How is the location of the coordination trial judge selected?
The rules and statutes do not provide for input by the parties on the appropriate location for assignment of the coordination trial judge. The parties may, however, present their views in the petition for coordination and in any opposition papers, and to the coordination motion judge at the time of the hearing on the petition to coordinate. If the coordination motion judge grants coordination, he or she may include in the order granting coordination a recommendation for the location of the coordinated proceedings. Upon receipt of the order, the Chair of the Judicial Council will consider the recommendation but is not bound by it. The Chair of the Judicial Council then issues an order assigning a coordination trial judge (or delegates this authority to a presiding judge). The coordination trial judge has ultimate authority to decide where the actions will be tried and can schedule trials at any site within the state. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.540; 3.541(b)(2).
