Court Rules
district Judge
Verified Current1 day ago

Judge Kenly Kiya Kato

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Central District of California

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Motion In Limine
10 pgs
Brief
10 pgs
Joint Statement Of Case
1 pgs
Joint Rule 26f Report
2 pgs
Joint Statement Of Case
0.5 pgs
Opening Brief
25 pgs
Responsive Brief
10 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Filings (All filings)

Required

Filings (Depositions)

Required

Filings (Attorney Fees Motion)

Required

Filings

Required

Adjournments

Notice Required
28Calendar Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Original Date
  • 3
    Number Of Previous Requests
  • 4
    Previous Requests Granted Or Denied
  • 5
    Adversary Position
  • 6
    Proposed New Dates
Notice Required
7Calendar Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Withdrawal Of Motion
  • 2
    Withdrawal Of Opposition
  • 3
    Reason For Request
  • 4
    Original Date
  • 5
    Number Of Previous Requests
  • 6
    Previous Requests Granted Or Denied
  • 7
    Adversary Position
  • 8
    Proposed New Dates
Notice Required
45Calendar Days
Notice Required
90Calendar Days
Notice Required
2Calendar Days
Notice Required
5Court Days
Notice Required
0Calendar Days
Notice Required
3Weeks
Notice Required
14Calendar Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Original Date
  • 3
    Number Of Previous Requests
  • 4
    Previous Requests Granted Or Denied
  • 5
    Adversary Position
  • 6
    Proposed New Dates
Notice Required
56Calendar Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Original Date
  • 3
    Number Of Previous Requests
  • 4
    Previous Requests Granted Or Denied
  • 5
    Adversary Position
  • 6
    Proposed New Dates
Notice Required
24Hours
Notice Required
14Days

Communication

Website

Chambers

Technical Issues
No Description
Chambers

Chambers

Scheduling
No Status Inquiries, Hours
Email

Chambers

Technical IssuesEmergenciesScheduling
Advance Notice Required, All Counsel Must Be Included
No Status Inquiries
Ex Parte

Chambers

Emergencies
No Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

No Ex Parte Contact
Email

Chambers

kk_chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov
SchedulingTechnical Issues
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingCommunicationTRO/InjunctionMemorandaCourtroom ConductTypographyEvidence/WitnessesProposed Orders

Detailed Drafting Rules

Page or Word LimitMandatory

Motions in limine limited to 5 per side; supporting/opposing memoranda limited to 10 pages; no replies allowed.

Each side is limited to five (5) motions in limine. Memoranda of Points and Authorities in support of or in opposition to motions in limine shall not exceed ten (10) pages. Replies will not be accepted.

Page or Word LimitMandatory

Supporting/opposing memoranda for motions in limine limited to 10 pages.

Memoranda of Points and Authorities in support of or in opposition to motions in limine shall not exceed ten (10) pages.

Document RequirementMandatory

Objections to deposition testimony offered in lieu of live testimony must be noted in margins with grounds and responses.

In addition, for testimony that will be offered in lieu of live testimony, counsel shall meet and confer to identify any objections to the proffered evidence in the margins of the deposition by briefly providing the ground for the objection and the response to the objection.

Document Type

Depositions

Content & Formatting
Objection Ground
Objection Margins
Objection Response
Document RequirementMandatory

Unusual words/phrases list must be provided to court reporter 7 days before trial.

At least seven (7) days before trial, counsel for the parties shall provide the court reporter with a list of unusual words, phrases, and spellings that may come up.

Document Type

Unusual Words List

Content & Formatting
Unusual Words List
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Joint Rule 26(f) Report must include 2-page statement of case.

a. Statement of the case: a short synopsis (not to exceed two pages) of the main claims, counterclaims, and affirmative defenses.

Page 2
|SecJoint Rule 26(f) Report
Communication ProtocolNote

Court orders and Local Rules available on Central District of California website.

Copies of other orders of this Court that may become applicable to this case are available on the Central District of California website, at http://www.cacd.uscourts.gov, under “Judges’ Procedures and Schedules.” Copies of the Local Rules are available on the website.

Website

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Prohibited
  • Description
    Court orders and Local Rules available online
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Proposed stipulations must be explained to defendant(s) in advance.

A proposed stipulation should be explained to the defendant(s) in advance;

Chambers

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Counsel must seek court permission to speak off the record with opposing counsel.

Counsel must ask the Court for permission to talk off the record in order to speak with opposing counsel;

Chambers

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Counsel must confer with opposing counsel before making offers or stipulations.

Counsel shall not make an offer or stipulation unless he or she has conferred with opposing counsel and believes that the stipulation will be accepted.

Chambers

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Equipment installation requests must be made to Courtroom Deputy Clerk by 4:00 p.m. five business days before trial.

If counsel for any party needs to arrange for the installation of its own equipment, such as video monitors, tape or compact disk players, notebooks, or overhead projectors, counsel shall notify the Courtroom Deputy Clerk no later than 4:00 p.m. five business days before trial so that the necessary arrangements can be made.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    4:00 p.m. five business days before trial
Communication ProtocolMandatory

All counsel and pro se parties must arrive 30 minutes before trial start time each day.

The Court sets firm trial dates. Counsel or any parties appearing pro se shall arrive at the courtroom not later than half an hour before the start of trial each day of trial.

Chambers

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Prohibited
  • Hours
    30 minutes before trial start time
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Court reserves 30 minutes before trial for matters outside jury presence; counsel must raise such matters during this time.

The Court reserves that time to handle legal and administrative matters outside the presence of the jury. Counsel shall anticipate matters that may need discussion or hearing outside the presence of the jury and to raise them during this period.

Chambers

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Prohibited
  • Hours
    30 minutes before trial start time
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Counsel must address all remarks to the Court, not to clerk, reporter, or opposing counsel.

Counsel shall address all remarks to the Court and should not address directly the Courtroom Deputy Clerk, the Court Reporter, or opposing counsel.

Chambers

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Opening claim construction briefs limited to 25 pages.

No later than seven days after the filing of the Joint Claim Construction and Prehearing Statement, the parties shall file simultaneous opening claim construction briefs of not more than 25 pages.

Page 9
|SecE. Claim Construction Briefs
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Responsive claim construction briefs limited to 10 pages.

No later than 14 days after the filing of the opening briefs, the parties shall file simultaneous responsive briefs of not more than 10 pages.

Page 9
|SecE. Claim Construction Briefs
Document RequirementMandatory

Discovery disputes go to magistrate judge; include "DISCOVERY MATTER" in caption.

All discovery matters have been referred to the assigned magistrate judge, who will hear all discovery disputes. The magistrate judge's initials follow the district judge's initials next to the case number. All discovery-related documents must include the words "DISCOVERY MATTER" in the caption to ensure proper routing.

Document Type

Discovery Motion

Content & Formatting
Caption
Page 4
|SecV. DISCOVERY
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Civil motions heard Thursdays at 9:30 AM; check website for closed dates.

This Court hears civil motions on Thursdays, beginning at 9:30 a.m. If Thursday is a court holiday, motions will be heard on the next Thursday. It is not necessary to clear a hearing date with the Court Clerk before filing a motion. Counsel must check the Court’s website for Closed Motion Dates. If the motion date selected is not available, the Court will issue a minute order continuing the date.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolImportant

Ex parte applications are for extraordinary relief only and discouraged.

Counsel are reminded that ex parte applications are solely for extraordinary relief and are discouraged.

Ex Parte

Approved Topics
Emergencies
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Ex parte relief requires showing of irreparable prejudice and lack of fault.

A party seeking ex parte relief must show: (1) “the moving party’s cause will be irreparably prejudiced if the underlying motion is heard according to regular noticed motion procedures”; and (2) “the moving party is without fault in creating the crisis that requires ex parte relief,” or “the crisis occurred as a result of excusable neglect.”

Ex Parte

Approved Topics
Emergencies
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Ex parte applications not meeting Local Rule 7-19 requirements will be rejected.

Applications that do not meet the requirements set forth in Local Rule 7-19 will not be considered.

Ex Parte

Approved Topics
Emergencies
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Sanctions may be imposed for ex parte application misuse.

Sanctions may be imposed for misuse

Ex Parte

Approved Topics
Emergencies
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Ex parte applications must be served by email or hand delivery with 24-hour response time (business days only).

The moving party shall file and serve the opposing party by electronic mail or hand delivery and shall notify the opposing party that opposing papers must be filed not later than twenty-four hours following such electronic mail or hand service. The twenty-four-hour clock runs on business days only.

Email

Direct to: Adversary

Approved Topics
Emergencies
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    24_business_hours
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Non-opposing parties must inform CRD within 24 hours of ex parte service.

If a party does not intend to oppose an ex parte application, the party must inform the CRD as soon as possible but not later than twenty-four hours following service.

Email

Direct to: Clerk

Approved Topics
Status Inquiries
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    24_hours
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Ex parte contact with chambers is prohibited unless initiated by chambers staff.

Counsel must not attempt to contact the Court or its chambers staff by telephone or by any other ex parte means unless contact has been first initiated by chambers staff.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Ex Parte Contact
Prohibited
  • Ex Parte Contact
Communication ProtocolNote

Preferred communication method with courtroom deputy clerk is email.

The preferred method of communication with the courtroom deputy clerk is through the Court’s chambers email address at kk_chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingTechnical Issues
Communication ProtocolMandatory

All counsel must be included on communications with courtroom deputy clerk.

All counsel shall be included on any communications with the courtroom deputy clerk.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • All Counsel Must Be Included
Format RequirementNote

Mandatory chambers copies must comply with Local Rule 11 formatting but need not be blue-backed.

A mandatory chambers copy must comply with Local Rule 11 (i.e. font size, page numbering, exhibit tabbing, etc.) but need not be blue-backed.

Applies When:Motion Type Set Undefined
Typography
Size12 pt
Line SpacingDouble

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