Procedures verified May 27, 2026
Judge David O. Carter — United States District Court, Central District of California
Courtroom 10A, 10th Floor, Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Santa Ana
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Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. Santa Ana courthouse — not Los Angeles; different courthouse and CRD contact
- 2. Lead counsel required at ALL motion hearings — special appearances not permitted
- 3. Reply brief is 10 pages (shorter than most CACD peers at 12-15)
- 4. Only ONE MSJ per party permitted after discovery closes — no supplemental without leave
- 5. Chambers copies NOT required for routine motion papers — only specific categories
- 6. Under seal: redactions must be highlighted (not blacked out) in proposed redacted version
- 7. Telephonic/video appearances rarely permitted — plan for in-person
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | Mondays at 8:30 a.m. (criminal: Mondays at 8:30 a.m.) |
| Motion Limit | 25 pages |
| Reply Limit | 10 pages |
| Chambers Copies | ✓ Required Limited. Required ONLY for: class action settlement final approval motions; ex parte applications (excluding pro hac vice applications);... |
| Tentative Rulings | Occasional — Court may issue tentative ruling from bench at start of hearing. Not posted in advance. |
| Remote Appearances | In-person only for all hearings. Telephonic and video appearances are rarely granted. Court generally does not permit remote appearances except in extraordinary circumstances. |
| Discovery | Yes — all discovery matters referred to Magistrate Judge. All discovery documents must include 'DISCOVERY MATTER' in caption. |
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Before You File
Motion Days & Times
Mondays at 8:30 a.m. (criminal: Mondays at 8:30 a.m.)
Notice Period
L.R. 7-9 and 7-10 govern.
Motion Page / Word Limit
25 pages
Opposition Limit
25 pages
Reply Limit
10 pages
Font & Formatting
Minimum 14-point font, double-spaced. Follows Local Rules.
Footnote Policy
Not specified.
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At Filing
Chambers Copies
✓ Required
Limited. Required ONLY for: class action settlement final approval motions; ex parte applications (excluding pro hac vice applications); Joint Rule 26(f) Reports; pretrial documents; trial documents. NOT required for routine motions, oppositions, replies, or other standard filings. No blue-backs required.
ECF Stamp Requirements
Not specified.
Proposed Orders
Word file must be emailed to DOC_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov.
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Before the Hearing
Tentative Rulings
Occasional — Court may issue tentative ruling from bench at start of hearing. Not posted in advance.
Prohibition / Ex Parte Contact Re Tentatives
Not specified.
Oral Argument
In-person oral argument. Court occasionally issues tentative ruling from bench at start of hearing.
Remote Appearances
In-person only for all hearings. Telephonic and video appearances are rarely granted. Court generally does not permit remote appearances except in extraordinary circumstances.
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
Contact CRD by telephone at (714) 338-4542 or by email at DOC_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov. Do not contact to inquire about status of submitted matters.
Discovery Referral
Yes — all discovery matters referred to Magistrate Judge. All discovery documents must include 'DISCOVERY MATTER' in caption.
Discovery Motion Process
Referred to assigned Magistrate Judge.
Ex Parte Applications
Opposition must be filed within 24 hours of service. Moving party must notify nonmoving party at time of filing. PDF of application and proposed order must be submitted to chambers.
Settlement Notification
Parties must immediately notify Court by telephone, email, or filing a notice of settlement upon reaching settlement agreement.
Lead Counsel
Lead counsel must appear at all proceedings including motion hearings. Special appearances not permitted.
Under Seal Filings
Must comply with L.R. 79-5. Proposed redacted version filed on public docket must have redactions highlighted (not blacked out) so Court can verify extent of redaction.
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
Calendar conflicts: seek stipulation first; if not possible, file ex parte application. Must state whether prior continuances requested and whether granted or denied.
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AI & Style Preferences
Summary Judgment Limitations
One motion for summary judgment per party permitted after discovery closes. No supplemental MSJ without leave of Court.
Additional Notes
Santa Ana division. CRD: (714) 338-4542, DOC_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov. Initial standing order dated 2021. One of the shorter reply page limits in CACD at 10 pages.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified May 27, 2026.
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