CaliforniaTrial: statement of decision.
What it does
In a trial by a superior court of a question of fact, existing law requires the court to issue a statement of decision explaining the factual and legal basis for its decision upon the request of any party appearing at the trial made either within 10 days after the court announces a tentative decision, or, for a trial concluded in one calendar day or in less than 8 hours over multiple days, before the matter is submitted for decision. Existing law requires the statement of decision to be in writing, unless the parties agree otherwise, except that for a trial concluded in one calendar day or in less than 8 hours over multiple days, the statement of decision may be made orally in the presence of the parties.
More detail
This bill would instead require a request for a statement of decision in all trials by court to be made in writing, or orally if there is an official record of the proceeding being transcribed, before the matter is submitted for decision. The bill would require the statement of decision to be served on all parties who appeared at the trial. The bill would authorize a court to issue a written statement of decision without a request from a party, and would authorize the court to order a party or parties to prepare a draft statement of decision. The bill would permit a party to make objections to a statement of decision, as specified. The bill would require the Judicial Council to adopt or amend all rules of court necessary to implement these provisions, and to prepare a form that a party may use to request a statement of decision, as specified.
Existing law requires the court clerk to enter the court's judgment in a trial by the court immediately upon the filing of the court's decision in the trial.
This bill would extend that deadline and instead require the clerk to enter judgment within 30 days after the filing of the court's decision, or, if a statement of decision was requested, within 30 days after the statement of decision becomes final.
The bill's provisions would become operative on January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Oct 10Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 559, Statutes of 2025.Latest
- Oct 10Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 22Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Sep 11
- Vote recorded AB 515 Pacheco Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Sep 10Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 3195.).Major
- Sep 9In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB515 Pacheco By Umberg. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 9Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2747.).Passed Senate
- Sep 3Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Sep 2Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 21Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 21From Consent Calendar.
- Aug 20Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Aug 19From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jul 16From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jul 15
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 3From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- May 14Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- May 1In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 515 Pacheco Consent Calendar Second Day. Result: pass.Lower
- May 1Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 1386.)Passed Assembly
- Apr 24Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Apr 23From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 23).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 17Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Mar 13From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 13Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Feb 11From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.
- Feb 10Read first time. To print.Introduced