Chapter 5 - Trial by the Court

California Code of Civil Procedure — §§ 631-636

Sections (10)

Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 342, Sec. 1. (AB 1481) Effective September 17, 2012.

(a)The right to a trial by jury as declared by Section 16 of Article I of the California Constitution shall be preserved to the parties inviolate. In civil cases, a jury may only be waived pursuant to subdivision (f).

(b)At least one party demanding a jury on each side of a civil case shall pay a nonrefundable fee of one hundred fifty

dollars ($150), unless the fee has been paid by another party on the same side of the case. The fee shall offset the costs to the state of providing juries in civil cases. If there are more than two parties to the case, for purposes of this section only, all plaintiffs shall be considered one side of the case, and all other parties shall be considered the other side of the case. Payment of the fee by a party on one side of the case shall not relieve parties on the other side of the case from waiver pursuant to subdivision (f).

(c)The fee described in subdivision (b) shall be due on or before the date scheduled for the initial case management conference in the action, except as follows:

(1)In unlawful detainer actions, the fees shall be due at least five days before the date set for trial.

(2)If no case management

conference is scheduled in a civil action, or the initial case management conference occurred before June 28, 2012, and the initial complaint was filed on or after July 1, 2011, the fee shall be due no later than 365 calendar days after the filing of the initial complaint.

(3)If the initial case management conference occurred before June 28, 2012, and the initial complaint in the case was filed before July 1, 2011, the fee shall be due at least 25 calendar days before the date initially set for trial.

(4)If the party requesting a jury has not appeared before the initial case management conference, or first appeared more than 365 calendar days after the filing of the initial complaint, the fee shall be due at least 25 calendar days before the date initially set for trial.

(d)If a party failed to timely pay the fee described in subdivision (b) that was due between June 27, 2012, and November 30, 2012, the party will be relieved of a jury waiver on that basis only if the party pays the fee on or before December 31, 2012, or 25 calendar days before the date initially set for trial, whichever is earlier.

(e)The parties demanding a jury trial shall deposit with the clerk or judge, at the beginning of the second and each succeeding day’s session, a sum equal to that day’s fees and mileage of the jury, including the fees and mileage for the trial jury panel if the trial jury has not yet been selected and sworn. If more than one party has demanded a jury, the respective amount to be paid daily by each party demanding a jury shall be determined by stipulation of the parties or by order of the court.

(f)A party waives trial by jury in any of

the following ways:

(1)By failing to appear at the trial.

(2)By written consent filed with the clerk or judge.

(3)By oral consent, in open court, entered in the minutes.

(4)By failing to announce that a jury is required, at the time the cause is first set for trial, if it is set upon notice or stipulation, or within five days after notice of setting if it is set without notice or stipulation.

(5)By failing to timely pay the fee described in subdivision (b), unless another party on the same side of the case has paid that fee.

(6)By failing to deposit with the clerk or judge, at the beginning of the second and each

succeeding day’s session, the sum provided in subdivision (e).

(g)The court may, in its discretion upon just terms, allow a trial by jury although there may have been a waiver of a trial by jury.

(h)The court shall transmit the fee described in subdivision (b) to the State Treasury for deposit in the Trial Court Trust Fund within 45 calendar days after the end of the month in which the fee is paid to the court.

§ 631.2

Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 470, Sec. 6. (AB 1529) Effective January 1, 2013.

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the superior court may pay jury fees in civil cases from general funds of the court available therefor. Nothing in this section shall be construed to change the requirements for the deposit of jury fees in any civil case by the appropriate party to the litigation at the time and in the manner otherwise provided by law. Nothing in this section shall preclude

the right of the superior court to be reimbursed by the party to the litigation liable therefor for any payment of jury fees pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section shall preclude the right of the county to be reimbursed by the party to the litigation liable therefor for any payment of jury fees pursuant to this section as it read in Section 4 of Chapter 10 of the Statutes of 1988, or pursuant to former Section 631.1 as it read in Section 1 of Chapter 144 of the Statutes of 1971.

(b)The party who has demanded trial by jury shall reimburse the superior court for the fees and mileage of all jurors appearing for voir dire examination, except those jurors who are excused and subsequently on the same day are called for voir dire examination in another case.

§ 631.3

Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 342, Sec. 2. (AB 1481) Effective September 17, 2012.

(a)Notwithstanding any other law, when a party to the litigation has deposited jury fees with the judge or clerk and that party waives a jury or obtains a continuance of the trial, or the case is settled, none of the deposit shall be refunded if the court finds there has been insufficient time to notify the jurors that the trial would not proceed at the time set. If the jury fees so deposited are not

refunded for any of these reasons, or if a refund of jury fees deposited with the judge or clerk has not been requested, in writing, by the depositing party within 20 business days from the date on which the jury is waived or the action is settled, dismissed, or a continuance thereof granted, the fees shall be transmitted to the Controller for deposit into the Trial Court Trust Fund.

(b)All jury fees and mileage fees that may accrue by reason of a juror serving on more than one case in the same day shall be transmitted to the Controller for deposit into the Trial Court Trust Fund. All jury fees that were deposited with the court in advance of trial pursuant to Section 631 prior to January 1, 1999, and that remain on deposit in cases that were settled, dismissed, or otherwise disposed of, and three years have passed since the date the case was settled, dismissed, or otherwise disposed of, shall be transmitted to the Controller for deposit into

the Trial Court Trust Fund.

(c)The fee described in subdivision (b) of Section 631 shall be nonrefundable and is not subject to this section.

§ 631.5

Added by Stats. 1939, Ch. 806.

In all cases of eminent domain the deposits of jury fees and mileage provided for in section 631 of this code shall be made by the party seeking condemnation regardless of which party shall have demanded a jury trial, and the trial shall not proceed until such deposits are made.

§ 631.7

Added by Stats. 1965, Ch. 299.

Ordinarily, unless the court otherwise directs, the trial of a civil action tried by the court without a jury shall proceed in the order specified in Section 607.

§ 631.8

Amended by Stats. 1986, Ch. 540, Sec. 13.

(a)After a party has completed his presentation of evidence in a trial by the court, the other party, without waiving his right to offer evidence in support of his defense or in rebuttal in the event the motion is not granted, may move for a judgment. The court as trier of the facts shall weigh the evidence and may render a judgment in favor of the moving party, in which case the court shall make a statement of decision as provided in Sections 632 and 634, or may decline to render any judgment until the close of all the evidence. The court may consider all evidence received, provided, however, that the party against whom the

motion for judgment has been made shall have had an opportunity to present additional evidence to rebut evidence received during the presentation of evidence deemed by the presenting party to have been adverse to him, and to rehabilitate the testimony of a witness whose credibility has been attacked by the moving party. Such motion may also be made and granted as to any cross-complaint.

(b)If it appears that the evidence presented supports the granting of the motion as to some but not all the issues involved in the action, the court shall grant the motion as to those issues and the action shall proceed as to the issues remaining. Despite the granting of such a motion, no final judgment shall be entered prior to the termination of the action, but the final judgment in such action shall, in addition to any matters determined in the trial, award judgment as determined by the motion herein provided for.

(c)If the motion is granted, unless the court in its order for judgment otherwise specifies, such judgment operates as an adjudication upon the merits.

§ 632

Current Version

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 559, Sec. 1. (AB 515) Effective January 1, 2026. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, by its own provisions. See later operative version added by Sec. 2 of Stats. 2025, Ch. 559.

(a)In superior courts, upon the trial of a question of fact by the court, written findings of fact and conclusions of law shall not be required. The court shall issue a statement of decision explaining the factual and legal basis for its decision as to each of the principal controverted issues at trial upon the request of any party appearing at the trial. The request must be made within 10 days after the court announces a tentative decision unless the trial is concluded within one calendar day or in less than eight hours over more than one day in which event the request must be made prior to the submission of the matter for decision. The request for a statement of decision shall specify those controverted issues as to

which the party is requesting a statement of decision. After a party has requested the statement, any party may make proposals as to the content of the statement of decision.

(b)The statement of decision shall be in writing, unless the parties appearing at trial agree otherwise; however, when the trial is concluded within one calendar day or in less than 8 hours over more than one day, the statement of decision may be made orally on the record in the presence of the parties.

(c)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.

Future Version

Repealed (in Sec. 1) and added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 559, Sec. 2. (AB 515) Effective January 1, 2026. Operative January 1, 2027, by its own provisions.

(a)In superior courts, upon the trial of a question of fact by the court, written findings of fact and conclusions of law shall not be required. The court shall issue a statement of decision explaining the factual and legal basis for its decision as to each of the principal controverted issues at trial upon the request of any party appearing at the trial. The request must be made in writing, or orally if there is an official record of the proceeding being transcribed, prior to the submission of the matter for decision. The request for a statement of decision shall specify those controverted issues as to which the party is requesting a statement of decision.

(b)The statement of decision shall be in writing, unless the parties appearing at

trial agree otherwise. The written statement of decision shall be served on all parties who appeared at trial. However, when the trial is concluded within one calendar day or in less than eight hours over more than one day, the statement of decision may be made orally on the record in the presence of the parties. The statement of decision need not summarize all evidence admitted at trial.

(c)If a statement of decision is not timely requested under subdivision (a), the court may announce its ruling on all relief sought without a statement of decision. Alternatively, the court may, in its sole discretion, issue a statement of decision even though one has not been requested.

(d)If a party has requested a statement of decision, the court may order a party or parties to prepare a draft statement of decision within a specified time period. The court shall thereafter issue its

statement of decision.

(e)(1) Any party may, within 10 days after the statement of decision has been served by the court on the parties, serve and file objections to the statement of decision.

(2)If no objections are filed, the statement of decision becomes final upon the expiration of the time for filing objections.

(3)If objections are timely filed, the court may, but is not required to, set a hearing.

(4)If objections are ruled upon, with or without a hearing, the ruling shall be served on all parties who appeared at the trial. The statement of decision, including any amended statement of decision that the court may issue after sustaining any objection in whole or in part, shall become final upon issuance of the ruling,

unless otherwise stated in the statement of decision.

(5)If any objections filed are not ruled upon, unless the court orders otherwise, the objections are deemed overruled and the statement of decision becomes final on the later of the following dates:

(A)Thirty days after the time for objections has expired.

(B)If there was a hearing on objections, 30 days after the hearing.

(f)(1) The court may prepare and serve a proposed judgment or may order a party to prepare, lodge, and serve a proposed judgment, before or after the statement of decision is final.

(2)Any party may, within 10 days after service of the proposed judgment, serve and file objections

thereto.

(g)(1) The court may, by written order, extend any of the times prescribed by this section. Further, at any time before the entry of judgment, the court may, for good cause shown and on such terms as may be just, excuse noncompliance with the time limits prescribed for doing any act required by this rule.

(2)In any action under the Family Code, the court may also, by written order and upon a finding of good cause, shorten any of the times prescribed by this section.

(h)(1) The Judicial Council shall adopt or amend all rules of court necessary to implement this section.

(2)The Judicial Council shall prepare forms that a party may use to request a statement of decision and that explain the

requirements prescribed by this section on requesting a statement of decision.

(i)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2027.

§ 634

Amended by Stats. 1981, Ch. 900, Sec. 2.

When a statement of decision does not resolve a controverted issue, or if the statement is ambiguous and the record shows that the omission or ambiguity was brought to the attention of the trial court either prior to entry of judgment or in conjunction with a motion under Section 657 or 663, it shall not be inferred on appeal or upon a motion under Section 657 or 663 that the trial court decided in favor of the prevailing party as to those facts or on that issue.

§ 635

Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 876, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1993.

In all cases where the decision of the court has been entered in its minutes, and when the judge who heard or tried the case is unavailable, the formal judgment or order conforming to the minutes may be signed by the presiding judge of the court or by a judge designated by the presiding judge.

§ 636

On a judgment for the plaintiff upon an issue of law, he may proceed in the manner prescribed by the first two subdivisions of Section 585, upon the failure of the defendant to answer. If judgment be for the defendant upon an issue of law, and the taking of an account, or the proof of any fact, be necessary to enable the Court to complete the judgment, a reference may be ordered, as in that section provided.