The presiding judge is responsible for the assignment of a judicial officer to conduct an expedited jury trial. The presiding judge may assign a temporary judge appointed by the court under rules 2.810–2.819 to conduct an expedited jury trial. A temporary judge requested by the parties under rules 2.830–2.835, whether or not privately compensated, may not be appointed to conduct a voluntary expedited jury trial.
Rule 3.1553.Assignment of judicial officers
Division 15. Trial · Chapter 4.5. Expedited Jury Trials · Article 4. Rules Applicable to All Expedited Jury Trials · Last amended 2016 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.1553 puts the presiding judge in charge of assigning a judicial officer to conduct an expedited jury trial and bars a temporary judge the parties selected for themselves from presiding over a voluntary expedited jury trial, even if the parties are paying that judge privately.
Full Text of Rule 3.1553
Plain-English Summary
Expedited jury trials move fast and often end in a binding result the parties negotiated ahead of time, so who sits on the bench matters more than usual. Rule 3.1553 puts that choice in the presiding judge’s hands rather than leaving it to the parties or to whichever judge happens to be free. The presiding judge decides which judicial officer will run the case, whether the expedited trial is mandatory or voluntary.
The rule opens one door and closes another. It lets the presiding judge assign a temporary judge the court itself appointed on its own authority to run an expedited jury trial. But a temporary judge the parties requested and picked for themselves is off the table for a voluntary expedited jury trial, no matter whether the parties are covering that judge’s fees themselves.
The distinction tracks who is really doing the choosing. A court-appointed temporary judge stays under the court’s control even in that limited role. A party-requested temporary judge is picked by the litigants, and Rule 3.1553 keeps that kind of privately chosen judge out of a process that is already built around the parties’ own agreement to expedite and often to stipulate to a binding outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides which judge presides over an expedited jury trial in California?
The presiding judge of the court, under Rule 3.1553, for both mandatory and voluntary expedited jury trials.
Can the parties pick their own judge for a voluntary expedited jury trial?
No. Rule 3.1553 bars a temporary judge the parties requested and selected for themselves from being appointed to a voluntary expedited jury trial, even if the parties are paying that judge privately.
Does the restriction on party-selected judges apply to mandatory expedited jury trials too?
The rule’s bar is written specifically for voluntary expedited jury trials; the presiding judge’s general authority to assign a judicial officer under Rule 3.1553 covers both mandatory and voluntary cases.
Amendment History
Rule 3.1553 amended and renumbered effective July 1, 2016; adopted as rule 3.1546 effective January 1, 2011.
Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from
the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: who assigns the judge for an expedited jury trial Californiacan parties pick their own judge for expedited jury trialCRC rule 3.1553 temporary judge assignment