(a) Assignment by the Chair of the Judicial Council When a petition for coordination is granted, the Chair of the Judicial Council must either assign a coordination trial judge to hear and determine the coordinated actions or authorize the presiding judge of a court to assign the matter to judicial officers of the court in the same manner as assignments are made in other civil cases, under Code of Civil Procedure section 404.3. The order assigning a coordination trial judge must designate an address for submission of papers to that judge. (Subd (a) amended and lettered effective January 1, 2005; adopted as part of unlettered subd effective January 1, 1974.)
Rule 3.540.Order assigning coordination trial judge
Division 4. Parties and Actions · Chapter 7. Coordination of Complex Actions · Article 4. Pretrial and Trial Rules for Complex Coordinated Actions · Last amended 2011 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.540 requires the Chair of the Judicial Council to assign a coordination trial judge once a petition for coordination is granted, gives that judge immediate authority over each coordinated action, and requires the assignment order to be filed, served, and referenced in later filings and service of process.
Full Text of Rule 3.540
(b) Powers of coordination trial judge Immediately on assignment, the coordination trial judge may exercise all the powers over each coordinated action that are available to a judge of the court in which that action is pending. (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.)
(c) Filing and service of copies of assignment order The petitioner must file the assignment order in each coordinated action and serve it on each party appearing in each action, and, if the assignment was made by the presiding judge, submit it to the Chair of the Judicial Council. Every paper filed in a coordinated action must be accompanied by proof of submission of a copy of the paper to the coordination trial judge at the designated address. A copy of the assignment order must be included in any subsequent service of process on any defendant in the action. (Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2011; adopted as part of unlettered subd; previously amended and lettered effective January 1, 2005.)
Plain-English Summary
Granting a petition for coordination answers one question and opens another: who runs the combined proceeding day to day? Rule 3.540 answers it. Once coordination is granted, the Chair of the Judicial Council must either assign a specific coordination trial judge or authorize the presiding judge of a court to make that assignment internally, the same way the court would staff any other civil case, under Code of Civil Procedure section 404.3. The order naming that judge has to include an address for submitting papers going forward.
The trial judge does not have to wait for a formal handoff to start working. The moment the assignment takes effect, the judge can exercise every power over each coordinated action that a judge of the court where that action is pending would otherwise have.
Everyone downstream has to know who is now in charge. The petitioner files the assignment order in every coordinated action and serves it on each appearing party, and, if a presiding judge made the assignment, submits a copy to the Chair. From that point on, every paper filed in a coordinated action must show proof that a copy went to the trial judge at the designated address, and the assignment order itself has to accompany any later service of process on a defendant in the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who assigns the coordination trial judge?
The Chair of the Judicial Council, either directly or by authorizing the presiding judge to make the assignment, under Code of Civil Procedure section 404.3.
What powers does the trial judge have right away?
Immediately on assignment, the judge may exercise all the powers over each coordinated action that a judge of the court where that action is pending would otherwise have.
What must accompany every paper filed in a coordinated action?
Proof of submission of a copy of the paper to the coordination trial judge at the address the assignment order designates.
Does the assignment order have to be included when serving a new defendant?
Yes. Rule 3.540(c) requires a copy of the assignment order to be included in any subsequent service of process on any defendant in the action.
Amendment History
Rule 3.540 amended effective January 1, 2011; adopted as rule 1540 effective January 1, 1974; previously amended effective January 1, 2005; previously amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2007.
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
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