**Senior Judge James V. Selna** was appointed to the Central District of California by President George W. Bush in 2003. He assumed senior status on March 3, 2020. Selna was born in San Jose, California, on February 22, 1945. He graduated from Stanford University with distinction and Phi Beta Kappa, then from Stanford Law School where he served on the Law Review. He served as a U.S. Army Reserve captain between his undergraduate and law studies. He joined O'Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles, becoming a partner in 1978 and later moving to the firm's Newport Beach office, specializing in business litigation with emphasis on antitrust and trade secrets. Former Governor Pete Wilson appointed him to the Orange County Superior Court in 1998. **Education** - Stanford Law School, J.D., 1970 - Stanford University, A.B., 1967 (with distinction, Phi Beta Kappa) **Career** - U.S. Army Reserve Captain, 1967–1968 - Associate and partner, O'Melveny & Myers LLP, Los Angeles and Newport Beach, 1970–1998 - Judge, Superior Court of California, Orange County, 1998–2003 (appointed by Governor Pete Wilson) - U.S. District Judge, Central District of California, 2003–present (senior status, 2020)
**Courthouse:** Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 411 W. 4th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701 **Division:** Southern Division (Santa Ana) **Chambers Staff** - Chambers Email: JVS_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov
Courtesy copies are required for all covered filings. Details: 3 copies, delivery next day by noon, by hand delivery. Mandatory chambers copies (3 documents) must be hand-delivered to the Intake Section in Santa Ana by 12 noon the day after e-filing the Notice of Manual Filing; no envelopes used.
Judge James V. Selna's rules set a pre-motion procedure for rule 12. Parties must confer in good faith under L.R. 7-3 before filing motions to dismiss or strike.
Judge James V. Selna's rule states these limits: 2 pages. Joint Rule 26(f) Report must include synopsis (max 2 pages), legal issues, and damages.
Judge James V. Selna's rule states these limits: 25 pages; 12 pages. Support/opposition memoranda limited to 25 pages; replies limited to 12 pages.
Judge James V. Selna's formatting rule includes blow ups designated with original exhibit number followed by an “a”. Blow-ups must be designated with original exhibit number plus "A".
The rule requires jointly signed, damages, synopsis, and legal issues. Joint Rule 26(f) Report must be filed one week before scheduling conference.
The rule requires exhibit a. Exhibit A form must be completed and attached to Rule 26(f) report.
Parties may contact Judge James V. Selna's chambers by letter ecf only as allowed by the rule. Lead trial attorney must attend Scheduling Conference unless excused for good cause.
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge James V. Selna. Process: file redacted on ecf, file unredacted to clerk, and file unredacted to chambers. When the sealing application and order are not under seal, the filer e-files the application and proposed order, and delivers mandatory chambers copies (conformed application, proposed order, proposed under seal document) to the Intake Window without envelopes.
Requests should be made at least 2 court days in advance when this rule applies before Judge James V. Selna. The request must include reason for request and proposed new dates. Counsel must notify Courtroom Deputy by 4:30 p.m. two court days before trial for additional equipment installation.
Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. When the sealing application and order are not under seal, the application and proposed order must be e-filed.
The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Plaintiff must file a RICO case statement within 20 days.
Joint Rule 26(f) Report must be filed one week before scheduling conference.
Joint Rule 26(f) Report must include synopsis (max 2 pages), legal issues, and damages.
Exhibit A form must be completed and attached to Rule 26(f) report.
Proposed dates must be Mondays (trial date on Tuesday).
Discovery cut-off date means last day for depositions and written discovery responses.
Motion cut-off date means last date motions may be heard, not noticed.
Parties may consent to have any Magistrate Judge preside over all proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 636.
Joint Rule 26(f) Report must include enumerated information under corresponding section headings.
Lead trial attorney must attend Scheduling Conference unless excused for good cause.
Continuance of Scheduling Conference granted only for good cause.
Protective orders should be proposed to opposing counsel before Scheduling Conference and submitted to assigned Magistrate Judge.
Counsel must provide Order to parties appearing after date of Order and known parties not yet appeared.
Court orders and Local Rules available on Central District of California website
Plaintiff must file a RICO case statement within 20 days.
RICO case statement must include specific information as listed in the order.
Envelopes must not be used when delivering under seal documents to the Intake Window.
When the sealing application and order are not under seal, the filer e-files the application and proposed order, and delivers mandatory chambers copies (conformed application, proposed order, proposed under seal document) to the Intake Window without envelopes.
When the sealing application and order are under seal, the filer delivers mandatory chambers copies (application, proposed order, proposed under seal document, and Notice of Manual Filing) to the Intake Window without envelopes; no e-filing occurs.
When the entire case is under seal, the filer delivers copies of all documents with proof of service to the Intake Window; no e-filing or Notice of Manual Filing is required.
Mandatory chambers copies (3 documents) must be hand-delivered to the Intake Section in Santa Ana by 12 noon the day after e-filing the Notice of Manual Filing; no envelopes used.
When the entire case is under seal, mandatory chambers copies (all documents) must be hand-delivered to the Intake Window; no specific delivery deadline is stated.
Filer must email PDFs of the application and proposed under seal document, plus a Word/WordPerfect version of the proposed order, to chambers.
Emailed documents and hard copies must be received by the Court by 12 noon the day after e-filing the Notice of Manual Filing.
After the court rules, the filer must serve conformed under seal documents on all parties and file a proof of service within 24 hours of receiving the conformed copies from the clerk.
When the sealing application and order are not under seal, the application and proposed order must be e-filed.
When the sealing application and order are under seal, documents must be filed manually via Notice of Manual Filing; e-filing is not used.
E-filing is unavailable in a sealed action; all documents must be filed manually without a Notice of Manual Filing.
The title on the face page of each document will be used as the docket title in criminal cases.
Mandatory chambers copies of under seal documents must not be delivered to Judge Selna's drop box on the 10th floor in Santa Ana.
Court expects service of initial pleadings sooner than the 90-day limit and may require plaintiff to show cause for undue delay.