When civil actions sharing a common question of fact or law are pending in different courts, a petition for coordination may be submitted to the Chairperson of the Judicial Council, by the presiding judge of any such court, or by any party to one of the actions after obtaining permission from the presiding judge, or by all of the parties plaintiff or defendant in any such action. A petition for coordination, or a motion for permission to submit a petition, shall be supported by a declaration stating facts showing that the actions are complex, as defined by the Judicial Council and that the actions meet the standards specified in Section 404.1. On receipt of a petition for coordination, the Chairperson of the Judicial Council may assign a judge to determine whether the actions are complex, and if so, whether coordination of the actions is appropriate, or the Chairperson of the Judicial Council may authorize the presiding judge of a court to assign the matter to judicial officers of the court to make the determination in the same manner as assignments are made in other civil cases.
§ 404.Petition For Coordination When Actions Sharing Common Question Pending In Different Courts
Title 4. Of the Place of Trial, Reclassification, and Coordination of Civil Actions · Chapter 3. Coordination · Last amended 2003 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentence§ 404 opens the formal coordination process for complex civil actions pending in different courts, letting a presiding judge, an authorized party, or all plaintiffs or defendants in a case petition the Chairperson of the Judicial Council to have a judge decide whether the actions qualify for coordinated handling.
Full Text of § 404
Plain-English Summary
When civil actions sharing a common question of fact or law are pending in different courts, § 404 lets a petition for coordination go to the Chairperson of the Judicial Council. That petition may come from the presiding judge of any court where one of the actions is pending, from a party who first obtains that presiding judge's permission, or from all the plaintiffs or all the defendants in one of the actions. Whichever route is used, the petition -- or the motion asking permission to file one -- must be backed by a declaration showing the actions are complex, as the Judicial Council defines that term, and that they meet the standards in § 404.1.
Once the petition arrives, the Chairperson may assign a judge to decide whether the actions are complex and, if so, whether coordination is appropriate, or may instead authorize a court's presiding judge to send that determination through the court's own normal case-assignment process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can ask for cases to be coordinated across different California courts?
The presiding judge of a court where one of the cases is pending, a party who has obtained that judge's permission, or all the plaintiffs or all the defendants in one of the actions.
What has to be shown to get a coordination petition considered?
A declaration establishing that the actions are complex, as the Judicial Council defines that term, and that they meet the standards in § 404.1.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats 2002 ch 784 (SB 1316),s 57, eff. 1/1/2003. Amended by Stats 2000 ch 688 (AB 1669), s 3, eff. 1/1/2001.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: petition for coordination california complex litigationcoordinate lawsuits different counties californiajudicial council chairperson coordination petition