Central District of California Local Rules and Judge Filing Requirements

Ex parte applications must comply with Local Rules 7-19/7-19.1 and include opposing counsel’s position, absent specific good cause.

Plaintiff must promptly serve the complaint and file proof of service.

Stipulation of factual basis for open plea due 7 days before hearing.

Discovery-related documents must include "DISCOVERY MATTER" in the caption.

Plaintiff's counsel must serve this order on all parties immediately.

For documentary evidence between 50 and 200 pages, it must be separately bound, tabbed, and indexed.

Case citations must use Bluebook format with pinpoint citations.

Counsel must ensure witness returns to stand after recess or adjournment.

Times New Roman minimum 14pt, Courier minimum 12pt.

Electronic filings must be PDF created from word-processing files, not scanned images.

Appropriate inquiries should be directed to the Courtroom Deputy Clerk by phone at (714) 338-4543.

Hearing dates generally need not be cleared in advance, except summary judgment and preliminary injunction motions must be cleared with the courtroom deputy clerk before filing.

Parties must notify Courtroom Deputy Clerk 14 days before sentencing if not filing brief.

All discovery matters are referred to the assigned Magistrate Judge.

Communications with chambers are permitted.

Date changes are disfavored, trial dates are firm, and the Court may advance trial by up to two weeks.

Continuances are disfavored, and trial dates are firm and rarely changed.

Continuance requests must be made at least 7 days before hearing.

Continuance or extension requests must be filed electronically.

Motion for review must be filed within 10 days of magistrate judge's ruling.

Entirely sealed filings are not permitted unless the application shows redaction is infeasible.

Sealed filings are permitted.

Sealed filings require Court approval and compliance with Local Rule 79-5.2.2(a).

Protective orders must be submitted to Magistrate Judge and cannot allow sealing without further Court order.

Sealed submissions must follow Judge Blumenfeld's pilot program procedures on his webpage.

Opposition to summary judgment must be filed at least 5 weeks before hearing.

Counsel must hold a pre-filing meet-and-confer under Local Rule 7-3 before motion practice.

Pre-filing conference required to discuss motion substance and potential resolution.

Emergency relief requests must comply with FRCP 65 and Local Rules 7-19 and 65.

Ex parte applications allowed only for extraordinary relief; misuse may result in sanctions.

Status Report Regarding Settlement must be filed 21 calendar days before the Final Pretrial Conference (FPTC).

Within 30 days of settlement notice, submit agreed final order/judgment or file motion to reopen; failure to do so results in dismissal with prejudice.

Opposition/reply papers due on a holiday are due the preceding Friday.

Form pleadings in removed actions must be revised to comply with FRCP 7-11 and filed within 30 calendar days of receipt of the Notice of Removal.

Joint Rule 26(f) Report must be filed no later than 14 calendar days before the scheduling conference.

Mandatory chambers copies of discovery-related papers must be delivered to the assigned Magistrate Judge, not this Court.

Chambers courtesy copies are required.

Contact magistrate judge's clerk for scheduling; no courtesy copies to district court.

One chambers copy required for specific document types.

Courtesy/chambers copies are no longer required and should not be sent.

Short briefs (max 5 pages) addressing disputed issues are welcome.

Memoranda limited to 7,000 words or 25 pages for handwritten/typewriter briefs.

Motion memoranda limited to 25 pages; replies limited to 12 pages.

Motion memoranda limited to 25 pages; replies limited to 12 pages.

Motion memoranda limited to 25 pages; replies limited to 15 pages.

Unmarked proposed findings must be submitted to the Chambers email address in Word or WordPerfect format at the time of filing.

Notice of Lodging of Consent Form with attached Form CV-11D must be e-filed as a proposed document per Local Rule 5-4.4.

Motions, oppositions, replies, and supporting documents (except physical exhibits) must be electronically filed as attachments to the corresponding brief.

Counsel must electronically file all filings; non-signature items and proposed orders must be text-searchable PDF, with proposed orders attached to main documents.

Counsel must comply with Central District electronic filing General Orders and Local Rules, unless this Order supersedes them.

Requests for admissions and related documents must be served early enough to allow motion practice on deficient responses before discovery cut-off.

Plaintiffs must serve the complaint per FRCP 4 and file proofs of service as required by Local Rules.

Motions to join parties or amend pleadings must be served within 15 calendar days of the date of this order.

Plaintiff's counsel must immediately serve this Standing Order on all parties; removing defendant must serve all parties if case removed from state court.

Plaintiff must file proof of service within 3 calendar days after serving the complaint or any amendment thereto.

Cross-motions on same issues prohibited; parties must meet and confer to determine single moving party.

Cross-motions for summary judgment should use 3-brief or 4-brief approach instead of separate motions to avoid overburdening the Court.

Joint brief required for all MSJs from all moving parties.

Related materials with mixed sealing status must be filed as single docket entry with multiple attachments.

No final pretrial conference or trial until all parties complete ADR.

Junior lawyers (under 5 years experience) may increase likelihood of oral argument if noted in bold/underline.

Junior counsel encouraged to participate; notice 7 days before hearing increases likelihood of oral argument.

Court encourages junior counsel (5 years or less experience) to participate in proceedings

Court encourages participation of less experienced or diverse lawyers in trial and FPTC

Junior lawyers (under 7 years) may increase likelihood of oral argument.