**Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani** was appointed to the Central District of California by President Joe Biden in 2023. Almadani was born in 1979 in Los Angeles and raised in Huntington Park, California, the daughter of Mexican immigrant parents. She graduated from Huntington Park High School and earned her undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Harvard and her law degree from Stanford Law School. She clerked for Judge Warren Ferguson of the Ninth Circuit, then worked at the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project and in multiple roles at the Department of Justice including as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. She later served as a visiting clinical professor at UC Irvine School of Law and as President and CEO of Public Counsel before her federal appointment. **Education** - Stanford Law School, J.D., 2004 - Harvard University, B.A., 2001 (magna cum laude) **Career** - Law clerk, Judge Warren J. Ferguson, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2004–2005 - Equal Justice Works Fellow and staff attorney, ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project, San Francisco, 2005–2009 - Roles at U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, 2009–2015 (including Assistant U.S. Attorney, Central District of California, 2012–2015) - Special Assistant Attorney General, California (appointed by Attorney General Kamala Harris), 2015 - Special Counsel, Covington & Burling LLP, 2017–2019 - Visiting Clinical Law Professor and Co-Director, Immigrant Rights Clinic, UC Irvine School of Law, 2019–2021 - President and CEO, Public Counsel, 2021–2023 - U.S. District Judge, Central District of California, 2023–present
**Courthouse:** First Street U.S. Courthouse, 350 W. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 **Division:** Western Division (Los Angeles) **Chambers Staff** - Chambers Email: MRA_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov
Courtesy copies are required for witness lists. Details: 3 copies, delivery at exhibit conference, by hand delivery. Government counsel must provide 3 paper copies of the witness list to the CRD at the Exhibit Conference.
Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani's rules set a pre-motion procedure for covered motions. Counsel must meet and confer with opposing counsel to resolve issues before filing any motion.
Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani's rule states these limits: 10 pages; 10 pages. Motions in limine and oppositions are limited to 10 pages; reply briefs are prohibited.
Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani's rule states these limits: 1 pages. Joint Statement of the Case is limited to one page in length.
Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani's formatting rule includes original exhibits must have official or digital (per court forms g-14a/g-14b) exhibit tags attached, matching the number on the exhibit list, exhibits must be numbered sequentially as 1, 2, 3, etc. (no decimal numbering e.g. 1.1, 1.2), and enlarged exhibit copies (blow-ups) must be designated as the original exhibit number followed by 'a'.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Parties must jointly complete the pretrial dates worksheet and file it with the Joint Rule 26(f) Report.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Counsel must submit a joint proposed verdict form along with jury instructions.
Parties may contact Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email MRA_chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov. Counsel must submit jury instructions to the Chambers email address MRA_chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov.
Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Counsel must comply with Court website instructions and section one Electronic Filing and Mandatory Chambers Copies instructions for filings under seal.
Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani's rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. The request must include reason for request and proposed new dates. The pretrial schedule may only be modified for good cause and with the judge's consent.
Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Counsel must comply with Central District electronic filing General Orders and Local Rules, unless this Order supersedes them.
The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Government counsel must file a trial memorandum with specified content no later than 2 weeks before trial, and attempt to obtain defense counsel’s agreement on specified elements.
Parties must jointly complete the pretrial dates worksheet and file it with the Joint Rule 26(f) Report.
The pretrial schedule may only be modified for good cause and with the judge's consent.
Counsel must submit a joint proposed verdict form along with jury instructions.
Counsel must meet and confer with opposing counsel to resolve issues before filing any motion.
Pretrial motions and motions in limine must be filed 28 days before pretrial conference, with opposition 7 days after filing, reply 7 days after opposition (motions in limine reply require leave), and hearing by pretrial conference.
Counsel must comply with Central District electronic filing General Orders and Local Rules, unless this Order supersedes them.
Counsel seeking to hear a motion earlier than the Pretrial Conference should meet and confer to agree on an earlier briefing schedule.
Hearings on pretrial motions are held Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. unless the Court sets a different time.
Counsel must contact the Courtroom Deputy for a hearing date before filing non-pretrial/post-trial motions.
Counsel must meet and confer to resolve discovery disputes before filing a discovery motion.
Discovery motions must specifically state the request, basis, prior discovery request status, and opposing counsel's response.
Discovery motions filed without prior meet and confer with opposing counsel may be denied a hearing.
Counsel should obtain opposing counsel's agreement or position before filing ex parte applications, which are disfavored.
Counsel must comply with Court website instructions and section one Electronic Filing and Mandatory Chambers Copies instructions for filings under seal.
Counsel must promptly comply with discovery and notice requirements under Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 12, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 15, and 16.
Government counsel must immediately produce Brady evidence to defense counsel upon discovery.
Government counsel must disclose to defense counsel whether electronic surveillance evidence or informant testimony exists.
Government counsel must file a trial memorandum with specified content no later than 2 weeks before trial, and attempt to obtain defense counsel’s agreement on specified elements.
Trial memoranda must include a factual summary, statement of charges and elements, case length estimate, witness names, and legal/evidentiary issues discussion.
Government counsel must provide 3 paper copies of the witness list to the CRD at the Exhibit Conference.
Government counsel must send a Word-format electronic copy of the witness list to the Chambers email box.
Government counsel must provide 3 paper copies of the exhibit list (in the attached sample form) to the CRD at the Exhibit Conference.
Government original exhibits must be in three-ring binders with attached exhibit tags matching the exhibit list number, numbered sequentially (no decimals), with blow-ups designated as original number + 'A'; digital tags per Form G-14A/G-14B are allowed.
Defense counsel must affix completed exhibit tags containing the case name and number to all defense exhibits.
Defense counsel are preferred to deliver defense exhibits to the CRD on the first day of trial; delivery is required only if exhibits were previously provided to the government.
Defense counsel must provide two three-ring binders of exhibits if expecting to admit more than 20 exhibits, tabbed if possible.
Defense counsel must provide the defense witness list to the CRD and court reporter in both electronic and paper formats.
Disputed issue briefs during trial are highly encouraged to be no more than 5 pages.
Government counsel ordering transcripts must provide agency authorization to the court reporter when requesting.
Parties requesting special court reporter services must notify the reporter at least 2 weeks before the hearing.