**Judge Michelle Williams Court** was appointed to the Central District of California by President Joe Biden in 2024. She is the fifth Black woman to serve as a lifetime judge on the Central District. Court was born in 1966 in Great Falls, Montana. She earned her undergraduate degree from Pomona College and her law degree from Loyola Law School. She worked at the ACLU of Southern California, then at a civil rights litigation firm, before serving as a Community Builder Fellow at HUD and later at Milberg Weiss on consumer class actions. She spent a decade at Bet Tzedek Legal Services in leadership roles including interim President and CEO. Governor Jerry Brown appointed her to the Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2012, where she rose to Supervising Judge of the Civil Division. **Education** - Loyola Law School, J.D., 1993 - Pomona College, B.A., 1988 **Career** - Project attorney, ACLU of Southern California, 1994–1995 - Associate, Litt & Márquez, 1995–1999 - Community Builder Fellow, Civil Rights Specialist, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 1999–2000 - Senior associate, Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach, 2000–2002 - Deputy Director and Director of Litigation; interim President and CEO; Vice President and General Counsel, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, 2002–2012 - Adjunct Professor, Loyola Law School, 2006 - Judge, Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County, 2012–2024 (appointed by Governor Jerry Brown; Supervising Judge, Civil Division, 2023) - U.S. District Judge, Central District of California, 2024–present
**Courthouse:** First Street U.S. Courthouse, 350 W. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 **Division:** Western Division (Los Angeles) **Chambers Staff** - Chambers Email: MWC_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov
Courtesy copies are required for joint rule 26f reports. Details: delivery discouraged. Courtesy chambers copies of electronically filed Joint Rule 26(f) Reports are discouraged.
Judge Michelle Williams Court's rules set a pre-motion procedure for covered motions. Pre-filing conference required before filing motions.
Judge Michelle Williams Court's rule states these limits: 25 pages. Motion memoranda limited to 25 pages.
Judge Michelle Williams Court's rule states these limits: 12 pages. Reply memoranda limited to 12 pages.
Judge Michelle Williams Court's formatting rule includes other font, 14 point type, proportionally spaced font must be 14-point or larger, and monospaced font may not contain more than 10½ characters per inch. Font requirements: proportionally spaced 14-point or larger, or monospaced not exceeding 10½ characters per inch.
The rule requires judge name and case number. Joint Rule 26(f) Report due 7 days after meet-and-confer and 14 days before scheduling conference.
The rule requires proposed order and exhibit list. Joint Rule 26(f) Report must include completed Schedule Worksheet.
Parties may contact Judge Michelle Williams Court's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. Scheduling conferences are in-person by default; Zoom requests require 7-day advance filing with good cause declaration and meet-and-confer certification.
Judge Michelle Williams Court's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Process: file redacted on ecf and file unredacted to chambers. Trade secret cases require special identification procedures.
Requests should be made at least 14 calendar days in advance when this rule applies before Judge Michelle Williams Court. Discovery adequacy motions must be filed early enough to obtain responses before cut-off.
Yes. Judge Michelle Williams Court requires bundling for covered papers. Defense must provide two tabbed three-ring binders for exhibits if more than 20 exhibits expected.
Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Zoom requests must be e-filed.
Scheduling conferences are in-person by default; Zoom requests require 7-day advance filing with good cause declaration and meet-and-confer certification.
Joint Rule 26(f) Report due 7 days after meet-and-confer and 14 days before scheduling conference.
Courtesy chambers copies of electronically filed Joint Rule 26(f) Reports are discouraged.
Joint Rule 26(f) Report drafted by Plaintiff or Defendant's counsel; if Plaintiff pro se, Defendant's counsel drafts unless Plaintiff prefers.
Joint Rule 26(f) Report must be a single signed report from all parties.
Joint Rule 26(f) Report must include scheduling conference date on caption page.
Parties must discuss likelihood of additional parties appearing.
All parties must personally attend ADR before trial.
Trial estimates over 4 days require detailed justification.
Parties may consent to magistrate judge for all proceedings including jury trials.
Court defaults to Court Mediation Panel if no ADR method selected.
Joint Rule 26(f) Report must include completed Schedule Worksheet.
Hearings scheduled on Fridays at 1:30 PM.
Discovery cut-off date is last day for depositions, responses, and discovery motions.
Discovery adequacy motions must be filed early enough to obtain responses before cut-off.
Worksheet completion instructions for agreed/disagreed dates.
Trade secret cases require special identification procedures.
Trade secret identification statement must include numbered list, background, and secrecy efforts.
Trade secret identification must be filed and served within 60 days.
Parties may agree to a later deadline for trade secret identification.
Trade secret discovery cannot begin until identification is filed.
Continuance of Scheduling Conference requires good cause.
Court may issue Scheduling Order without conference based on Joint Rule 26(f) Report.
Lead trial counsel must attend Scheduling Conference unless excused for good cause.
Failure to submit Joint Rule 26(f) Report or attend Scheduling Conference may result in dismissal, default, or sanctions.
Counsel must provide Order to parties appearing after its date.
Counsel must deliver copy of Order to their clients.
Damages Contentions may not be amended without leave of court.
Parties must promptly file a Notice of Pendency of Other Action Involving Same Patent when they learn of related actions filed within two years by the same plaintiff.
All patent disclosures must be dated and signed by counsel, with signature certifying completeness and correctness.