Yes! You can use AI to fill out Form EJT-020, [Proposed] Consent Order for Voluntary Expedited Jury Trial

Form EJT-020, the [Proposed] Consent Order for Voluntary Expedited Jury Trial, is a legal document used in the California court system for parties to formally agree to a streamlined trial process. By signing, parties consent to specific procedures, such as time limits for case presentation and waiving most post-trial motions, in order to achieve a quicker resolution. Today, this form can be filled out quickly and accurately using AI-powered services like Instafill.ai, which can also convert non-fillable PDF versions into interactive fillable forms.
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Form specifications

Form name: Form EJT-020, [Proposed] Consent Order for Voluntary Expedited Jury Trial
Number of fields: 64
Number of pages: 1
Language: English
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How to Fill Out EJT-020 Online for Free in 2026

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Follow these steps to fill out your EJT-020 form online using Instafill.ai:
  1. 1 Navigate to Instafill.ai and upload or select Form EJT-020, the Consent Order for Voluntary Expedited Jury Trial.
  2. 2 Enter the case information, including the Superior Court details, case number, and the full names of the plaintiff and defendant.
  3. 3 Provide the complete information for the attorneys or self-represented parties, including names, addresses, state bar numbers, and contact details.
  4. 4 Detail the consenting parties, confirm their representation status, and specify if any insurance carriers have been notified.
  5. 5 Indicate any additional agreements made between the parties regarding the trial procedures, or attach Form EJT-022A if necessary.
  6. 6 Review all entered information for accuracy. All parties and their attorneys must then sign and date the form to signify their consent.
  7. 7 Download the completed form and submit the proposed order to the court for the judicial officer's signature and final order.

Our AI-powered system ensures each field is filled out correctly, reducing errors and saving you time.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Form EJT-020

This form is used for all parties in a civil lawsuit to formally agree to a voluntary expedited jury trial (EJT), which is a shorter and more streamlined alternative to a traditional trial. It becomes a court order once signed by the judge.

All parties involved in the case (plaintiffs, defendants, etc.) and their respective attorneys must sign this form to show their consent. If a party is representing themselves, they must also sign.

In an EJT, you waive most rights to appeal, each side is limited to five hours to present their case, the jury is smaller (8 or fewer jurors), and you have fewer peremptory challenges.

By signing this form, you agree to waive your right to appeal the verdict, move for a directed verdict, or file most post-trial motions, as specified in the California Code of Civil Procedure.

You will need your case number, court information, names of all parties and their attorneys, and details of any insurance carriers involved. All parties must also review the Expedited Jury Trial Information Sheet (form EJT-001-INFO).

You must confirm that any insurance carriers responsible for providing coverage or defense have been informed of the EJT procedures and do not object. This ensures all financially responsible parties are on board with the process.

A high-low agreement is a separate, confidential contract where parties set a minimum and maximum amount of damages. This guarantees the plaintiff receives a certain amount while capping the defendant's potential liability, regardless of the jury's verdict.

Yes, you can make additional agreements regarding rules, the number of witnesses, or types of evidence to further streamline the trial. These agreements must be detailed in item 9 or on an attached form (EJT-022A).

After all parties and attorneys sign, the form is submitted to the court as a '[Proposed] Consent Order.' A judge will then review it and either approve it, making it an official court order, or deny it.

Participation in an EJT is completely voluntary, so all parties must consent. If even one party refuses to sign this form, the case cannot proceed with an expedited jury trial and will follow the standard trial process.

Yes, services like Instafill.ai use AI to accurately auto-fill form fields with your case information, which can save time and help reduce errors.

You can use Instafill.ai to upload the form and fill it out online. The platform allows you to easily type your information into the correct fields and then save or print the completed document.

If you have a non-fillable or 'flat' PDF, you can upload it to Instafill.ai. The service can convert it into an interactive, fillable form for you to complete online.

Compliance EJT-020
Validation Checks by Instafill.ai

1
Case Number Consistency Across Pages
This check ensures that the 'CASE NUMBER' entered on Page 1 is identical to the 'CASE NUMBER' entered on Page 2. Maintaining consistency is critical for document integrity and correct case file association. If the numbers do not match, the form could be misfiled or rejected, causing significant delays in court processing.
2
State Bar Number Format
Validates that the 'STATE BAR NO.' field contains only numeric digits, consistent with the format for California State Bar numbers. This ensures the attorney can be accurately identified and their standing verified within the state's legal system. An invalid format could prevent the court from confirming the attorney's eligibility to practice.
3
Email Address Format Validation
Verifies that the value entered in the 'E-MAIL ADDRESS' field follows the standard '[email protected]' format. This is important for ensuring that electronic communications and service from the court and other parties are successfully delivered. An invalid email address will lead to failed communication, potentially causing a party to miss critical deadlines or notices.
4
Party Name Consistency
This check confirms that the 'PLAINTIFF/PETITIONER' and 'DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT' names in the top caption of the form match the names entered in Section 1a ('Plaintiff (name)') and 1b ('Defendant (name)'). This consistency is essential for clearly and unambiguously identifying the consenting parties throughout the legal document. Discrepancies can create legal ambiguity about who has actually consented to the order.
5
Mandatory Party Identification
Ensures that the name fields for both the Plaintiff (Section 1a) and the Defendant (Section 1b) are not empty. These fields are fundamental to the agreement, as they identify the primary parties consenting to the expedited jury trial. A submission without these names is incomplete and legally invalid, as it's unclear who the agreement applies to.
6
Self-Representation Declaration Logic
If the checkbox in Section 2c is checked, this validation ensures that the corresponding name field ('I (name): am representing myself...') is filled out. The name provided should also match one of the parties listed in Section 1. This confirms the identity of the self-represented party and prevents ambiguity. Failure to provide the name makes the declaration of self-representation invalid.
7
Insurance Carrier Disclosure Logic
Validates that if the checkbox in Section 2d is checked (indicating insurance carriers have been informed), at least one of the subsequent 'Insurance carrier (name of carrier)' fields is filled out. This ensures that a party affirming carrier notification actually discloses which carrier was notified. An empty disclosure section would make the affirmation meaningless and could lead to future disputes.
8
Exclusive Selection for Minor/Incompetent Status
This check verifies that for Section 3, exactly one of the two options ('is' or 'is not') is selected to describe a party's status as a minor or incompetent person. This is a critical piece of information that affects the court's handling of the case and the validity of consent. The form cannot be processed if this status is ambiguous or not declared.
9
Other Agreements Content Requirement
In Section 9, if the checkbox for 'are as follows' is selected, this validation ensures the corresponding text area is not empty. This prevents a party from indicating there are other agreements without specifying what they are. An empty field would create an incomplete and potentially unenforceable agreement.
10
Attachment Page Count Format
Verifies that the 'Total number of pages attached' field in Section 10 contains a non-negative integer (0, 1, 2, etc.). This ensures the court and all parties have a clear, numeric count of all attached documents that form part of the consent order. Non-numeric or negative values would be invalid and cause confusion.
11
Signature Date Validity
This check ensures that all date fields in the party and attorney signature blocks are filled with a valid date. The date should not be in the future. This is crucial for establishing when the consent was given, which is a fundamental requirement for a legally binding agreement. An invalid or missing date can call the entire consent order into question.
12
Attorney Representation Match
Validates that the name entered in the 'ATTORNEY FOR (name):' field in the header matches one of the party names listed in the caption or in Section 1 (e.g., Plaintiff, Defendant). This ensures it is clear which party the filing attorney represents. A mismatch could lead to confusion about representation and potential rejection of the filing.
13
Required Court County
Ensures the 'SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF' field is not left blank. Specifying the county is essential for jurisdiction and directs the document to the correct courthouse for filing and processing. A form without the county is un-fileable as its destination is unknown.
14
ZIP Code Format
Validates that the 'ZIP CODE' field in the attorney's address block is in a valid 5-digit or 9-digit (ZIP+4) format. Correct formatting is necessary for mail delivery from the court and other parties. An incorrect ZIP code can lead to returned mail and missed communications.

Common Mistakes in Completing EJT-020

Inconsistent Case Information Across Pages

Filers often enter the Case Number, Plaintiff, and Defendant names on the first page but forget to populate the identical fields in the header of the second page. This inconsistency can cause filing delays or rejection by the court clerk as it makes the document appear incomplete and unprofessional. To avoid this, meticulously check that all header information is filled out identically on every page of the form before submission.

Omitting the Attorney's State Bar Number

When filling out the attorney information block, legal professionals sometimes overlook the 'STATE BAR NO.' field. This number is a crucial identifier for the court to verify an attorney's standing and eligibility to practice. Leaving it blank can lead to the court clerk rejecting the document, delaying the case until the information is provided and refiled.

Failure to List All Parties to the Action

In section 1, filers may only list the primary plaintiff and defendant, forgetting to include all other parties such as cross-complainants or additional defendants. An incomplete list means the consent order may not be binding on the unlisted parties, potentially invalidating the entire agreement. Always cross-reference the official case caption to ensure every party is listed, using an attachment if necessary.

Ambiguous Representation or Notification Status

Section 2 is prone to errors, such as checking conflicting boxes (e.g., a party is both represented and self-represented) or failing to list the insurance carriers in 2d when they are involved. This ambiguity forces the court to question who has consented and whether all required entities have been notified, often resulting in the denial of the order pending clarification. Carefully select only the applicable checkboxes for each party's representation status.

Skipping the Minor/Incompetent Person Declaration

In section 3, parties must select whether a party to the action 'is' or 'is not' a minor or incompetent person, but this checkbox is frequently left blank. This information is vital as cases involving such individuals have special procedural requirements, and its absence renders the form incomplete. To prevent rejection, always make a definitive selection in this section.

Incorrectly Specifying 'Other Agreements'

In section 9, filers create confusion by describing agreements in the text box while also checking the box for an attachment, or by checking the attachment box but failing to attach form EJT-022A. This makes it unclear what the full terms of the consent are, which may lead the court to disregard the additional terms or reject the filing. Be precise: either use the text box or the attachment checkbox, but not both, and ensure any referenced attachments are included.

Forgetting the Total Number of Attached Pages

The field in section 10 for 'Total number of pages attached' is a small but critical detail that is easily overlooked. Failing to provide this number, or providing an incorrect one, leaves the court clerk unable to verify if the submission is complete. After assembling the final document package, count all attachments and enter the correct number to ensure the integrity of your filing; enter '0' if there are none.

Missing Signatures or Dates

The most critical error is failing to obtain signatures and dates from all parties and their respective attorneys as required on page 2. A single missing signature renders the consent order invalid and will lead to immediate rejection by the court. Before filing, create a checklist of all signatories and conduct a final review to ensure every required signature line is properly signed and dated.

Using an Illegible Signature for the Printed Name

The signature blocks explicitly state '(TYPE OR PRINT NAME)' below the signature line, but people often scribble their name illegibly instead. This makes it difficult for court staff to identify the consenting individuals, causing potential processing delays. Always type or clearly print the full name as instructed to ensure clarity. AI-powered tools like Instafill.ai can help by pre-populating these fields with clean, typed text.

Self-Represented Party Fills Out Attorney Section

A self-represented ('pro per') litigant may mistakenly sign in the 'ATTORNEYS' signature block instead of the 'PARTIES' block. This creates confusion about their role in the case and can lead to the document being returned for correction. Self-represented parties must check box 2c, sign in the appropriate party signature block, and leave the attorney signature block blank.

Submitting a Non-Fillable or Flat PDF

Sometimes this form is available only as a flat, non-fillable PDF, and users submit a scanned image of the filled-out document. This can cause issues with court e-filing systems that rely on text-readable data for indexing and processing, potentially delaying the filing. To avoid this, it's best to use a fillable version. If one isn't available, a tool like Instafill.ai can convert the flat PDF into a fillable format, ensuring a clean and machine-readable submission.

Incomplete Insurance Carrier Information

In section 2d, filers often list the name of an insurance carrier but neglect to specify which party that carrier insures in the 'for (name of party)' field. The court needs to know that the entity financially responsible for each party's defense has been notified of the binding EJT process. Omitting this link can lead to the denial of the consent order due to ambiguity.
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