Judge Wesley L. Hsu -- United States District Court, Central District of California

Courtroom 9B, 9th Floor, First Street Courthouse, Los Angeles

warning

Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught

1. Word limits apply (7,000 for motion/opp, 4,000 for reply) — count INCLUDES headings, footnotes, and quotations; NOT page limits
2. For MSJ specifically, reply capped at 10 PAGES (different from the 4,000-word cap for other motions)
3. Issues TENTATIVE RULINGS 2:00-6:00 p.m. day before OR 30 min before hearing in courtroom — unusual for federal court; tentative CANNOT be filed as an exhibit
4. GUARANTEED oral argument if a written request states that a lawyer with 5 or fewer years out of law school will conduct argument or the lion's share of it
5. Civil motions heard Fridays 1:30 p.m. — check closed motion dates before filing
6. For Rule 56 motions, comply with Judge Hsu's separate MSJ Standing Order — do NOT rely on default local rule schedule
7. Chambers copies required ONLY for MSJ filings and the Rule 26(f) Report — one copy; nothing else unless requested
8. Mandatory chambers copies due by 12:00 p.m. (noon) next business day; must be CM/ECF-printed with header on every page AND NEF as last page
9. Ex parte opposition due 48 hours after service OR 3:00 p.m. first court day after service, WHICHEVER IS LATER; reply briefs on ex parte NOT permitted
10. Ex parte application will NOT be considered until Mandatory Chambers Copy is provided
11. Remote/telephonic appearances DISFAVORED — strong in-person preference; file application detailing exceptional circumstances

Quick Reference

Topic	Rule
Motion Days	G.2. Scheduling Motions Hearings. Motions must be filed in accordance with L.R. 6 and 7. Judge Hsu hears civil motions on Fridays beginning at 1:30 p.m. It is not necessary to clear a hearing date with the CRD before filing a motion. Immediately before filing the motion, parties must check the closed motion dates column located on the right side of Judge Hsu's Procedures and Schedules Pages on the Court's website to make sure the hearing date has not been closed. [hsu-wesley \| motion_hearing_days]
Motion Limit	G.4. Length and Format of Motion Papers. Memoranda of points and authorities in support of or in opposition to motions (besides motions in limine) shall not exceed 7,000 words. These page counts include headings, footnotes, and quotations but exclude the caption, the table of contents, the table of authorities, the signature block, the certification required by L.R. 11-6.2, and any indices and exhibits. Only rarely and for good cause shown will the Court grant an application to extend these word count limitations. [hsu-wesley \| page_limits_motions]
Reply Limit	G.4. Replies shall not exceed 4,000 words. For MSJ: A.6. Replies shall not exceed ten (10) pages. [hsu-wesley \| page_limits_replies]
Chambers Copies	Conditional C.4.(b) Delivery Location, Timeliness, and Form. All Mandatory Chambers Copies must be delivered to Judge Hsu's Chambers copy box, which is... [hsu-wesley \| chambers_copies_details]
Tentative Rulings	Tentative Rulings: Tentatives, if issued, are typically made available (i) the afternoon before the hearing between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on this webpage, or (ii) thirty (30) minutes before the hearing in the courtroom. A tentative ruling does not represent the final decision of the Court, and the parties are strictly prohibited from filing it as an exhibit in any case. If all parties submit on the tentative ruling, please advise the Courtroom Deputy, and the Court may waive appearances. [hsu-wesley \| tentative_rulings]
Remote Appearances	I.3. Remote Appearances. Remote appearances are disfavored absent good cause shown in a declaration concurrently filed with the moving papers or the opposition. I.4. Telephonic Hearings. The Court seldom permits telephonic appearances. The Court strongly prefers counsel to appear in person for motion hearings and pretrial and settlement conferences. If exceptional circumstances exist, counsel may file an application to appear telephonically detailing such circumstance. [hsu-wesley \| remote_appearances]
Discovery	E.1. Magistrate Judge Referral for All Discovery Matters. All discovery matters are referred to the assigned United States Magistrate Judge. The Magistrate Judge's initials follow the Judge's initials next to the case number. [hsu-wesley \| discovery_referral]

Procedural Briefing by Motion Type

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Before You File

Motion Days & Times

G.2. Scheduling Motions Hearings. Motions must be filed in accordance with L.R. 6 and 7. Judge Hsu hears civil motions on Fridays beginning at 1:30 p.m. It is not necessary to clear a hearing date with the CRD before filing a motion. Immediately before filing the motion, parties must check the closed motion dates column located on the right side of Judge Hsu's Procedures and Schedules Pages on the Court's website to make sure the hearing date has not been closed. [hsu-wesley | motion_hearing_days]

Notice Period

G.3. Briefing Schedule. To allow Chambers enough time to prepare, the parties must adhere to the briefing schedule set forth in L.R. 7-9 and 7-10 for all motions, except Rule 56 motions. For Rule 56 motions, the parties should review and comply with Judge Hsu's Standing Order for Motions for Summary Judgment. [hsu-wesley | motion_notice_days]

Motion Page / Word Limit

G.4. Length and Format of Motion Papers. Memoranda of points and authorities in support of or in opposition to motions (besides motions in limine) shall not exceed 7,000 words. These page counts include headings, footnotes, and quotations but exclude the caption, the table of contents, the table of authorities, the signature block, the certification required by L.R. 11-6.2, and any indices and exhibits. Only rarely and for good cause shown will the Court grant an application to extend these word count limitations. [hsu-wesley | page_limits_motions]

Opposition Limit

Reply Limit

G.4. Replies shall not exceed 4,000 words. For MSJ: A.6. Replies shall not exceed ten (10) pages. [hsu-wesley | page_limits_replies]

Font & Formatting

G.4. Pursuant to L.R. 11-3.1.1, either a proportionally spaced or monospaced face may be used. Typeface shall comply with L.R. 11-3.1.1. Times New Roman font must be no less than 14 point; Courier font must be no less than 12 point. Footnotes shall be in the same font and the same size as the body of the memorandum. [hsu-wesley | font_formatting]

Footnote Policy

G.4. Footnotes shall be in the same font and the same size as the body of the memorandum. G.6. Citations that support a statement in the main text must be included in the main text, not in the footnotes. [hsu-wesley | footnote_policy]

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At Filing

Chambers Copies

Conditional C.4.(b) Delivery Location, Timeliness, and Form. All Mandatory Chambers Copies must be delivered to Judge Hsu's Chambers copy box, which is located outside of the Clerk's Office on the fourth floor of the First Street Courthouse. Mandatory Chambers Copies must be delivered no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) the following business day after the document is electronically filed. Mandatory chambers copies must be printed from CM/ECF, and must include: (1) the CM/ECF-generated header (consisting of the case number, document control number, date of filing, page number, etc.) at the top of each page; and (2) the Notice of Electronic Filing (see L.R. 5-3.2.1) as the last page of the document. L.R. 5-4.5. Mandatory Chambers Copies need not be bluebacked. [hsu-wesley | chambers_copies_details]

ECF Stamp Requirements

C.4.(b) Mandatory chambers copies must be printed from CM/ECF, and must include: (1) the CM/ECF-generated header (consisting of the case number, document control number, date of filing, page number, etc.) at the top of each page; and (2) the Notice of Electronic Filing (see L.R. 5-3.2.1) as the last page of the document. L.R. 5-4.5. [hsu-wesley | ecf_stamp_requirements]

Proposed Orders

C.3.(a) Proposed Orders Must be Lodged and Served. Each party filing or opposing a motion or seeking the determination of any matter shall serve and lodge a proposed order setting forth the relief or action sought and a brief statement of the rationale for the decision with appropriate citations. (b) Use Applicable Templates. Use the Proposed Order Template located on the Court's website under "Orders & Additional Documents" at the bottom of Judge Hsu's webpage. Proposed orders must be on pleading paper. Proposed orders should NOT contain any of the following: (1) attorney names, addresses, etc. on the caption page; (2) a footer with the document name or other information; or (3) a watermark or designation of the firm name. [hsu-wesley | proposed_orders]

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Before the Hearing

Tentative Rulings

Tentative Rulings: Tentatives, if issued, are typically made available (i) the afternoon before the hearing between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on this webpage, or (ii) thirty (30) minutes before the hearing in the courtroom. A tentative ruling does not represent the final decision of the Court, and the parties are strictly prohibited from filing it as an exhibit in any case. If all parties submit on the tentative ruling, please advise the Courtroom Deputy, and the Court may waive appearances. [hsu-wesley | tentative_rulings]

Prohibition / Ex Parte Contact Re Tentatives

Oral Argument

I.1. Oral Argument Time Limits. If oral argument is permitted, the parties will have a ten (10) minutes each for oral argument, unless the Court states otherwise. I.2. Submission Without Oral Argument. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 78 and L.R. 7-15, the Court may deem a matter appropriate for decision without oral argument. If, however, a written request for oral argument is filed by any side before a ruling, stating that a lawyer of five or fewer years out of law school will conduct the oral argument or at least the lion's share, then the Court will hear oral argument. [hsu-wesley | oral_argument_default]

Remote Appearances

I.3. Remote Appearances. Remote appearances are disfavored absent good cause shown in a declaration concurrently filed with the moving papers or the opposition. I.4. Telephonic Hearings. The Court seldom permits telephonic appearances. The Court strongly prefers counsel to appear in person for motion hearings and pretrial and settlement conferences. If exceptional circumstances exist, counsel may file an application to appear telephonically detailing such circumstance. [hsu-wesley | remote_appearances]

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Background Rules

Chambers Contact

A.5. Communications with Chambers. Neither counsel nor a party shall initiate contact with the Court or its Chambers staff by telephone, or by any other improper ex parte means. Counsel may contact the CRD with appropriate inquiries. Contacting the CRD to inquire about the status of a ruling or to continue a proceeding is not appropriate. The preferred method of communication with the CRD is by email at WLH_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov. Counsel must copy all parties on any such email. [hsu-wesley | chambers_contact_restrictions]

Discovery Referral

E.1. Magistrate Judge Referral for All Discovery Matters. All discovery matters are referred to the assigned United States Magistrate Judge. The Magistrate Judge's initials follow the Judge's initials next to the case number. [hsu-wesley | discovery_referral]

Discovery Motion Process

E.1. Magistrate Judge Referral for All Discovery Matters. All discovery matters are referred to the assigned United States Magistrate Judge. All documents relating to discovery matters must include the words "DISCOVERY MATTER" in the caption to ensure proper routing. Counsel should not deliver chambers copies of discovery matters. Counsel must follow the Magistrate Judge's procedures for scheduling matters for hearing. [hsu-wesley | discovery_motion_process]

Ex Parte Applications

J. Ex Parte Applications. The moving party must also serve the opposing party by email, fax, or personal service, and notify that party that opposing papers must be filed not later than forty-eight (48) hours following service or by 3:00 p.m. on the first court day after the service, whichever is later. The opposing party should advise the CRD as soon as possible whether it intends to oppose the ex parte application. The application will not be considered until a Mandatory Chambers Copy has been provided. Reply briefs in support of ex parte applications are not permitted. [hsu-wesley | ex_parte_notice]

Settlement Notification

I.5. Settlement. Counsel must notify the Court at least two (2) weeks before the scheduled hearing if the parties are conducting settlement discussions that may render the motion moot and must notify the Court immediately if a settlement is reached. A belated notice of settlement wastes scarce judicial resources. [hsu-wesley | settlement_notification]

Lead Counsel

A.3. Presence of Lead Trial Counsel. Lead trial counsel shall attend all proceedings set by this Court, including scheduling, settlement, and pretrial conferences, as well as trials. Lead trial counsel must be prepared to address and resolve all matters within the scope of the proceeding. Only one attorney for a party may be designated as lead trial counsel unless otherwise permitted by the Court. If a second lead trial counsel is permitted by the Court, both counsel must attend the pretrial conference. [hsu-wesley | lead_counsel_requirement]

Under Seal Filings

C.5. Filings Under Seal. (a) Local Rule 79-5. L.R. 79-5 governs applications to file under seal. Parties must comply with all sections of L.R. 79-5. For each document or other type of information a party seeks to file under seal, the party must identify and discuss the factual and/or legal justification that establishes "good cause" or "compelling reasons" for the document's protection. (b) Redacted Version and Unredacted Version. Documents that are not confidential or privileged in their entirety should not be filed under seal if the confidential portions can be redacted and filed separately. (c) Justification. Sealing must be justified for each individual item; blanket claims of confidentiality will result in the application to seal being denied. The parties must also meet and confer before filing an application to seal. [hsu-wesley | under_seal_requirements]

Continuances & Calendar Conflicts

A.4. Counsel Calendar Conflicts. If any counsel discovers a calendar conflict with a scheduled appearance, counsel must inform opposing counsel and the Court's Courtroom Deputy (CRD) via Chambers email at WLH_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov as soon as possible and not later than three (3) days before the scheduled appearance. Counsel should attempt to agree on a new date to accommodate the calendar conflict. Counsel must propose a new date by Stipulation and Proposed Order. A "Notice of Unavailability" has no legal effect and should not be filed. [hsu-wesley | continuances_calendar_conflicts]

Sources & Currency

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