Trial: statement of decision.

Assembly Member Pacheco's civil procedure reform measure revises how California courts issue and process statements of decision in civil trials, establishing new requirements for timing, service, and objections to these judicial explanations.

The legislation modifies when parties must request statements of decision, requiring all such requests to be made before matters are submitted for decision, regardless of trial duration. Courts must serve these statements on all trial participants and may now issue written decisions without party requests or direct parties to prepare draft statements. The measure creates a formal 10-day window for parties to object to statements of decision, after which courts may hold hearings and issue amended statements if objections are sustained.

The bill also adjusts timelines for entering judgments in civil cases. Court clerks would have 30 days after a decision is filed to enter judgment, or 30 days after a statement of decision becomes final when one is requested. This extends the current requirement for immediate judgment entry following court decisions. The Judicial Council must adopt or amend court rules to implement these procedural changes.