California Supreme Court Expands Electronic Filing in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
The Supreme Court of California on Wednesday expanded mandatory electronic filing of all documents, including briefs.
The court approved the change to rule 2 (link) allowing changes to electronic filing and submission of paper copies during events including “natural disasters, public health emergencies, and other situations substantially affecting the court’s operations.”
Previously, documents in cases accepted for review by the court were excluded from electronic filing. Under the new rule, the court issued the following electronic filing guidelines until further notice:
· All documents (including briefs) must be filed electronically on the “TrueFiling” platform
· Paper copies should not be submitted
· Litigants representing themselves (pro per parties) and trial courts are exempt from mandatory electronic filing; any party may still ask to be excused from mandatory electronic filing.
Below is the court’s notice to the public on its “TrueFiling” platform:
In light of the California Supreme Court’s [March 18, 2020] amendment of the “Supreme Court Rules Regarding Electronic Filing,” rule 2, henceforth and until further notice, all documents (including briefs) must be filed electronically on the “TrueFiling” platform, and paper copies should not be submitted. Under rule 4(a), pro per parties and trial courts remain exempt from mandatory electronic filing. Likewise, under rule 6 any party may seek to be excused from mandatory electronic filing.