Central District of California Filing Rules
5457 individual rules extracted from judicial documents in CDCA
These rules are extracted from individual judges' practices, standing orders, and policies published by the Central District of California. They supplement the court's local rules and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Requirements vary significantly between judges in the same district, so always verify the specific rules for your assigned judge.
- Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett
Confidential Addendum must be delivered directly to Magistrate Judge Pearson.
- Judge Michelle Williams Court
Joint Rule 26(f) Report due 7 days after meet-and-confer and 14 days before scheduling conference.
- Judge David O. Carter
Counsel must list email addresses and phone numbers on their papers.
- Judge Anne Hwang
Stipulation of factual basis for open plea due 7 days before hearing.
- Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald
Pro se representation rules: individuals may represent themselves, but corporations, associations, partners, and shareholders must have counsel.
- Judge Anne Hwang
Caption titles must include defendant names based on applicability to all or specific defendants.
- Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett
Joint Appendix of Facts must have exactly 4 columns.
- Judge Sunshine S. Sykes
Motions in limine require three-ring binder with specific formatting.
- Judge Cynthia Valenzuela
Specific formatting requirements for each jury instruction.
- Judge Hernán D. Vera
In camera documents must be labeled “in camera” on first page and suggested on every page.
- Judge Michelle Williams Court
Scheduling conferences are in-person by default; Zoom requests require 7-day advance filing with good cause declaration and meet-and-confer certification.
- Judge David O. Carter
Parties must appear in person for all court appearances; telephonic appearances are not permitted.
- Judge Anne Hwang
Parties must notify Courtroom Deputy Clerk 14 days before sentencing if not filing brief.
- Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett
Remote appearances require good cause and application.
- Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald
Parties must not communicate with judge without opposing counsel present.
- Judge Michelle Williams Court
Discovery adequacy motions must be filed early enough to obtain responses before cut-off.
- Judge David O. Carter
Court strongly disfavors date changes; continuances require detailed explanation with compelling factual support; stipulations are not effective until court orders.
- Judge Anne Hwang
Continuance requests must be made at least 7 days before hearing.
- Judge Sunshine S. Sykes
Good cause required for continuance motions.
- Judge Josephine L. Staton
Class certification motion timing: 3 weeks reply-hearing, 4 weeks opposition, 2 weeks reply.
- Judge Michelle Williams Court
Trade secret cases require special identification procedures.
- Judge David O. Carter
Sealing requires showing good cause for non-dispositive motions and compelling reasons for dispositive motions.
- Judge Hernán D. Vera
Grant requires filing unredacted document under seal with specific label.
- Judge Dolly M. Gee
Application, proposed order, redacted documents, and docket entry are public; declaration and sealed documents are not.
- Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha
Procedure exists for filings under seal.
- Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett
Meet and confer required 60 days before motion hearing cutoff for MSJs.
- Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald
Opposition to motion must be filed 21 days before hearing date.
- Judge Sunshine S. Sykes
Lead trial counsel must meet and confer in person 6 weeks before FPTC.
- Judge Cynthia Valenzuela
Pre-filing conference required for motions under Local Rule 7-3, must be in person/phone/video, not written.
- Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha
Pre-filing meet and confer requirement exists for motions.
- Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett
Settlement Conference Statements must be double-spaced and not exceed 10 pages.
- Judge Michelle Williams Court
Trade secret identification must be filed and served within 60 days.
- Judge Anne Hwang
Trial memorandum due 14 days before Final Pretrial Conference.
- Judge Sunshine S. Sykes
Motions in limine and oppositions limited to 10 pages.
- Judge Josephine L. Staton
Statement of Case limited to 2 pages.
- Judge Michelle Williams Court
Courtesy chambers copies of electronically filed Joint Rule 26(f) Reports are discouraged.
- Judge Anne Hwang
Chambers copies must be delivered by 12:00 p.m. on the court day following filing.
- Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett
One paper copy of all MSJ filings required for chambers (pro se exempt).
- Judge Sunshine S. Sykes
Joint trial binder must be delivered to Courtesy Box by 5:00 PM on trial filing due date.
- Judge Consuelo B. Marshall
Joint status statement with courtesy copy required by Friday before status conference
- Judge Michelle Williams Court
Court may issue Scheduling Order without conference based on Joint Rule 26(f) Report.
- Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett
Joint brief required for all MSJs from all moving parties.
- Judge Cynthia Valenzuela
Three-ring binders required for trial exhibits with 3 sets (1 original for jury, 2 copies for court)
- Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha
Multiple summary judgment motions or exceeding page/word limits requires leave of court with good cause showing.
- Judge Josephine L. Staton
Each party is limited to one summary judgment motion per case.
- Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha
Junior lawyers (under 5 years) may increase likelihood of oral argument if noted in bold/underline.
- Judge Wesley L. Hsu
Court encourages lead counsel to allow junior lawyers (5 or fewer years out of law school) to participate in proceedings.
- Judge Sunshine S. Sykes
Court encourages providing hearing opportunities to junior or diverse lawyers who contributed to the case.
- Judge Hernán D. Vera
Court encourages providing opportunities for less experienced and diverse lawyers.
- Judge Otis D. Wright II
Court may dispense with oral argument; encourages junior lawyers to present oral arguments