website. The tentative ruling may note any issues on which the Court wishes the parties to provide further argument at the hearing. If neither party appears on the date and time noticed for the hearing, the tentative ruling shall be adopted as the final ruling of the court. Failure to file a timely motion and/or opposition papers may constitute a waiver of the right to orally argue.
   

3. Case Management Conference. Case management conferences are heard on Fridays at 1:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., unless otherwise designated by the court. Each party shall prepare and file a case management statement for this hearing.

4. Trial Readiness Conference. Trial Readiness Conferences are heard on Fridays at 9:00 a.m., unless otherwise designated by the court.

5. Trial calls. Trial calls are set on Fridays at 8:30 a.m. unless otherwise designated by the court. The Court will advise the parties as to when the trial will begin. Counsel is to provide three copies of the joint exhibit list and four copies of the witness list to the clerk at the time of trial. A trial notebook will be submitted to the Court at trial call with copies of the Joint Trial Readiness Report, motions in limine and oppositions and replies in order, trial briefs, if any, joint witness list and joint exhibit list.

6. Trials. Court trial hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., unless otherwise ordered.

7. Filing of Papers. Unless otherwise ordered by this Court, all civil filings are to be filed and/or deposited in the department drop box in the Business Office (Room 225).

8. Telephonic Appearance. The California Rules of Court shall govern telephonic appearances.