Court Rules
district Judge
Verified Current11 days ago

Judge Anne Hwang

Central District of California

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Motions In Limine
5 pgs
Joint Statement Of Case
1 pgs
Proposed Voir Dire Questions
2 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Filings (All filings)

Upon Request

Adjournments

Notice Required
0Calendar Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Good Cause
  • 3
    Due Diligence
  • 4
    Efforts To Advance Litigation
  • 5
    Work Could Not Be Accomplished
  • 6
    Previous Requests
  • 7
    Previous Requests Granted Or Denied

Communication

Email

Court Reporter

ReportersCACD@cacd.uscourts.gov
Technical Issues
Advance Notice Required
Verbal

Jurors

No Status Inquiries
Written

Clerk

AccommodationsExhibit Agreements
Letter Ecf

Chambers

Scheduling
Advance Notice Required
No Status Inquiries
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingCommunicationJuryTRO/InjunctionCourtroom ConductExhibitsMemoranda

Detailed Drafting Rules

Format RequirementMandatory

Email submissions to Chambers must be in Word format

All emailed submissions to Chambers referred to in this Order must be in Word format and emailed to AH_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov.

Required Format

DOCX

Page 2
|SecEmail submissions
Page or Word LimitNote

Optional voir dire questions limited to 1-2 pages.

Counsel may, but are not required to, file a short list (no more than one (1) or two (2) pages) of proposed case-specific voir dire questions at the time they file the proposed FPTC order.

Communication ProtocolMandatory

Court reporter must be notified 14 days before hearings requiring special services; unusual words list due 7 days before trial

any hearing, such as “Real Time” transmission or daily transcripts, shall notify the court reporter at least fourteen (14) days before the hearing date. At least seven (7) days before the commencement of trial, counsel for the parties shall provide the court reporter with a list of unusual words, phrases, and spellings that may come up during trial. This information should be emailed to Court Reporter Services at ReportersCACD@cacd.uscourts.gov.

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 17
|SecCourt Reporter Services
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Trial starts at 8:30 AM; counsel must arrive by 8:30 AM daily

On the first day of trial, the Court will commence at 8:30 a.m. Counsel shall arrive at the Courtroom no later than 8:30 a.m. each day of trial, unless an earlier time is ordered by the Court.

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 17
|SecJury Trial
Communication ProtocolNote

Jury panel called only when case is ready; jury selection expected to take a few hours

The Court will call a jury panel only when it is satisfied the case is ready for trial. The Court anticipates jury selection will take only a few hours. The parties should be prepared to proceed with opening statements and witness examination immediately after jury selection.

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 17
|SecJury Trial
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Parties must meet and confer on all trial issues before seeking court ruling

The parties must continue to meet and confer on all issues that arise during trial. The Court will not rule on any such issue unless the parties have attempted to resolve it first.

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 17
|SecMeeting and Conferring Throughout Trial
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Counsel must use lectern; visual aids must be prepared in advance

Counsel must use the lectern. Counsel should not consume jury time by writing out words and drawing charts or diagrams. All such aids must be prepared in advance.

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 17
|SecOpening Statements, Witness Examinations, and Summation
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Exhibits/demonstrative evidence prohibited during opening statements without stipulation or court leave

Absent stipulation of the parties or leave of court, no exhibits or demonstrative evidence may be used during opening statements. If a party seeks to use any exhibits or demonstrative evidence, leave of court must be sought during the FPTC.

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 17
|SecOpening Statements, Witness Examinations, and Summation
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Speaking objections prohibited; counsel must not make speeches or restate testimony

Counsel must not make speaking objections before the jury or otherwise make speeches, restate testimony, or attempt to guide a

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 17
|SecObjections to Questions
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Objections must state legal grounds; further argument requires court permission

If counsel objects and the legal grounds for the objection. If counsel desires to argue an objection further, counsel must seek permission from the Court to do so.

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 18
|SecObjections to Questions
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Closing arguments serve as evidence overview; post-trial briefs only if court authorizes

For an overview and review of the evidence presented during trial, the Court will rely on the parties’ closing arguments. In delivering closing arguments, the parties shall use their respective proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law as a “checklist” and should identify the evidence that supports their proposed findings. The Court will not accept post-trial briefs unless it finds that circumstances warrant additional briefing and such briefing is specifically authorized.

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 18
|SecClosing Arguments and Post-Trial Briefs (Bench Trials Only)
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Counsel must adhere to Central District Civility and Professionalism Guidelines

Counsel are advised to review and adhere to the Central District’s Civility and Professionalism Guidelines. See http://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/attorneys/admissions/civility-and-professionalismguidelines. At a minimum:

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 18
|SecGeneral Decorum While in Session
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Counsel must not approach CRD, jury box, or witness stand without court authorization

Counsel must not approach the CRD, the jury box, or the witness stand without Court authorization and must return to the lectern when the purpose for the approach has been accomplished.

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 18
|SecGeneral Decorum While in Session
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Counsel must rise when addressing court or when court/jury enters/leaves courtroom

Counsel must rise when addressing the Court, and when the Court or the jury enters or leaves the courtroom, unless directed otherwise.

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 18
|SecGeneral Decorum While in Session
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Counsel must address all remarks to court; must ask court permission to speak with opposing counsel

Counsel must address all remarks to the Court. Counsel must not address the CRD, the court reporter, persons in the audience, or opposing counsel. Any request to re-read questions or answers shall be addressed to the Court. Counsel must ask the Court’s permission to speak with opposing counsel.

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 18
|SecGeneral Decorum While in Session
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Counsel must not use first names alone for witnesses/parties, except for minors or those sharing last names

Counsel must not address or refer to witnesses or parties by first names alone, except for witnesses who are below age fourteen (14), or witnesses who share a last name.

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 18
|SecGeneral Decorum While in Session
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Stipulations must be verified with opposing counsel before offering

Counsel must not offer a stipulation unless counsel have conferred with opposing counsel and have verified that the stipulation will be acceptable.

Email

Direct to: Court Reporter

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    14 days for hearings requiring special services, 7 days for unusual words list before trial
Page 18
|SecGeneral Decorum While in Session
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Counsel must never speak to jurors and must avoid conversations overheard by jurors.

(h) Counsel must never speak to jurors under any circumstance, and must not speak to co-counsel, opposing counsel, witnesses, or clients if the conversation can be overheard by jurors. Counsel must instruct their clients and witnesses to avoid such conduct.

Verbal

Direct to: Jurors

Approved Topics
Status Inquiries
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolNote

Parties must notify CRD in advance of any reasonable accommodation needs.

(c) The parties must notify the CRD in advance if any party, counsel, or witness requires a reasonable accommodation based on a disability or other reason.

Written

Direct to: Clerk

Approved Topics
Accommodations
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Counsel must inform CRD of exhibit agreements and exhibits received without motion.

(d) Counsel must inform the CRD of any agreements reached regarding any proposed exhibits, as well as those exhibits that may be received into evidence without a motion to admit.

Written

Direct to: Clerk

Approved Topics
Exhibit Agreements
Communication ProtocolImportant

Advance notice required for difficult legal issues that require research or briefing

If any party anticipates that a difficult question of law or evidence will necessitate legal argument requiring research or briefing, that party must give the Court advance notice. The parties must notify the CRD immediately of any unexpected legal issue that could not have been foreseen and addressed in advance. To the extent such issue needs to be addressed outside the jury's presence, the relevant party must inform the CRD before jurors are excused for the day to minimize the time jurors are kept waiting. The Court expects all parties to work diligently to minimize delays and avoid keeping jurors waiting.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    before_jurors_excused
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 21
|SecAdvance Notice of Unusual or Difficult Issues