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Rule 5.544.Prehearing motions (§ 700.1)

Division 3. Juvenile Rules · Chapter 3. General Conduct of Juvenile Court Proceedings · Last amended 2007 · Last verified September 10, 2026

In one sentenceRule 5.544 sets the deadlines for filing and serving prehearing motions in juvenile court — 5 judicial days if the child is detained, 10 if not.

Full Text of Rule 5.544

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Unless otherwise ordered or specifically provided by law, prehearing motions and accompanying points and authorities must, absent a waiver, be served on the child and opposing counsel and filed with the court:
(1) At least 5 judicial days before the date the jurisdiction hearing is set to begin if the child is detained or the motion is one to suppress evidence obtained as a result of an unlawful search and seizure; or
(2) At least 10 judicial days before the date the jurisdiction hearing is set to begin if the child is not detained and the motion is other than one to suppress evidence obtained as a result of an unlawful search and seizure. Prehearing motions must be specific, noting the grounds, and supported by points and authorities.
End

Plain-English Summary

Prehearing motions and their points and authorities must, absent waiver, be served on the child and opposing counsel and filed with the court by one of two deadlines.

Five judicial days before the jurisdiction hearing where the child is detained, or where the motion is to suppress evidence obtained by an unlawful search and seizure. Ten judicial days where the child is not detained and the motion is something else.

The suppression motion gets the shorter deadline in either case — detention is not the only trigger. And whatever the motion, it must be specific, note its grounds, and be supported by points and authorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are prehearing motions due in juvenile court?

At least 5 judicial days before the jurisdiction hearing if the child is detained or the motion is to suppress evidence from an unlawful search and seizure; at least 10 judicial days if the child is not detained and the motion is something else.

What must a prehearing motion contain?

It must be specific, note the grounds, and be supported by points and authorities.

Amendment History

Rule 5.544 amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2007; adopted as rule 1419 effective January 1, 1991.

Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California. Last verified September 10, 2026. · Official source
Also known as: prehearing motion juvenile Californiamotion to suppress juvenile courtsection 700.1 motion deadline