What Is a Case Management Conference in California?

Last updated: November 2026

A case management conference, or CMC, is the first scheduling hearing in a California civil case. The judge reviews the status of the pleadings and service, decides whether to send the case to mediation or arbitration, and usually sets the trial date. Each party must file a case management statement on the Judicial Council form at least 15 calendar days before the hearing. Kolmogorov Law, P.C. handles these conferences for businesses in Orange County, Los Angeles, and across California.

Call (909) 235-6116 or contact us online if your case has a conference coming up.

What a case management conference is

In each general civil case, the court must set an initial case management conference to review the case. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.722(a).) The judge looks at the case as a whole. The judge decides whether to assign it to mediation or arbitration, whether to set it for trial, and how to handle the other scheduling matters the rules list.

It is short. Most conferences in Orange County and Los Angeles last ten minutes or less, and many are handled by remote appearance. The judge is not deciding who wins. The judge is deciding how the case will be run.

The trial date set that morning controls every deadline that follows. Our step-by-step guide shows how much flows from it.

When it happens and what must come first

The conference is typically set a few months after the complaint is filed, and the notice arrives with the summons or shortly after. The delay-reduction statute sets 60 days from filing as the service period local rules may require, and 30 days from service for the response. (Gov. Code, § 68616, subds. (a), (b).) So the pleadings should be settled, or nearly so, by the time the parties appear. If you were just served, our first 30 days guide covers what comes before the conference.

Before the hearing, counsel must meet and confer on the subjects the court will take up. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.724.)

Then each party files and serves a case management statement no later than 15 calendar days before the conference, on the mandatory Judicial Council form, CM-110. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.725(a), (c).) Our court forms page links to the current version.

What the case management statement covers

The form tracks the subjects the rules direct the court to consider. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.727.) Those include the status of service on every defendant and whether the pleadings are at issue. They include whether the parties will consent to mediation or arbitration, a proposed discovery plan, and whether insurance may cover the claim. They also include the relief sought, the estimated length of trial, and whether a jury is demanded.

I treat the statement as an opportunity rather than a form. A clear, specific statement tells the judge that this side knows what the case is about and has a plan. A statement with every box checked "unknown" tells the judge the opposite.

Two practical points. If the statement says you want a jury, pay the jury fee. A party demanding a jury must pay a $150 fee on or before the date of the initial case management conference. Paying late waives the jury, subject to the court's discretion to relieve the waiver. (Code Civ. Proc., § 631, subds. (b), (c), (f), (g).) And if you have an arbitration clause, the statement is where the court expects you to say so.

What the judge decides

After the conference the court enters a case management order. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.728.) In Orange County and Los Angeles business cases, that order usually sets the trial date, often 12 to 18 months out. It may also refer the parties to mediation, set a further conference, or address a defendant who has not been served.

The trial date is the number that matters. Discovery closes 30 days before it. A motion for summary judgment must be heard 30 days before it, which means the motion must be served long before that. Our summary judgment guide and our deadlines quick guide show how to count backward from the date the judge picks.

What happens if you miss it

Local rules may provide that a party or attorney who fails to comply faces sanctions, including the striking of pleadings, dismissal, or a default judgment, after notice and a chance to be heard. (Code Civ. Proc., § 575.2, subd. (a).) In practice, a missed conference or a missing statement usually produces an order to show cause and a monetary sanction, not a dismissal on the first offense. Where the failure is counsel's fault and not the party's, the penalty falls on counsel and does not affect the party's claim or defense. (Code Civ. Proc., § 575.2, subd. (b).)

Still, the order to show cause is a bad way to meet the judge.

How we use the conference in business cases

A supplier sues a distributor whose owner thought the demand letter was the lawsuit and never answered. The conference is where that gets sorted out before a default. Two companies in a contract dispute both want an early mediation, and the judge orders one with a completion date. That is often where the case ends.

Orange County conferences are held at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. Los Angeles conferences are held in the department assigned to the case, often at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse.

What to bring to the first meeting

Bring the notice of the conference with its date, time, and department. Bring the complaint, any answer or cross-complaint, and the proof of service. Bring the contract, so we can say whether an arbitration clause applies. Bring a realistic sense of how many witnesses the case has, because the trial estimate goes on the form.

Frequently asked questions

What is a case management conference?

A case management conference is a short hearing held a few months after a California civil case is filed. The judge reviews the status of service and the pleadings, decides whether to refer the case to mediation or arbitration, and sets the trial date and other deadlines. It is required in every general civil case and is governed by California Rules of Court, rules 3.720 through 3.730.

Do I have to attend my case management conference?

If you are represented, your attorney appears for you and you ordinarily do not need to attend. If you are not represented, you must appear yourself. Failing to appear can lead to an order to show cause and sanctions, and in repeated cases to dismissal or a default.

What is a CMC statement?

A case management statement is the Judicial Council form, CM-110, that each party files and serves at least 15 calendar days before the conference. It reports the status of service and pleadings, the party's position on mediation and arbitration, a proposed discovery plan, insurance information, the relief sought, a trial estimate, and whether a jury is demanded. The judge reads it before the hearing.

What happens at a case management conference?

The judge calls the case, confirms who has been served and who has appeared, and asks about settlement and alternative dispute resolution. The judge then sets the trial date and any interim deadlines and enters a case management order. The hearing typically takes a few minutes.

What if I do not file a case management statement?

The court will usually issue an order to show cause and may impose a monetary sanction under its local rules. Repeated failures can lead to harsher penalties, including striking pleadings or dismissal. If the failure was your attorney's, the law directs that the penalty fall on counsel rather than on your claim or defense.

Talk to a California civil litigation attorney

If your business has a case management conference coming up, call (909) 235-6116 or contact us online. Kolmogorov Law, P.C. is located at 327 Magnet, Irvine, CA 92618, and represents businesses in Orange County, Los Angeles, and throughout California.

This page provides general information about California law and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on the court's rules, the facts, and the judge.