Court Rules
Senior Judge

Judge M. James Lorenz

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Rules last changed:
Southern District of California

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Courtesy copies

  • Hand Delivery

Communication

Phone

Chambers

Scheduling
Cases:
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingJuryExhibitsBinders/TabsCourtesy CopiesProposed OrdersTRO/InjunctionCourtroom Conduct

Page & Word Limits1 rule

Page LimitsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(c), class certification motions should be determined "at an early practicable time after" a putative class action is filed. Accordingly, any motions for class certification shall be filed no later than 60 calendar days before the motion cut-off date set by the Magistrate Judge in the case management order.

Summary: Class certification motions must be filed 60 days before motion cut-off date.

Structured details unavailable. See the source text.

Document Format Requirements2 rules

FormattingCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

If a pleading has more than 3 (three) exhibits, the exhibits must be tabbed.

Summary: Exhibits must be tabbed if more than 3.

Applies When:Page Threshold > 3
Layout & Binding
Binding Style
Tabbed
FormattingCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

The pages of each pleading must be firmly bound at the top. In no event shall a courtesy copy of a pleading be delivered unbound.

Summary: Courtesy copies must be bound at the top.

Layout & Binding
Binding Style
Bound On Top

Document Filing Requirements7 rules

Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

All extraneous information (i.e., attorney and firm name, headers, footers and watermarks) must be removed from the proposed order.

Summary: Proposed orders must remove extraneous information.

Document Type

Proposed Order

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCriminal cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Government counsel must provide a list of exhibits and give it to the Courtroom Deputy Clerk on the first day of trial. All exhibits must be pre-marked on the first day of trial. Exhibit stickers may be obtained from the Clerk of the Court or from the Courtroom Deputy Clerk, in advance of trial.

Summary: Government must provide exhibit list and pre-mark all exhibits on first day of trial.

Document Type

Exhibits

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCriminal cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

The Court prefers to use the Model Jury Instructions for the Ninth Circuit whenever possible. However, the Court will accept other proposed jury instruction(s) as the need arises, but counsel must cite the authority supporting the proposed instruction(s). Any proposed instruction from statutory authority or the Ninth Circuit Model Instructions must state specifically the modification and the authority supporting the modification.

Summary: Court prefers Ninth Circuit Model Instructions; other instructions require authority citation and specific modifications.

Document Type

Jury Instructions

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCriminal cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

Before the case is submitted to the jury, the Court will provide each party with the jury instructions the Court intends to use. It is each party’s responsibility to carefully review the instructions and make suggestions to the Court if modifications seem necessary.

Summary: Parties must review and suggest modifications to jury instructions before submission to jury.

Document Type

Jury Instructions

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCriminal cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

Supplemental instructions must be filed as soon as the need for the instruction becomes apparent.

Summary: Supplemental jury instructions must be filed promptly when needed.

Document Type

Jury Instructions

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCriminal cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?

The parties are encouraged to submit proposed jury instructions to the Court no later than the first day of trial, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.

Summary: Proposed jury instructions encouraged by first day of trial.

Document Type

Jury Instructions

Content & Formatting
Proposed Order
Filing RequirementsCriminal cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?

In general, criminal trials are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., beginning on Tuesdays (civil trials may be more flexible. Jury deliberations proceed from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Court will notify the parties of deviations from this schedule and when possible will attempt to accommodate jurors, witnesses and counsel, should conflicts arise.

Summary: Criminal trials generally run 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., starting Tuesdays.

Document Type

Trial Schedule

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.

Filing & Service rules

Courtesy Copy Requirements

Courtesy copies required for filings over 20 pages.

Courtesy copies of filings exceeding 20 pages shall be delivered directly to chambers.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | Courtesy Copies

Filing Bundling Requirements

Multiple parties should coordinate/consolidate briefing for same relief.

If multiple parties are moving for substantially the same relief, or opposing a motion seeking substantially the same relief sought against them, noticed for the same hearing date, counsel shall make every effort to coordinate and consolidate the briefing or use the notice of joinder procedure so as to avoid duplication in briefing.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 2 | Motion Briefing

Multiple motions by same party must be bundled.

When the same party is noticing multiple motions for the same hearing date, the motions must be briefed together in one memorandum of points and authorities.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 2 | Motion Briefing

Multiple parties moving for same relief should coordinate hearing dates.

If multiple parties are moving for substantially the same relief, they shall make every effort to obtain the same hearing date for their motions.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 2 | Motion Briefing

Chambers Communication Rules

Contact chambers well in advance if filing cross-motion to summary judgment.

If upon being served with a summary judgment motion an opposing party determines that it intends to file a cross-motion, the party must contact chambers well in advance of the due date for the opposition to the first-filed summary judgment motion.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 3 | Summary Judgment Motions and Cross-Motions

About Senior United States District Judge M. James Lorenz

**Senior District Judge M. James Lorenz** was appointed to the Southern District of California by President William J. Clinton in 1999. Judge Lorenz was born in 1935 in Pasadena, California. He was nominated on March 8, 1999, confirmed by the Senate on October 1, 1999, and received his commission on October 5, 1999, filling the seat vacated by Rudi M. Brewster. He assumed senior status on October 25, 2009. **Education** - California Western School of Law, J.D., 1965 - University of California, Berkeley, B.A., 1957 **Career** - Deputy District Attorney, San Diego County (1966–1978) - Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of California (1978–1981); First Assistant U.S. Attorney (1978–1980); Court-Appointed U.S. Attorney (1980–1981) - Private practice, San Diego (1982–1999)

**Courthouse:** James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep U.S. Courthouse, 333 W. Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101 **Phone:** (619) 557-5600 (Court main line) **Note:** Senior Judge — no courtroom deputy or court reporter listed in public directory.

Common questions about Judge M. James Lorenz's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge M. James Lorenz?

Details: by hand delivery. Courtesy copies required for filings over 20 pages.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Courtesy Copies

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge M. James Lorenz?

Judge M. James Lorenz's formatting rule includes binding bound on top. Courtesy copies must be bound at the top.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Courtesy Copies

What must be included with proposed order filings before Judge M. James Lorenz?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Proposed orders must remove extraneous information.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Proposed Orders

What must be included with jury instructions filings before Judge M. James Lorenz?

The rule requires authority citation, modification specification, and jury instructions. Court prefers Ninth Circuit Model Instructions; other instructions require authority citation and specific modifications.

How may parties contact Judge M. James Lorenz's chambers?

The rule addresses phone communications with Judge M. James Lorenz's chambers. Contact chambers well in advance if filing cross-motion to summary judgment.

View ruleSource: page 3, section Summary Judgment Motions and Cross-Motions

Does Judge M. James Lorenz require motion papers to be bundled?

Yes. Judge M. James Lorenz requires bundling for covered papers. Multiple motions by same party must be bundled.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Motion Briefing
Complete rules summary for Judge M. James Lorenz

Courtesy copies must be bound at the top.

Exhibits must be tabbed if more than 3.

Multiple motions by same party must be bundled.

Multiple parties moving for same relief should coordinate hearing dates.

Courtesy copies required for filings over 20 pages.

Multiple parties should coordinate/consolidate briefing for same relief.

Proposed orders must remove extraneous information.

Class certification motions must be filed 60 days before motion cut-off date.

Contact chambers well in advance if filing cross-motion to summary judgment.

Proposed jury instructions encouraged by first day of trial.

Supplemental jury instructions must be filed promptly when needed.

Court prefers Ninth Circuit Model Instructions; other instructions require authority citation and specific modifications.

Parties must review and suggest modifications to jury instructions before submission to jury.

Government must provide exhibit list and pre-mark all exhibits on first day of trial.

Criminal trials generally run 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., starting Tuesdays.

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