Rule 3.714.Differentiation of cases to achieve goals

Division 7. Civil Case Management · Chapter 2. Differential Case Management · Last amended 2007 · Last verified July 29, 2026

In one sentenceRule 3.714 requires courts to evaluate each civil case and sort it into one of three tracks — the standard case management program, exceptional-case status with a three-year disposition goal, or an expedited six-to-nine-month local plan — and it sets the statewide percentage benchmarks courts aim to meet at each stage.

Full Text of Rule 3.714

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d)

(a) Evaluation and assignment The court must evaluate each case on its own merits as provided in rule 3.715, under procedures adopted by local court rules. After evaluation, the court must:

(1) Assign the case to the case management program for review under the case management rules in chapter 3 of this division for disposition under the case disposition time goals in (b) of this rule;

(2) Exempt the case as an exceptional case under (c) of this rule from the case disposition time goals specified in rule 3.713(b) and monitor it with the goal of disposing of it within three years; or

(3) Assign the case under (d) of this rule to a local case management plan for disposition within six to nine months after filing. (Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective July 1, 2002, and January 1, 2004.)

(b) Civil case disposition time goals Civil cases assigned for review under the case management rules in chapter 3 of this division should be managed so as to achieve the following goals:

(1) Unlimited civil cases The goal of each trial court should be to manage unlimited civil cases from filing so that:

(A) 75 percent are disposed of within 12 months;

(B) 85 percent are disposed of within 18 months; and

(2) Limited civil cases The goal of each trial court should be to manage limited civil cases from filing so that:

(A) 90 percent are disposed of within 12 months;

(B) 98 percent are disposed of within 18 months; and

(3) Individualized case management The goals in (1) and (2) are guidelines for the court’s disposition of all unlimited and limited civil cases filed in that court. In managing individual civil cases, the court must consider each case on its merits. To enable the fair and efficient resolution of civil cases, each case should be set for trial as soon as appropriate for that individual case consistent with rule 3.729. (Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective July 1, 2002, and January 1, 2004.)

(1) The court may in the interest of justice exempt a general civil case from the case disposition time goals under rule 3.713(b) if it finds the case involves exceptional circumstances that will prevent the court and the parties from meeting the goals and deadlines imposed by the program. In making the determination, the court is guided by rules 3.715 and 3.400.

(2) If the court exempts the case from the case disposition time goals, the court must establish a case progression plan and monitor the case to ensure timely disposition consistent with the exceptional circumstances, with the goal of disposing of the case within three years. (Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2007; adopted as subd (d); previously amended effective January 1, 2000, and July 1, 2002; previously amended and relettered as subd (c) effective January 1, 2004.)

(d) Local case management plan for expedited case disposition

(1) For expedited case disposition, the court may by local rule adopt a case management plan that establishes a goal for disposing of appropriate cases within six to nine months after filing. The plan must establish a procedure to identify the cases to be assigned to the plan.

(2) The plan must be used only for uncomplicated cases amenable to early disposition that do not need a case management conference or review or similar event to guide the case to early resolution. (Subd (d) amended and relettered effective January 1, 2004; adopted as subd (e); previously amended effective January 1, 1994, and July 1, 2002.)

Plain-English Summary

Rule 3.714 is the engine room of differential case management. After a court evaluates a civil case using the factors in Rule 3.715, it has to sort that case into one of three tracks. Most cases go into the ordinary case management program, tracked against the disposition-time goals in Rule 3.713(b). Cases with exceptional circumstances that make those goals unrealistic can be exempted and monitored instead toward a three-year disposition goal. And uncomplicated cases suited to quick resolution can go into a local expedited plan aimed at wrapping up within six to nine months, without the usual case management conferences.

The rule also spells out the statewide benchmarks courts aim for. For unlimited civil cases, the goal is 75 percent disposed of within 12 months, 85 percent within 18 months, and all of them within 24 months. Limited civil cases move faster: 90 percent within 12 months, 98 percent within 18 months, and all of them within 24 months. These are described as guidelines, not hard deadlines — the rule reminds courts that each case still has to be evaluated on its own merits, and that trials should be set as soon as appropriate for that particular case.

Exempting a case as exceptional is not automatic. A court can only do it in the interest of justice, guided by the same factors in Rule 3.715 along with the complex-case criteria in Rule 3.400, and it still has to build a case progression plan for the case rather than leaving it outside the ordinary timeline with no oversight at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three tracks a civil case can be assigned to under Rule 3.714?

The standard case management program governed by the disposition-time goals in Rule 3.713(b); exceptional-case status, which exempts a case from those goals but sets a three-year disposition goal instead; or a local expedited plan aiming for disposition within six to nine months.

What percentage of unlimited civil cases should be resolved within a year?

The rule's goal is 75 percent of unlimited civil cases disposed of within 12 months, 85 percent within 18 months, and 100 percent within 24 months.

How does a case qualify for exceptional-case status?

The court must find, in the interest of justice, that exceptional circumstances will prevent meeting the ordinary case disposition goals, guided by the evaluation factors in Rule 3.715 and the complex-case criteria in Rule 3.400. The court then monitors the case toward a three-year disposition goal.

What kind of case qualifies for the expedited six-to-nine-month plan?

Only uncomplicated cases amenable to early disposition that do not need a case management conference or similar event to guide them to early resolution.

Amendment History

Rule 3.714 amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2007; adopted as rule 2105 effective July 1, 1991; amended and renumbered as rule 209 effective July 1, 2002; previously amended effective January 1, 1994, January 1, 200, and January 1, 2004.

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: California civil case disposition time goalsexceptional case California civil procedureCRC 3.714 case tracks12 month 18 month 24 month civil case goals