(a) Coordination order to specify reviewing court If the actions to be coordinated are within the jurisdiction of more than one reviewing court, the coordination motion judge must select and the order granting a petition for coordination must specify, in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure section 404.2, the court having appellate jurisdiction of the coordinated actions. (Subd (a) amended and lettered effective January 1, 2005; adopted as part of unlettered subd effective January 1, 1974.)
Rule 3.505.Appellate review
Division 4. Parties and Actions · Chapter 7. Coordination of Complex Actions · Article 1. General Provisions · Last amended 2007 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.505 requires the coordination motion judge to designate, in the order granting a coordination petition, which reviewing court has appellate jurisdiction under Code of Civil Procedure section 404.2 when more than one reviewing court could otherwise claim it, and confirms a party may seek writ review of an order granting or denying coordination in any reviewing court with jurisdiction under the general civil rules.
Full Text of Rule 3.505
(b) Court for review of order granting or denying coordination A petition for a writ relating to an order granting or denying coordination may be filed, subject to the provisions of rule 10.1000, in any reviewing court having jurisdiction under the rules applicable to civil actions generally. (Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2007; adopted as part of unlettered subd effective January 1, 1974; previously amended and lettered effective January 1, 2005.)
Plain-English Summary
Coordinated actions often begin life in different counties, and those counties can fall under different Courts of Appeal. Left unaddressed, that could leave real doubt about which appellate court reviews rulings made in the coordinated proceeding going forward. Subdivision (a) closes that gap: when the actions being coordinated fall within the jurisdiction of more than one reviewing court, the coordination motion judge must select, and the order granting the petition must specify, the reviewing court that will have appellate jurisdiction, using the standard Code of Civil Procedure section 404.2 sets.
Subdivision (b) addresses a different moment in the process: a challenge to the coordination decision itself. A party dissatisfied with an order granting or denying coordination may file a petition for a writ relating to that order, and that petition goes to any reviewing court that would have jurisdiction under the rules applicable to civil actions generally, not necessarily the court later designated to review the coordinated proceeding under subdivision (a). Writ practice around that petition follows the state's general writ rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does an order granting coordination need to specify a reviewing court?
Because coordinated actions can originate in counties under different Courts of Appeal, and Code of Civil Procedure section 404.2 requires the order to fix which one has appellate jurisdiction going forward.
Can a party challenge a decision to grant or deny coordination itself?
Yes. A party may file a petition for a writ relating to that order in any reviewing court with jurisdiction under the rules that apply to civil actions generally.
Is the reviewing court that hears a writ challenge to a coordination order the same court designated to review the coordinated proceeding afterward?
Not necessarily. Subdivision (b)'s writ venue is governed by general jurisdiction rules, while subdivision (a)'s designation applies to appellate review of the coordinated proceeding itself.
Amendment History
Rule 3.505 amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2007; adopted as rule 1505 effective January 1, 1974; previously amended effective January 1, 2005.
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: appellate court coordinated cases californiacal rule of court 3.505 appellate reviewwrit review order granting coordinationwhich court of appeal reviews coordination proceeding