**Senior Judge David O. Carter** was appointed to the Central District of California by President Bill Clinton in 1998. He sits in the Southern Division in Santa Ana. Carter was born in 1945 and served as a U.S. Marine Corps officer in Vietnam, where he fought in the Battle of Khe Sanh in 1968 and sustained injuries. He graduated from UCLA for both his undergraduate and law degrees, then served as a Deputy and later Senior Deputy District Attorney in Orange County, where he prosecuted serial killer William Bonin. He served as a Municipal Court judge and then Orange County Superior Court judge before his federal appointment. **Education** - University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, J.D., 1972 - University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., 1967 **Career** - U.S. Marine Corps, active duty in Vietnam (Battle of Khe Sanh), 1967–1968 - Deputy and Senior Deputy District Attorney, Orange County, 1972–1981 (lead prosecutor in the William Bonin "Freeway Killer" case) - Judge, Municipal Court, Orange County, 1981–1982 - Judge, Superior Court of California, Orange County, 1982–1998 - U.S. District Judge, Central District of California, 1998–present
**Courthouse:** Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 411 W. 4th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701 **Courtroom:** 10A **Division:** Southern Division (Santa Ana) **Chambers Staff** - Chambers Email: DOC_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov
Courtesy copies are required for all covered filings. Details: delivery upon filing, by hand delivery. Chambers copies of under seal documents must be delivered to Clerk’s Office intake in Santa Ana, not Judge Carter’s drop box
Judge David O. Carter's rules set a pre-motion procedure for rule 56. Only one motion for summary judgment per party is permitted.
Judge David O. Carter's rule states these limits: 14 pages. Reply papers must be filed 14 calendar days before the hearing date.
Judge David O. Carter's formatting rule includes single spacing and margins top 1 inches, bottom 1 inches, left 1.5 inches, right 1 inches. Summary judgment moving party must use two-column format for uncontroverted facts.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Plaintiff's counsel or plaintiff must serve this order on all parties; removing defendants must serve if case came by removal.
The rule requires chambers copy. Deliver 1 conformed application copy, 1 proposed order copy, and 1 under seal document copy to intake window without envelopes.
Parties may contact Judge David O. Carter's chambers by phone only as allowed by the rule. Parties must appear in person for all court appearances; telephonic appearances are not permitted.
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge David O. Carter. Sealing requires showing good cause for non-dispositive motions and compelling reasons for dispositive motions.
Judge David O. Carter's rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. The request must include reason for request and compelling factual support. Court strongly disfavors date changes; continuances require detailed explanation with compelling factual support; stipulations are not effective until court orders.
Yes. Judge David O. Carter requires bundling for covered papers. Exhibits must be placed in loose leaf binders with tabs.
Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Attorneys must electronically file sealed documents in public/non-sealed civil cases using CM/ECF.
The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Discovery motions must be filed and served within 5 days after the discovery cut-off date.
Parties must appear in person for all court appearances; telephonic appearances are not permitted.
All parties must appear at court appearances unless waived by court order; settlement does not excuse appearance until dismissal is filed.
Court strongly disfavors date changes; continuances require detailed explanation with compelling factual support; stipulations are not effective until court orders.
Motion timing requirements: 28 days (31 by mail) for notice/moving papers, 21 days for opposition, 14 days for reply, with automatic extensions for continuances.
Ex parte applications require compliance with Local Rules 7-19/7-19.1 and must notify opposition of 24-hour deadline for opposing papers.
Sealing requires showing good cause for non-dispositive motions and compelling reasons for dispositive motions.
Documents must be filed with redactions unless redaction is not feasible; redactions must be highlighted in sealed version.
Written application and prior court approval required for filing documents under seal.
Protective Orders or Confidentiality Orders do not authorize sealing; applications based solely on them will be denied.
Filing party must provide interested party with proposed sealing application at least 2 business days before filing.
Parties must immediately notify court of settlement by phone, email, or filing.
Contact chambers deputy clerk at provided phone/email; do not contact chambers directly.
Counsel must list email addresses and phone numbers on their papers.
Plaintiff's counsel or plaintiff must serve this order on all parties; removing defendants must serve if case came by removal.
Email chambers with PDF application, PDF under seal document, and Word order by 12 noon next day.
Deliver 1 conformed application copy, 1 proposed order copy, and 1 under seal document copy to intake window without envelopes.
Deliver chambers copies to Clerk's Office intake in Santa Ana, not Judge Carter's 9th floor drop box.
Serve conformed under seal documents on all parties and file proof of service within 24 hours after court rules.
Electronically file Application with attached Proposed Order via normal e-filing.
Deliver 1 application copy, 1 proposed order copy, 1 under seal document copy, and Notice of Manual Filing to intake window without envelopes.
Deliver chambers copies to Clerk's Office intake in Santa Ana, not Judge Carter's 9th floor drop box.
Serve conformed under seal documents on all parties and file proof of service within 24 hours after court rules.
Chambers copies of under seal documents must be emailed as PDF to DOC_chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov
Chambers copies of under seal documents must be delivered to Clerk’s Office intake in Santa Ana, not Judge Carter’s drop box
Date changes are disfavored, trial dates are firm, and the Court may advance trial by up to two weeks.
Any continuance or extension request must include a detailed explanation of its grounds.
Scheduling-date extensions by stipulation are ineffective until the Court orders them.
If a hearing is continued, opposition and reply filing deadlines are automatically extended unless the Court says otherwise.
Ex parte applications must comply with Local Rules 7-19/7-19.1 and include opposing counsel’s position, absent specific good cause.
Parties seeking a jury trial must file and serve a jury demand under Rule 38.