Central District of California Local Rules — The Practitioner's Guide

Quick-reference summary of the most frequently needed rules for the Central District of California.

CDCA requires 14-point proportionally spaced font (or 10.5 characters/inch monospaced), double spacing including citations and quotations, and a 7,000-word limit for motions. Footnotes may be single-spaced. Every brief over 10 pages needs a table of contents and table of authorities. L.R. 11-3 et seq. and L.R. 11-6.

Document Formatting (L.R. 11-3)

Word/Page Limits (L.R. 11-6.1)

Certificate of compliance required (L.R. 11-6.2): Every brief (except handwritten/typewriter) must include a certificate on the last page stating the word count.

Table of contents and authorities required (L.R. 11-8): For any memorandum or brief exceeding 10 pages.

Opposition due 21 days before hearing. Reply due 14 days before hearing. Sur-replies not permitted without prior written court order. Discovery motions follow a separate timeline with a mandatory joint stipulation. If a hearing is continued, deadlines automatically reset. L.R. 6-1, 7-9, 7-10, 37-1 through 37-4.

Regular Motions

New Trial Motions (L.R. 7-9)

Opposition: 10 days after service of the motion.

Discovery Motions (L.R. 37-1 through 37-4)

Continuances (L.R. 7-11)

If continued, opposition/reply deadlines reset to 21/14 days before new hearing date.

CDCA follows F.R.Civ.P. 6 for time computation.

CDCA uses a party-selects model — you pick a date from your assigned judge's motion calendar and designate it in your notice of motion. File notice 28 days before hearing (31 if served by mail). The Court may decline any motion that doesn't comply with L.R. 7-3 through 7-8, including the meet-and-confer requirement. L.R. 6-1 through 7-18.

Key point: The Court may decline to consider any motion that doesn't comply with L.R. 7-3 through 7-8 (L.R. 7-4).

Ex Parte Applications (L.R. 7-19)

Must include: name/address/phone/email of opposing counsel, reasons for ex parte relief, points and authorities. Must lodge proposed order. Must make reasonable efforts to orally advise opposing counsel (L.R. 7-19.1).

Motion for Reconsideration (L.R. 7-18)

Grounds: (a) new fact/law not known with reasonable diligence, (b) new facts/law after the order, (c) manifest failure to consider material facts. Deadline: 14 days after entry. Cannot repeat prior arguments.

CDCA follows the federal defaults for most discovery rules but requires sequential numbering across all sets of interrogatories, RFPs, and RFAs. Every response must quote the request in full before the answer or objection. Discovery motions require a joint stipulation, not separate briefs. L.R. 33-1, 34-1, 36-1, 37-1 through 37-4.

Discovery Motions (L.R. 37-1 through 37-4)

7,000-word limit does NOT apply to the joint stipulation (L.R. 37-2.1), but joint stips over 10 pages need a TOC. Each party may file a supplemental memo (max 5 pages) 14 days before hearing (L.R. 37-2.3). Discovery motions generally cannot be heard ex parte.

CDCA requires a separate Statement of Uncontroverted Facts (SUF) with pinpoint citations. The opposing party must file a Statement of Genuine Disputes in a mandatory two-column format. A Rule 56 motion may NOT be granted solely on failure to oppose. L.R. 56-1 through 56-4.

MSJ follows the standard schedule: notice 28 days, opposition 21 days, reply 14 days.

Practice tip: The two-column format is mandatory. See L.R. 56-2 and the example at Chapter I, pages 74-75.

CDCA pro hac vice admission costs $450 per case (General Order 25-05). Cannot appear PHV if you reside in California, are regularly employed in California, or regularly engaged in business in California. Local counsel must be a CDCA bar member with an office physically in the District. L.R. 83-2.1.3.

Attorney Admission Fees (GO 25-05)

L.R. 7-3 requires an in-person, telephone, or video conference at least 7 days before filing any motion. If unresolved, file a declaration under penalty of perjury stating the dates of conference and each party's position. Discovery motions have stricter requirements under L.R. 37-1 — including a mandatory joint stipulation signed by both counsel instead of separate briefs.

L.R. 7-3 — Conference of Counsel Prior to Filing of Motions

L.R. 37-1 — Discovery Meet and Confer (Stricter)