Court Rules
district Judge
Verified Current21 hours ago

Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo

Southern District of California

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Filings (Motion)

Required

Filings

Not Required

Filings (All filings)

Required

Adjournments

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Original Date
  • 3
    Proposed Rescheduled Date
  • 4
    Grounds For Continuance
Notice Required
7Calendar Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Proposed Rescheduled Date

Communication

Letter Ecf

Chambers

No Status Inquiries
Letter Fax

Chambers

Advance Notice Required
No Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

(619) 557-6901
Technical Issues
No Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

Advance Notice Required
No Status Inquiries
Email

Chambers

Technical Issues
Advance Notice Required
No Status Inquiries
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingCommunicationElectronicsLettersTypographyExhibitsECF FilingBinders/Tabs

Detailed Drafting Rules

Communication ProtocolMandatory

Only counsel or pro se litigants may call chambers; calls from support staff or represented parties are prohibited.

Telephone calls to Chambers are rarely appropriate. Such calls may only be made by counsel or pro se litigants with knowledge of the case. Calls from secretaries, legal assistants, paralegals, or parties represented by counsel are prohibited.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    knowledge_of_case
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecI. COMMUNICATIONS WITH CHAMBERS
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Letters/faxes/emails to chambers are prohibited unless requested; if requested, max 3 pages, 12pt font, served on all counsel.

Letters, faxes or emails to Chambers are prohibited unless specifically requested by the Court. If letters, faxes or emails are requested, copies of the same must be simultaneously delivered to all counsel and, absent prior approval by Chambers, must not exceed three pages in length, using twelve-point font.

Letter Fax

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    court_request
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecI. COMMUNICATIONS WITH CHAMBERS
Communication ProtocolImportant

Parties should not contact chambers for motion hearing dates.

Parties should not contact chambers for a motion hearing date.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    never
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecII. MOTIONS
Format RequirementMandatory

Exhibits must be excerpted, labeled, dated, tabbed, indexed; do not include documents already on docket.

All exhibits submitted in support of motions should be excerpted to include only relevant material. All exhibits must be clearly labeled, dated, tabbed, and indexed. Copies of documents already contained on the electronic docket will not be included as exhibits. Such documents should be cited in the text of the motion as [Doc. No. ___ at ___] referencing the docket number of the document cited and using the ECF generated page number for pinpoint cites.

Applies When:Document Type Set Undefined
Layout & Binding
Binding Style
Tabbed
Page 2
|SecII. MOTIONS
Format RequirementNote

Use WESTLAW citations when available; provide copies for cases not in WESTLAW/LEXIS.

For cases not assigned to a reporter for publication, WESTLAW citations should be given, if available. Citations to cases not available in WESTLAW or LEXIS should be accompanied by copies of the cases cited.

Applies When:Document Type Set Undefined
Page 2
|SecII. MOTIONS
Communication ProtocolNote

For technical motions, email list of technical terms/names to chambers one week before hearing.

For technical motions (especially in patent cases), one week prior to the motion hearing, the parties will send an email to chambers (but do not file) with a list of pertinent technical terms and/or proper names, the purpose of which is to assist the court reporter in the transcription of the hearing.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    one_week_before_hearing
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecII. MOTIONS