Court Rules
district Judge
Verified Current8 days ago

Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr.

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Central District of California

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Motion In Limine
5 pgs
Objection To Report
10 pgs
Memorandum
25 pgs7,000 wds
Motion
5 pgs
Sentencing Memorandum
20 pgs
Reply Memorandum
10 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Filings (Pretrial Conference Document, Trial Document)

Required

Filings (Plea Agreement)

Required

Adjournments

Notice Required
14Calendar Days
Notice Required
2Calendar Days
Notice Required
14Weeks
Notice Required
2Weeks
Notice Required
10Calendar Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Proposed New Dates
Notice Required
0Business Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Affects Other Dates

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Number Of Previous Requests
  • 3
    Previous Requests Granted Or Denied
  • 4
    Emergency Nature
  • 5
    Affects Other Dates

Communication

Email

Chambers

SB Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov
Technical Issues
No Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

213-894-3061
Technical Issues
Letter Ecf

Chambers

Settlement
Advance Notice Required
Email

Chambers

Advance Notice Required
No Status Inquiries
Webpage

Chambers

Scheduling
No Hours
Meet And Confer

Opposing Counsel

Selecting New Magistrate Judge
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingCommunicationExhibitsTypographyMemorandaTRO/InjunctionProposed OrdersEmail Chambers

Detailed Drafting Rules

Communication ProtocolMandatory

Email chambers with specific attachments for sealing request.

After electronically filing the application and proof of service, send an email to SB Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov containing the subject line “Under Seal Request in Case No. ” and the following attachments: (1) a PDF version of the application to seal and declaration giving notice or a proof of service; (2) a Word version of the proposed order (including the proposed action to be taken if the application is denied, see above); and (3) a PDF version of the document(s) to be filed under seal with a caption page clearly marked “UNDER SEAL.” The subject line of the email should have the case number, plus the words “UNDER SEAL REQUEST.”

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Email chambers with attachments for sealing request.

Send an email to SB Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov containing the subject line “Under Seal Request in Case No. _______” and the following attachments: (1) a PDF version of the application to seal and declaration giving notice or a proof of service; (2) a Word version of the proposed order (including the proposed action to be taken if the application is denied); and (3) a PDF version of the document(s) to be filed under seal with a caption page, clearly marked “UNDER SEAL.”

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page or Word LimitMandatory

JMIL page limits: 5 pages for moving portion, 5 pages for opposing portion, 3 pages for reply portion.

Page Limits. Five pages for the moving portion; five pages for the opposing portion; and three pages for the reply portion.

Communication ProtocolNote

Court provides trial technology; training reservations via phone.

The Court has equipment available for use during trial. Details are posted on the Court’s website. To make reservations for training, call the Courtroom Technology Help Desk at 213-894-3061.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Document RequirementMandatory

Testimony must be bracketed in margins; opposing party must counter-designate.

Identify on the original transcript the testimony the party intends to offer by bracketing the questions and answers in the margins. The opposing party shall likewise counter-designate any testimony it plans to offer.

Document Type

Deposition

Content & Formatting
Bracketing
Counter Designation
Page 17
|SecDepositions
Document RequirementMandatory

Objections must be identified in margins with grounds and responses.

Identify any objections to the proffered evidence in the margins of the deposition transcript by briefly providing the ground for the objection and the response to the objection.

Document Type

Deposition

Content & Formatting
Objections
Page 17
|SecDepositions
Communication ProtocolImportant

Late settlement notice may result in sanctions and release of tentative ruling.

A belated settlement notice wastes scarce judicial resources and will subject the offending parties to sanctions—and it may also result in the release of the tentative ruling.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Settlement
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    two weeks before scheduled hearing
Communication ProtocolImportant

CRD inquiries limited to email only, copied to all parties; no status or procedure questions.

Counsel shall not contact the courtroom deputy clerk (CRD) to inquire about (1) the status of a pending matter or (2) court procedure addressed in the Local Rules and the Court’s standing orders. Any appropriate inquiry directed to the CRD must be by email only, copied to all parties.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Status InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    copied_to_all_parties
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolImportant

Email requests for relief must be filed properly, not via email.

Email requests for relief that should be filed on

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Format RequirementMandatory

14-point Times New Roman font required; footnotes separated by 12-point spacing.

iv. Format. Use only 14-point Times New Roman font, including for footnotes. Footnotes shall be separated by 12-point spacing.

Typography
Font FamilyTimes New Roman
Size14 pt
Document RequirementMandatory

Citations to treatises/manuals must include volume, section, and pages; attach copies if not on Westlaw.

v. Treatises, Manuals, and the Like. Citations to treatises, manuals, and other materials should include the volume, section, and relevant pages. Attach copies if these materials are not accessible on Westlaw, especially for historical materials (e.g., older legislative history).

Document Type

Brief

Content & Formatting
Attach Copies

[object Object]

Treatise Citations

[object Object]

Page or Word LimitMandatory

Objections and responses to objections limited to 10 pages.

Objections to a magistrate judge’s report and recommendation, as well as responses to objections, shall be limited to 10 pages absent leave of court.

Communication ProtocolNote

Tentative rulings posted by 6:00 p.m. the day before hearing.

Tentative rulings will be made available on Judge Blumenfeld’s webpage the afternoon before the hearing by 6:00 p.m.

Webpage

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Prohibited
  • Hours
    afternoon before hearing by 6:00 p.m.
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Settlement discussions must be reported 2 weeks before hearing; immediate notice if settled.

Counsel must notify the Court at least two weeks before the scheduled hearing if the parties are conducting settlement discussions that may render the motion moot and must notify the Court immediately if a settlement is reached.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Settlement
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    two weeks before scheduled hearing
Communication ProtocolImportant

Parties must meet and confer to select new magistrate judge if original becomes unavailable.

If the magistrate judge to whom the parties have consented becomes unavailable after the case has been referred, the parties shall meet and confer in good faith to select another magistrate judge on the Voluntary Consent List to preside over the case.

Meet And Confer

Direct to: Opposing Counsel

Approved Topics
Selecting New Magistrate Judge
Page 20
|SecConsent to Magistrate Judge
Document RequirementMandatory

Witness list must include full names, DOB for common names, descriptions, and bold government witnesses.

The parties shall identify all potential witnesses, using full names—including middle names and dates of birth for common names—listed in alphabetical order by surname. The list should include a brief one-to-two sentence description of the testimony the witness will offer. Use bold font to identify the witnesses the government likely will call. The witness list should include all potential witnesses, as the names of witnesses will be read to the jury panel. If the defense objects to identifying a potential witness (not already on the government’s list), the objection must be raised at the PTC.

Document Type

Witness List

Content & Formatting
Full Names
Dates Of Birth
Alphabetical Order
Testimony Descriptions
Government Witnesses Bold
Document RequirementMandatory

Exhibit list must include all government exhibits numbered 1,2,3 with no subparts and full admissibility.

The government shall provide a copy of the exhibit list (numbered “1, 2, 3”). The list should contain every exhibit the government anticipates using at trial. The number of any exhibit identified at the PTC shall be the number used at trial—and shall not be changed absent leave of court. The list should include defense exhibits to the extent the defense does not object to disclosure. Every exhibit should be numbered separately without subparts. Each exhibit must be presented in a form that will allow it to be admitted in its entirety. A party generally may not move for the admission of a part or subset of an exhibit (e.g., pages one through four of a ten-page exhibit).

Document Type

Exhibit List

Content & Formatting
Full Admissibility
Separate Numbering
All Government Exhibits
Defense Exhibits If No Objection
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Sentencing memoranda limited to 20 pages (14 days before hearing or 7 days for expedited sentencing).

At least 14 days before the sentencing hearing (or seven days before an expedited sentencing), each party shall file a sentencing memorandum that does not exceed 20 pages, excluding indices and exhibits.

Page 11
|SecSENTENCING
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Reply memoranda limited to 10 pages (14 days before hearing or 4 days for expedited sentencing).

at least 14 days before the sentencing hearing (or four days before an expedited sentencing) and shall not exceed 10 pages, excluding indices and exhibits.

Page 12
|SecSENTENCING

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