**Judge Kenly Kiya Kato** was appointed to the Central District of California by President Joe Biden in 2023. She previously served as a U.S. magistrate judge in the same district. Kato was born in 1972 in Los Angeles. She graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA and earned her law degree cum laude from Harvard Law School, where she edited the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review. She clerked for Judge Robert Takasugi of the Central District of California, then spent years as a Deputy Federal Public Defender before entering private practice and later operating her own firm specializing in federal criminal defense. She was appointed as a U.S. magistrate judge in 2014. **Education** - Harvard Law School, J.D. (cum laude) - University of California, Los Angeles, B.A. in Political Science (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) **Career** - Law clerk, Judge Robert Takasugi, U.S. District Court, Central District of California - Research & Writing Attorney and Deputy Federal Public Defender, Federal Public Defender's Office, Central District of California, 1997–2003 - Associate, Liner Grode Stein Yankelevitz Sunshine Regenstreif & Taylor LLP, 2003–2004 - Solo practitioner (federal criminal defense and civil rights litigation), 2004–2014 - U.S. Magistrate Judge, Central District of California, 2014–2023 - U.S. District Judge, Central District of California, 2023–present
**Courthouse:** George E. Brown, Jr. Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 3470 Twelfth Street, Riverside, CA 92501 **Division:** Eastern Division (Riverside) **Chambers Staff** - Chambers Email: KKK_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov
Courtesy copies are required for attorney fees tables. Details: delivery upon filing, by email. Courtesy copies of the attorney fee table must be in editable Excel format and emailed to opposing counsel and chambers.
Judge Kenly Kiya Kato's rules set a pre-motion procedure for substitute defendant. Before filing a motion to substitute a fictitiously named defendant, plaintiffs must seek consent of all counsel; if denied, file a regularly noticed motion.
Judge Kenly Kiya Kato's rule states these limits: 10 pages. Motions in limine limited to 5 per side; supporting/opposing memoranda limited to 10 pages; no replies allowed.
Judge Kenly Kiya Kato's rule states these limits: 10 pages. Supporting/opposing memoranda for motions in limine limited to 10 pages.
Judge Kenly Kiya Kato's formatting rule includes must comply with local rule 11-3 (font size, page numbering, exhibit tabbing), need not be blue-backed, and must be prominently labeled 'mandatory chambers copy' on the face page. The mandatory chambers copy must comply with Local Rule 11-3 formatting (font size, page numbering, exhibit tabbing), need not be blue-backed, and must be labeled 'MANDATORY CHAMBERS COPY' on the face page.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. The attorney fee table must be attached to the motion.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Opposing parties must specify objections to fee requests in the specified table format.
Parties may contact Judge Kenly Kiya Kato's chambers by chambers only as allowed by the rule. Proposed stipulations must be explained to defendant(s) in advance.
Judge Kenly Kiya Kato's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Material may not be designated as confidential if it is public or designation is unnecessary to protect a secrecy interest.
Requests should be made at least 5 business days in advance when this rule applies before Judge Kenly Kiya Kato. The request must include reason for request, number of previous requests, and previous requests granted or denied. Continuance/extension requests must be submitted at least 5 court days before the scheduled date, include a declaration showing good cause and a proposed order, and disclose prior continuance requests; requests without a declaration are rejected.
Yes. Judge Kenly Kiya Kato requires bundling for covered papers. Each side limited to 3 motions in limine, must be consolidated; more requires leave.
Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. The attorney fee table must be attached to the motion and electronically filed.
Defendants not timely served are dismissed without prejudice; Doe defendants must be identified and served within 90 days of filing or be dismissed.
Plaintiffs must promptly serve the complaint per FRCP 4 and file proofs of service per the Local Rules.
Failure to file a timely proof of service of the summons and complaint will result in dismissal of the case for failure to prosecute.
The attorney fee table must be attached to the motion and electronically filed.
Plaintiffs must file a motion for class certification no later than 100 days from the set date of the scheduling conference, unless the action is subject to the PSLRA.
Parties must confer in good faith as required by Local Rule 7-3 before filing motions to dismiss or strike, particularly where pleading defects could be cured by amendment.
Motions to amend must state the effect of the amendment, identify the page/line numbers and wording of proposed changes, and attach a redlined version of the proposed amended pleading as an appendix.
Continuance/extension requests must be submitted at least 5 court days before the scheduled date, include a declaration showing good cause and a proposed order, and disclose prior continuance requests; requests without a declaration are rejected.
Courtesy copies of the attorney fee table must be in editable Excel format and emailed to opposing counsel and chambers.
Chambers email address for sending courtesy copies is kk_chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov.
The attorney fee table must be attached to the motion.
Opposing parties must specify objections to fee requests in the specified table format.
Answers from state court must be re-filed as a supplement to the Notice of Removal.
Pending motions must be re-noticed per Local Rule 6-1.
Parties must file an appropriate pleading within 30 days of the notice of removal if the removed action contains a form pleading.
Parties must file an appropriate pleading within 30 days if the removed action contains a form pleading.
Responsive pleadings must be filed per the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Plaintiffs must serve fictitiously named defendants before the Rule 16(b) scheduling conference.
Requests to extend time to identify fictitiously named defendants must be made in the Joint Rule 26(f) Report and state reasons.
Before filing a motion to substitute a fictitiously named defendant, plaintiffs must seek consent of all counsel; if denied, file a regularly noticed motion.
Motions and oppositions regarding substitution must address whether the case should be remanded if diversity is destroyed.
The mandatory chambers copy must comply with Local Rule 11-3 formatting (font size, page numbering, exhibit tabbing), need not be blue-backed, and must be labeled 'MANDATORY CHAMBERS COPY' on the face page.
Plaintiff's counsel or pro se plaintiff(s) must immediately serve this Order on all parties, including new parties; in removed cases, the removing defendant(s) must serve the Order on all other parties.
Final Pretrial Conference required under FRCP 16 and Local Rule 16-1.
Motions must be filed at least 28 days before the motion hearing cut-off date.
Motion hearing cut-off applies to all non-discovery motions except class certification and trial-related motions.
Withdrawal of motion or opposition must be filed and served at least 7 days before the hearing.
Non-compliance with withdrawal notification may result in sanctions.
Discovery (except depositions) must be initiated at least 45 days before the discovery cut-off date.
Stipulations allowing responses after cut-off date are not approved except for unusual circumstances with good cause.