Los Angeles Superior Court Appellate Division

Jurisdiction and Location

Current Los Angeles Local Rule 9.1 addresses the Appellate Division's appellate and writ jurisdiction. The Appellate Division sits at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse.

This is a different reviewing court from the Second Appellate District.

• Los Angeles Superior Court — Chapter 9 Appellate Division RulesSuperior Court of California, County of Los Angeles lacourt.ca.gov

A Dedicated Los Angeles Appellate Rule Set

Chapter 9 of the Los Angeles Local Rules addresses subjects including:

• appellate and writ jurisdiction;
• electronic filing;
• notices of appeal;
• stays;
• appointed counsel in misdemeanor appeals;
• the record on appeal;
• briefing;
• oral argument;
• judgments and opinions;
• applications and motions;
• extensions and relief from default; and
• writ proceedings.

Electronic Filing

Current Local Rule 9.2 generally requires represented litigants to file Appellate Division documents electronically through an approved electronic filing service provider unless an exemption applies. Self-represented litigants are exempt from mandatory e-filing but may elect to use it.

The rule also contains technical requirements for electronic documents, including searchable PDF formatting and bookmarking of specified materials.

• Los Angeles Superior Court — Appellate E-FilingSuperior Court of California, County of Los Angeles lacourt.ca.gov

Current Rules Control Over Older Guidance

In March 2026, Los Angeles Superior Court rescinded the prior general order concerning mandatory Appellate Division e-filing and directed filers to the Local Rules for the governing requirements.

That change illustrates why FAQs, presentations, and older orders should be checked against the currently effective rule before being relied upon.

Practitioner Filing Note

Electronic filing systems do not always make the correct case number, filing category, or document name obvious. If there is genuine uncertainty, confirm the filing procedure before submission. The court's e-filing FAQ directs filers first to their electronic filing service provider and, if the issue cannot be resolved there, to the Appellate Division Clerk's Office.

Confirming the correct filing route in advance can help avoid rejection and the time and potential additional expense of resubmission.

Record on Appeal

Current Local Rule 9.6 addresses the record in civil, misdemeanor, and infraction appeals. Los Angeles also uses official electronic recording for qualifying limited civil, misdemeanor, and infraction trial-court proceedings and provides procedures for a written transcript of that recording to serve as the oral record on appeal.

• Preparing the Appellate Record in Los Angeles County
• Clerk's and Reporter's Transcripts in Los Angeles County

Briefing and Oral Argument

Current Local Rules 9.7 and 9.8 address briefing and oral argument. A particularly local feature is that tentative rulings are issued in most Appellate Division cases before oral argument. The court describes those rulings as initial proposed views or questions rather than binding decisions.

• Los Angeles Superior Court — Appellate Division Tentative RulingsSuperior Court of California, County of Los Angeles lacourt.ca.gov

Motions, Stays, and Writs

Chapter 9 separately addresses applications and motions, stays, extensions and relief from default, and writ proceedings. The proper filing court can depend upon the stage of the appeal; some record-related requests remain trial-court matters while other requests belong in the Appellate Division.

California Writ Petitions

No Routine Second Appeal to the Court of Appeal

An Appellate Division judgment does not ordinarily create another appeal as of right to the Court of Appeal. California procedure instead provides a limited transfer mechanism under the governing rules.