Judge Dolly M. Gee -- United States District Court, Central District of California

Courtroom 8C, 8th Floor, Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez U.S. Courthouse, Los Angeles

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Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught

1. POSITIVE TRAP: Court ISSUES tentative rulings — but only AT the time of the hearing, never in advance; unusual for federal court, so build in oral-argument prep as if there is no tentative
2. Chambers copies NOT required in civil or criminal cases except on specific court request — do not deliver unrequested paper copies
3. MSJ and preliminary injunction hearings REQUIRE clearing a date with the CRD before filing — other civil motions do not
4. Motion hearings only on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. (civil) or Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. (criminal); if Friday is a national holiday, motion rolls to next Friday
5. Memoranda capped at BOTH 7,000 words AND 25 pages — dual constraint means the tighter of the two governs, not either/or
6. Remote appearances require email to the CRD (copy opposing counsel) at least 7 DAYS in advance — longer notice than most CA-CD judges' 3-5-day windows
7. Under-seal filings require two separate docket entries (PUBLIC redacted app; SEALED unredacted declaration) plus an email to dmg_chambers with subject line 'UNDER SEAL REQUEST' and the case number
8. Settlement notification after 4:00 p.m. on the last business day before trial triggers jury-fee assessment under L.R. 40-3
9. Continuance requests less than 5 court days before the scheduled date should be avoided; requests to extend an ALREADY-EXPIRED deadline are presumptively lack of due diligence
10. Proposed orders lodged AND emailed in Word/WordPerfect the same day filed to Gee's generic chambers email via CM/ECF

Quick Reference

Topic	Rule
Motion Days	SO §4a Time for Filing and Hearing Motions: Motions shall be filed in accordance with Local Rule 7. This Court hears motions on Fridays, beginning at 9:30 a.m. If Friday is a national holiday, motions will be heard on the next Friday. It is not necessary to clear a hearing date with the judge's courtroom deputy clerk before filing a motion, except for motions for summary judgment or preliminary injunction. If the motion date selected is not available, the Court will issue a minute order continuing the date. (JPS) Civil Motions: Friday at 9:30 a.m. Criminal Motions: Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]
Motion Limit	SO §4c Length and Format of Motion Papers: Memoranda of points and authorities shall not exceed 7,000 words and 25 pages. See Local Rule 11-6. Only in rare instances and for good cause shown will the Court grant an application to extend these page limitations. No supplemental brief shall be filed without prior leave of Court. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]
Reply Limit	Silent on page limits replies. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]
Chambers Copies	Conditional SO §7 Courtesy Copies: All original filings are to be filed electronically pursuant to Local Rule 5-4. No chambers copy is required for... [Judge Gee Procedures Page]
Tentative Rulings	(JPS) Tentative Rulings: The Court makes every effort to issue a tentative ruling at the time of the hearing. The tentative ruling is not available before the hearing. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]
Remote Appearances	(JPS) ALL HEARINGS SHALL PROCEED IN-PERSON, UNLESS OTHERWISE ORDERED BY THE COURT. SO §8 Telephonic and Video Hearings: The Court may permit appearances or arguments by way of telephone or video upon a showing that a personal appearance will cause undue hardship. If you wish to appear by telephone or video, you must (a) email the courtroom deputy clerk and copy opposing counsel at least seven (7) days in advance of the scheduled appearance; (b) in the case of telephonic appearances, use a landline to call into the bridge line provided by the clerk; and (c) be available at that number for at least 15 minutes before the time of the scheduled hearing. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]
Discovery	SO §3a: All discovery matters have been referred to the assigned United States Magistrate Judge, who will hear all discovery disputes. The Magistrate Judge's initials follow the District Judge's initials next to the case number. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Procedural Briefing by Motion Type

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Before You File

Motion Days & Times

SO §4a Time for Filing and Hearing Motions: Motions shall be filed in accordance with Local Rule 7. This Court hears motions on Fridays, beginning at 9:30 a.m. If Friday is a national holiday, motions will be heard on the next Friday. It is not necessary to clear a hearing date with the judge's courtroom deputy clerk before filing a motion, except for motions for summary judgment or preliminary injunction. If the motion date selected is not available, the Court will issue a minute order continuing the date. (JPS) Civil Motions: Friday at 9:30 a.m. Criminal Motions: Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Notice Period

(JPS) Moving papers are to be filed and served at least twenty-eight (28) days before the hearing date. Opposition papers are to be filed and served no later than twenty-one (21) days before the hearing date, and any reply papers are to be filed and served at least fourteen (14) days before the hearing date. See Local Rules 6-1, 7-9, 7-10. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Motion Page / Word Limit

SO §4c Length and Format of Motion Papers: Memoranda of points and authorities shall not exceed 7,000 words and 25 pages. See Local Rule 11-6. Only in rare instances and for good cause shown will the Court grant an application to extend these page limitations. No supplemental brief shall be filed without prior leave of Court. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Opposition Limit

SO §4c Length and Format of Motion Papers: Memoranda of points and authorities shall not exceed 7,000 words and 25 pages. See Local Rule 11-6. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Reply Limit

Silent on page limits replies. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Font & Formatting

Silent on font formatting. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Footnote Policy

Silent on footnote policy. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

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At Filing

Chambers Copies

Conditional SO §7 Courtesy Copies: All original filings are to be filed electronically pursuant to Local Rule 5-4. No chambers copy is required for CIVIL cases, except at the specific request of the Court. If requested by the Court, chambers copies shall be delivered to and placed in the Judge's courtesy box, located outside of the Clerk's office, on the 4th floor, by 5:00 p.m. on the first court date after the filing date. All exhibits, declarations, etc. to chambers copies must be tabbed, where applicable. Blue-backs and hole punches are not required. Chambers copies of under seal documents shall all be placed together in a manila envelope labeled "UNDER SEAL." [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

ECF Stamp Requirements

(JPS) Electronic Filings: Step 1: All non-signature items shall be E-FILED in pdf format. All proposed signature items shall be E-FILED as an attachment to the main document in pdf format. Step 2: All proposed signature items shall be E-MAILED to Judge Gee's generic chambers e-mail address using the CM/ECF System in Word or Word Perfect format. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Proposed Orders

SO §6 Proposed Orders: Each party filing or opposing a motion or seeking the determination of any matter shall serve and electronically lodge a proposed order setting forth the relief or action sought and a brief statement of the rationale for the decision with appropriate citations. In addition, a copy of the Proposed Order in Word or WordPerfect format shall be emailed to Judge Gee's generic chambers e-mail address using the CM/ECF System on the day the document is e-filed. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

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Before the Hearing

Tentative Rulings

(JPS) Tentative Rulings: The Court makes every effort to issue a tentative ruling at the time of the hearing. The tentative ruling is not available before the hearing. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Prohibition / Ex Parte Contact Re Tentatives

(JPS) Tentative Rulings: The Court makes every effort to issue a tentative ruling at the time of the hearing. The tentative ruling is not available before the hearing. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Oral Argument

SO §4f Oral Argument: If the Court deems a matter appropriate for decision without oral argument, the Court will notify the parties in advance. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Remote Appearances

(JPS) ALL HEARINGS SHALL PROCEED IN-PERSON, UNLESS OTHERWISE ORDERED BY THE COURT. SO §8 Telephonic and Video Hearings: The Court may permit appearances or arguments by way of telephone or video upon a showing that a personal appearance will cause undue hardship. If you wish to appear by telephone or video, you must (a) email the courtroom deputy clerk and copy opposing counsel at least seven (7) days in advance of the scheduled appearance; (b) in the case of telephonic appearances, use a landline to call into the bridge line provided by the clerk; and (c) be available at that number for at least 15 minutes before the time of the scheduled hearing. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

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Background Rules

Chambers Contact

(JPS) Telephone and Email Contact: Parties shall refrain from phoning or emailing the Courtroom Deputy Clerk: (1) to confirm the information provided on this webpage; (2) to request the status of a pending stipulation or submitted motion; (3) to determine if a hearing on calendar will proceed as scheduled; or (4) with questions about how to file documents using the court's CM/ECF system. Counsel shall refer to L.R. 5-4 and/or contact the electronic filing help desk at 213-894-0242. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Discovery Referral

SO §3a: All discovery matters have been referred to the assigned United States Magistrate Judge, who will hear all discovery disputes. The Magistrate Judge's initials follow the District Judge's initials next to the case number. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Discovery Motion Process

SO §3a Discovery Matters Referred to Magistrate Judge: All discovery matters have been referred to the assigned United States Magistrate Judge, who will hear all discovery disputes. The Magistrate Judge's initials follow the District Judge's initials next to the case number. All discovery-related documents must include the words "DISCOVERY MATTER" in the caption to ensure proper routing. Counsel are directed to contact the Magistrate Judge's courtroom deputy clerk to schedule matters for hearing. Please comply with Local Rule 37 and deliver mandatory chambers copies of discovery-related papers to the Magistrate Judge assigned to this case rather than to this Court. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Ex Parte Applications

SO §9 Ex Parte Applications: The Court considers ex parte applications on the papers and does not usually set these matters for hearing. If a hearing is necessary, the parties will be notified. Ex parte applications are solely for extraordinary relief and should be used with discretion. Sanctions may be imposed for misuse of ex parte applications. See Mission Power Engineering Co. v. Continental Casualty Co., 883 F. Supp. 488 (C.D. Cal. 1995). Ex parte applications that fail to conform to Local Rule 7-19 and 7-19.1, including a statement of opposing counsel's position, will not be considered except on a specific showing of good cause. Following service of the ex parte papers by electronic service, fax, or personal service, the moving party shall notify the opposition that opposing papers must be e-filed no later than twenty-four (24) hours following service. If counsel does not intend to oppose an ex parte application, he or she must inform the courtroom deputy clerk at (213) 894-5452. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Settlement Notification

(JPS) Settlement: Counsel shall immediately email the Courtroom Deputy Clerk as soon as a settlement of your case has been reached. The Court will assess jury fees against each side under Local Rule 40-3 if the notification of settlement occurs after 4:00 p.m. on the last business day prior to trial. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Under Seal Filings

(JPS) Under Seal Filings - Civil Cases: Counsel are ORDERED to follow the procedures outlined in L.R. 79-5.2.2. The "Guide to Electronically Filing Under Seal Documents in Civil Cases" is attached below. No chambers copy is required, except at the specific request of the Court. Pursuant to Local Rule 79-5.2, all documents to be filed under seal and all Applications for Leave to File Under Seal must be filed electronically using the Court's CM/ECF System. Counsel shall create two separate docket entries: PUBLIC Entry: Application for leave to file under seal with proof of service, attaching a redacted version of the document(s) to be sealed, and proposed order; and SEALED Entry: Declaration in support of Application, attaching an unredacted version of the document(s) to be sealed. Each document or sets of documents shall have a title page pursuant to Local Rule 11-3.8, and should only contain the materials to be filed under seal. After electronically filing, send an email to the chambers email address at dmg_chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov, containing a Word or WordPerfect version of the proposed order. The subject line of the email should have the case number, including the words "UNDER SEAL REQUEST." [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Continuances & Calendar Conflicts

SO §10 Continuances: This Court has a strong interest in keeping scheduled dates certain. Changes in dates are disfavored. Trial dates set by the Court are firm and will rarely be changed. Therefore, a stipulation to continue or extend the date of any matter before this Court must be supported by a sufficient factual basis that demonstrates good cause why the change in the date is essential. Without such compelling factual support and a showing of due diligence, stipulations continuing dates set by this Court will not be approved. Counsel requesting a continuance or extension of time must electronically file a stipulation and lodge a proposed order including a detailed declaration of the grounds for the requested continuance or extension of time. Counsel shall avoid submitting requests for continuance or extension of time less than five (5) court days prior to the expiration of the scheduled date. A request to continue or extend dates or deadlines that have already expired is presumptively a lack of due diligence. [Judge Gee Procedures Page]

Sources & Currency

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