(a) The rules of evidence apply to mandatory expedited jury trials conducted in limited civil cases, unless the parties stipulate otherwise.
§ 630.25.Rules of Evidence
Title 8. Of the Trial and Judgment In Civil Actions · Chapter 4.6. Mandatory Expedited Jury Trials in Limited Civil Cases · Enacted 2015 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 630.25 applies ordinary evidence rules to a mandatory expedited jury trial unless the parties stipulate otherwise, protects privileges and confidentiality even under a relaxed stipulation, and preserves the usual subpoena and notice-to-appear rights.
Full Text of § 630.25
(b) Any stipulation by the parties to use relaxed rules of evidence shall not be construed to eliminate, or in any way affect, the right of a witness or party to invoke any applicable privilege or other law protecting confidentiality.
(c) The right to issue subpoenas and notices to appear to secure the attendance of witnesses or the production of documents at trial shall be in accordance with this code.
Plain-English Summary
This section restates § 630.06's approach for the mandatory chapter: the rules of evidence govern a mandatory expedited jury trial in a limited civil case unless the parties stipulate to something different. Any stipulation relaxing those rules can't be read to eliminate or affect a witness's or party's right to invoke a privilege or other confidentiality protection.
The right to subpoena witnesses and compel document production for trial stays governed by the code exactly as it would in an ordinary case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do normal evidence rules apply in a mandatory expedited jury trial?
Yes, unless the parties stipulate otherwise.
Does a stipulation to relax the evidence rules affect privileges?
No. Subdivision (b) preserves the right to invoke any applicable privilege or other confidentiality protection regardless of the stipulation.
Amendment History
Added by Stats 2015 ch 330 (AB 555),s 5, eff. 1/1/2016.
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: mandatory expedited jury trial evidence rules