**District Judge Andrew G. Schopler** was appointed to the Southern District of California by President Joseph R. Biden in 2023. Judge Schopler was born in 1971 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He was nominated on January 23, 2023, confirmed by the Senate on March 7, 2023, and received his commission on March 10, 2023, filling the seat vacated by Larry Alan Burns. Prior to his district court appointment, he served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of California from 2016 to 2023 and serves as a Major in the California Army National Guard. **Education** - Harvard Law School, J.D., 1997 - Dartmouth College, B.A., 1994 **Career** - Private practice, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (1997–1998, 1998–2004) - Assistant Public Defender, Hillsborough, North Carolina (1998) - Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of California (2004–2016); Deputy Chief, Major Frauds and Special Prosecutions Section (2014–2016) - U.S. Magistrate Judge, Southern District of California (2016–2023) - Major, California Army National Guard (2014–present)
**Courthouse:** James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep U.S. Courthouse, 333 W. Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101 **Chambers:** Courtroom 5C **Phone:** (619) 557-6480 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: L. Cervantes, (619) 557-6703 - Court Reporter: J. Pence, (619) 587-0173
Judge Andrew G. Schopler's rules set a pre-motion procedure for motion in limines, trial briefs, verdict forms, jury instructions, and voir dire questions. Before filing motions in limine, trial briefs, proposed verdict forms, proposed jury instructions, or proposed voir dire questions, counsel must meet and confer face to face (in person or by videoconference); phone, email, or written correspondence does not satisfy the requirement absent court leave.
Judge Andrew G. Schopler's rule states these limits: 5 pages. Each party limited to 5 sentencing letters.
Judge Andrew G. Schopler's formatting rule includes file format docx and microsoft word or similar digital version. Proposed jury instructions, verdict forms, and voir dire questions must be provided to chambers in Microsoft Word or a similar digital format.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A party seeking to exclude time under the Speedy Trial Act on 'ends of justice' grounds must file a motion setting forth specific facts justifying the exclusion based on the required statutory factors (18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(B)).
The rule requires certificate of conference. The filing party must include a certification or declaration documenting that the meet-and-confer requirement was satisfied, including the date of the meeting.
Parties may contact Judge Andrew G. Schopler's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email efile_schopler@casd.uscourts.gov. Parties must email chambers a Microsoft Word or similar digital version of proposed jury instructions, verdict forms, and voir dire questions.
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Andrew G. Schopler. Before filing a motion to seal, parties must meet and confer on the narrowest sealing order, mark provisionally sealed redactions per Rule 2, and explain in table format the particularized grounds for each redaction, or the motion will be summarily denied.
Requests should be made at least 2 business days in advance when this rule applies before Judge Andrew G. Schopler. Continuance requests must be filed or emailed to the courtroom deputy by close of business two court days before the hearing (oral motions generally denied), with late-breaking emergencies raised as soon as possible along with an explanation of the exigency.
The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Notices and evidence disclosures (including FRE 404(b)/609(b) notices, expert reports, and FRCrP 12.1 alibi-defense demands) are due 35 days before the motions in limine hearing, unless otherwise ordered.
Contact the Courtroom Deputy by email at lilliana_cervantes@casd.uscourts.gov for trial/hearing procedure matters.
For docketing and CM/ECF matters, contact the Clerk's Office at (619) 557-5600, the CM/ECF Helpline at (866) 233-7983, or the CM/ECF Helpdesk at ecfhelp@casd.uscourts.gov.
Continuance requests must be filed or emailed to the courtroom deputy by close of business two court days before the hearing (oral motions generally denied), with late-breaking emergencies raised as soon as possible along with an explanation of the exigency.
A party seeking to exclude time under the Speedy Trial Act on 'ends of justice' grounds must file a motion setting forth specific facts justifying the exclusion based on the required statutory factors (18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(B)).
Parties relying on transcripts or A/V exhibits must provide them to the other side well before the court appearance to meet and confer on redactions, and any disputed redactions must be marked using the specified methods when seeking a court ruling.
Before filing a motion to seal, parties must meet and confer on the narrowest sealing order, mark provisionally sealed redactions per Rule 2, and explain in table format the particularized grounds for each redaction, or the motion will be summarily denied.
A party wishing to use electronic or A/V equipment in court must lodge a proposed order seeking leave at least seven days before the court appearance.
The proposed order for A/V equipment must itemize all equipment and proposed court-use dates, and the signed order must be shown to security personnel when equipment is brought into the courthouse.
Notices and evidence disclosures (including FRE 404(b)/609(b) notices, expert reports, and FRCrP 12.1 alibi-defense demands) are due 35 days before the motions in limine hearing, unless otherwise ordered.
Motions in limine are due 21 days before the motions in limine hearing, unless otherwise ordered.
Responses to motions in limine are due 7 days before the motions in limine hearing, unless otherwise ordered.
Trial briefs, proposed verdict forms, proposed jury instructions, and proposed voir dire questions are due 4 days before the motions in limine hearing, unless otherwise ordered.
Before filing motions in limine, trial briefs, proposed verdict forms, proposed jury instructions, or proposed voir dire questions, counsel must meet and confer face to face (in person or by videoconference); phone, email, or written correspondence does not satisfy the requirement absent court leave.
The filing party must include a certification or declaration documenting that the meet-and-confer requirement was satisfied, including the date of the meeting.
Parties must discuss the meet-and-confer conference and the type of meeting (in person, videoconference, or other court-approved type).
Redaction/excerpt issues for trial must be discussed during meet-and-confer; unresolved disputes must be resolved through a motion in limine.
Disputes over exhibits in opening statements must be resolved through a motion in limine after meet-and-confer.
All parties must submit proposed jury instructions, verdict forms, and voir dire questions; the government must identify jointly proposed items, and the defense need not file if it requests nothing beyond the joint submissions.
Parties must email chambers a Microsoft Word or similar digital version of proposed jury instructions, verdict forms, and voir dire questions.
Proposed jury instructions, verdict forms, and voir dire questions must be provided to chambers in Microsoft Word or a similar digital format.
Each party may submit no more than five sentencing letters; additional letters may go to the Probation Office for summarization or be summarized in sentencing memoranda.
Continuance requests must be filed 2 court days before hearing; emergencies require immediate explanation.
Speedy Trial Act exclusions require specific factual justification.
Email digital versions of jury instructions, verdict forms, and voir dire questions to chambers.
Peremptory strikes must be submitted simultaneously in writing, double-blind.
Each party limited to 5 sentencing letters.
Continuance requests must be submitted by close of business two court days before the hearing, with emergency requests filed as soon as possible and explaining the exigency.
Chambers provides an email contact through the courtroom deputy for trial and hearing procedure communications.
The Clerk’s Office provides a CM/ECF helpline phone number for CM/ECF-related assistance.
Parties must meet and confer before filing a sealing motion and seek the narrowest possible sealing order.