Court Rules
Common questions about Judge David O. Carter's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge David O. Carter?

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

View ruleSource: page 3, section Chambers Copy Requirements

What page or word limits apply to reply before Judge David O. Carter?

Judge David O. Carter's rule states these limits: 14 pages. Reply papers must be filed 14 calendar days before the hearing date.

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge David O. Carter?

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.

What must be included with order filings before Judge David O. Carter?

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.

View ruleSource: page 5, section X. Notice of this Order

What must be included with sealing application filings before Judge David O. Carter?

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.

View ruleSource: page 1, section PROCEDURES FOR PRESENTING CRIMINAL DOCUMENTS ELECTRONICALLY FOR SEALING

How may parties contact Judge David O. Carter's chambers?

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.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. Court Appearances

How does Judge David O. Carter handle sealed or redacted filings?

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.

View ruleSource: page 4, section VII. Applications to File Documents Under Seal

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge David O. Carter?

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.

View ruleSource: page 2, section III. Continuances and Extensions of Deadlines
Complete rules summary for Judge David O. Carter

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.

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