(a) Short cause case defined A short cause case is a civil case in which the time estimated for trial by all parties or the court is five hours or less. All other civil cases are long cause cases. (Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2007.)
Rule 3.735.Management of short cause cases
Division 7. Civil Case Management · Chapter 3. Case Management · Last amended 2007 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.735 defines a short cause case as one where every party or the court estimates trial at five hours or less, lets the court exempt such a case from case management review and set it directly for trial, and directs the judge to declare a mistrial or finish the trial if it runs past five hours.
Full Text of Rule 3.735
(b) Exemption for short cause case and setting of case for trial The court may order, upon the stipulation of all parties or the court’s own motion, that a case is a short cause case exempted from the requirements of case management review and set the case for trial.
(c) Mistrial If a short cause case is not completely tried within five hours, the judge may declare a mistrial or, in the judge’s discretion, may complete the trial. In the event of a mistrial, the case will be treated as a long cause case and must promptly be set either for a new trial or for a case management conference.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 3.735 sorts civil cases into two buckets by how long trial is expected to take. A short cause case is one where every party, or the court itself, estimates trial will take five hours or less; every other civil case counts as a long cause case. That five-hour line determines which management track a case follows.
For cases that qualify, the rule lets the court skip a step. On the stipulation of all parties, or on its own motion, the court can exempt a short cause case from the usual case management review and set it directly for trial — recognizing that a quick trial doesn’t need the same scheduling oversight a longer, more involved case does.
The rule also covers what happens if a short cause case doesn’t finish as expected. If the trial isn’t completed within the five hours, the judge can declare a mistrial, or use discretion to let the trial run to completion anyway. If a mistrial is declared, the case is no longer treated as short cause — it converts to a long cause case and must be promptly set for either a new trial or a case management conference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a “short cause case” in California civil court?
A civil case in which the time estimated for trial by all parties or the court is five hours or less, under rule 3.735(a).
Do short cause cases still go through case management review?
Not necessarily. The court may exempt a short cause case from case management review, by stipulation of all parties or on its own motion, and set it directly for trial.
What happens if a short cause trial runs past five hours?
The judge may declare a mistrial or, in the judge’s discretion, complete the trial. A mistrial converts the case to a long cause case, which must promptly be set for a new trial or a case management conference.
Who decides whether a case qualifies as short cause?
The court, either on the stipulation of all parties or on its own motion, under rule 3.735(b).
Amendment History
Rule 3.735 amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2007; adopted as rule 214 effective July 1, 2002.
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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