Legal Question in Administrative Law in California

Re: Asking for a ruling on matters before a trial?

No. Judges make rulings and decisions at the end of trials, or on ExParte motions brought in compliance with the pre-trial rules and procedures, or during the trial on objections raised against the admissibility of evidence, witness testimony and documents. You could bring a Summary Judgment Motion to get a ruling on the other side's case in advance of trial, not on your case. If you try to represent yourself 'pro per', you are held to the same standard of knowledge and conduct as attorneys. If you don't know how to do these things, you should get an attorney, who does, to avoid damaging whatever case you may have. You are using legal words in your posting, and broad assumptions of what the judge will and will not do, unsupported by facts. I can easily 'imagine this judge disagreeing with' you. There is a winner and a loser in every case. The loser gets to appeal, if there are proper grounds for it.

Re: Asking for a ruling on matters before a trial?

In addition, like a motion for summary judgment, is a motion for summary adjudication, asking the Court for a judgment on or more of your causes of action. There are pre-trial motions that can be made on freedom of speech issues (i.e. the Complaint and relief sought thereby infringes on your First Amendment rights), but from your facts, I cannot tell if that's your issue.

Re: Asking for a ruling on matters before a trial?

It is also possible to bifurcate a trial, i.e., divide it into two phases. This is often done when resolution of one (or more) relatively easy issues will decide the outcome of the whole case, making it unnecessary to try the difficult issues. I don't know if that would fit your context; mandamus cases are a little different. If there is a case management or other conference coming up, you might raise your issue with the judge at that time, in the other party's presence or with his knowledge of your intent to raise it.

Re: Asking for a ruling on matters before a trial?

It is also possible to bifurcate a trial, i.e., divide it into two phases. This is often done when resolution of one (or more) relatively easy issues will decide the outcome of the whole case, making it unnecessary to try the difficult issues. I don't know if that would fit your context; mandamus cases are a little different. If there is a case management or other conference coming up, you might raise your issue with the judge at that time, in the other party's presence or with his knowledge of your intent to raise it.