Southern District of California Local Rules and Judge Filing Requirements
Filing requirements from individual practices, standing orders, and published court policies for Southern District of California
Federal court local rules are only the first layer. These filing requirements come from individual judges' practices, standing orders, and policies published by the Southern District of California. They supplement the district local rules and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Requirements vary significantly between judges in the same district, so always verify the specific rules for your assigned judge.
- Senior Judge Anthony J. Battaglia
Rule 34 responses are due 30 days after Rule 26(f) conference.
- Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks
Witness and exhibit lists must be filed 7 days before trial.
- Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard
The joint case management statement must detail all requested relief and damages calculations, including the responding party’s damages-calculation basis if liability is found.
- Judge Andrew G. Schopler
Jurisdiction retention allowed with specific consent and language.
- Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro
Email jury instructions in Word format to specified court email address.
- Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks
Parties should not contact chambers to obtain a motion hearing date.
- Senior Judge Anthony J. Battaglia
Jury must convene at 9:00 AM daily, met by bailiff.
- Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard
If a scheduled court date is imminent, counsel must contact chambers to advise of the settlement.
- Judge James E. Simmons, Jr.
Telephonic/video appearances require emailing Courtroom Deputy at least 3 court days before hearing.
- Judge Linda Lopez
Ex parte request required for leave of court.
- Judge Andrew G. Schopler
Failure to comply with meet-and-confer results in denial.
- Senior Judge Anthony J. Battaglia
Ex parte motions decided without hearing
- Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro
Party seeking amendment must provide proposed amended pleading and explanation to opposing counsel.
- Judge James E. Simmons, Jr.
Briefing schedule must follow Civil Local Rule 7.1(e) unless Court orders otherwise.
- Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks
The Court may hear temporary restraining orders ex parte only in extraordinary circumstances.
- Senior Judge Anthony J. Battaglia
Court may order multiple concurrent examinations of different types.
- Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks
Continuance requests must be made via joint or unopposed motion.
- Magistrate Judge Barbara L. Major
Conference call must cover dispute details, positions, meet and confer efforts, relief sought, and filing timeline.
- Magistrate Judge Michelle M. Pettit
Meet and confer required before filing discovery disputes.
- Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard
Continuance requests must state prior requests, show good cause, explain opposition, and disclose effects on case-management dates.
- Senior Judge Anthony J. Battaglia
Broad allegations without specifics don't satisfy Rule 26(c) test.
- Judge James E. Simmons, Jr.
Public redacted version required alongside sealed filing.
- Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks
Court records have presumptive public access right; sealing limited to documents/portions necessary to protect sensitive personal or confidential information.
- Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro
Motion to seal must describe which documents/categories to seal and whether in full or part.
- Judge Andrew G. Schopler
Materials submitted with a sealing motion must be marked for redaction in the provisionally sealed version.
- Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro
Hard-copy exhibits may not be passed among jurors during trial.
- Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks
Discs are not accepted for audio and video exhibits submitted to the jury.
- Judge James E. Simmons, Jr.
Trial schedule is 9 AM - 4 PM, Monday-Thursday, with breaks.
- Judge Todd W. Robinson
A binder of exhibits must be provided for the bench.
- Judge Jinsook Ohta
Proposed orders must be in Word (.doc) format.
- Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks
Missing the sentencing filing deadlines results in a continuance unless counsel is prepared to waive consideration of the late submissions.
- Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard
If the plea agreement is not timely submitted, the change of plea will be removed from calendar and rescheduled absent extraordinary circumstances.
- Judge Andrew G. Schopler
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.
- Senior Judge Anthony J. Battaglia
If the recipient is not a California resident, any required accounting must be filed in the court of general jurisdiction where the minor or incompetent resides.
- Judge Todd W. Robinson
Briefs on significant disputed legal issues must be served and filed 5 court days before trial.
- Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks
Sealed documents require digital courtesy copy to efile email.
- Judge Cynthia A. Bashant
Voluminous filings may be provided on USB with OCR scanning.
- Judge James E. Simmons, Jr.
Two courtesy copies of trial exhibits required 3 days before trial.
- Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt
Courtesy copies required for filings over 40 pages, delivered to chambers within 1 court day.
- Judge Linda Lopez
Ex parte applications must be served on opposing counsel via email with return receipt or overnight mail.
- Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks
Motions in limine limited to 5 motions per side, 5 pages each, single subject.
- Judge Robert S. Huie
Attachments to motions in limine limited to 10 pages.
- Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard
Confidential Settlement Letters are limited to five pages of text.
- Judge Todd W. Robinson
Motions in limine and Daubert motions must be filed as single omnibus brief (max 25 pages).
- Senior Judge Anthony J. Battaglia
Each side is limited to 10 depositions unless court grants leave.
- Senior Judge Anthony J. Battaglia
Federal, state, or local governments that provide medical benefits are entitled to notice of settlement or suit.
- Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard
Before the meet-and-confer discussion, the defendant must give the plaintiff a written response stating a specific offer amount.
- Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks
An ex parte motion filed with the Court must be served on opposing counsel by fax, email with return receipt requested, or overnight mail.
- Judge Jinsook Ohta
Final Exhibit and Witness Lists must be exchanged 14 days before trial.
- Judge Andrew G. Schopler
A party relying on a transcript or audio/visual exhibit must provide it to the other side sufficiently before the appearance to allow discussion of possible redactions or portions to be shown or heard.
- Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard
Counsel who force an ex parte application by refusing to participate in a joint motion may be sanctioned.
- Judge Cynthia A. Bashant
Multiple parties seeking same relief should coordinate hearing dates.
- Judge Todd W. Robinson
Summary judgment and Daubert motions consolidated on single hearing date; 25-page limit without leave.
- Senior Judge M. James Lorenz
Multiple parties moving for same relief should coordinate hearing dates.
- Magistrate Judge Guillermo Cabrera
Motions to extend, amend, continue, or vacate deadlines must be filed as a single motion regardless of party agreement.
- Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard
Junior attorneys with fewer than ten years of experience can secure a hearing on a motion and permit multiple attorneys to argue when the junior attorney is among counsel advancing the motion.
- Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks
Junior lawyers (under 5 years) may increase likelihood of oral argument on civil motions.
- Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel
Court encourages opportunities for young lawyers to conduct hearings.
- Magistrate Judge Michelle M. Pettit
Encourages specific requests for junior lawyer oral argument opportunities
- Senior Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz
Judge will hold oral argument for junior attorneys (under 5 years) if requested by opposing counsel.
- Judge Jinsook Ohta
Jointly proposed and disputed preliminary, during trial, and final jury instructions must be submittedto efile_ohta@casd.uscourts.gov by the court-set deadline.
- Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard
The Settlement Conference Statement and optional Confidential Settlement Letter must be lodged as PDFs by email to the stated address, not filed, and received at least 10 calendar days before the conference.
- Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks
Appropriate ex parte motions may be made after first contacting chambers and must ultimately be filed electronically on CM/ECF.
- Magistrate Judge Guillermo Cabrera
Parties must email a Word copy of the proposed protective order to efile_cabrera@casd.uscourts.gov.
- Judge James E. Simmons, Jr.
Lodged documents must not be filed with the Clerk of Court or on CM/ECF unless the Court directs otherwise.