Judge Monica Ramirez Almadani -- United States District Court, Central District of California

Courtroom 9B, 9th Floor, Ronald Reagan Federal Building and United States Courthouse, Santa Ana

warning

Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught

1. Non-MSJ motions require 28-day notice (not L.R. 6-1's 28) with opposition 21 days and reply 14 days before hearing — expanded from local rule baseline
2. MSJ requires EXTENDED 42-day notice: motion 42 days before hearing, opposition 28 days before, reply 21 days before — far longer than default
3. Chambers copies DISCOURAGED and NOT required unless court specifically requests — reverses the CACD default
4. If court requests a chambers copy, it must be labeled 'MANDATORY CHAMBERS COPY' on face page AND include the NEF as the last page
5. Proposed orders must include exact name and title 'Hon. Mónica Ramírez Almadani, United States District Judge' — misspellings or wrong title = order will NOT be signed
6. Remote appearance requests must be filed 5+ court days before the proceeding with declaration and proposed order — 'rarely granted'
7. Ex parte oppositions due within 24 hours of receipt of the application; sanctions available for misuse
8. Continuance request submitted less than 5 court days before scheduled date = 'presumptive lack of due diligence'; requests to extend expired deadlines presumptively deficient
9. Sealing: cannot rely on a magistrate-signed protective order — must make separate good-cause showing per category; sealed chambers copies in a manila envelope labeled 'UNDER SEAL' to 1st-floor Intake

Quick Reference

Topic	Rule
Motion Days	(JPS) CIVIL MOTIONS: Civil motions are heard on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. It is not necessary to clear a hearing date with the courtroom deputy prior to filing a motion in a civil case. Counsel must check the "Closed Motion Dates" portion of the motion calendar to ensure a date is available prior to filing. CRIMINAL MOTIONS: Criminal motions are heard on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. Counsel must contact the Courtroom Deputy to obtain an available hearing date and time prior to filing a motion in a criminal case. [ramirez-almadani-monica \| motion_hearing_days]
Motion Limit	Silent on page limits motions. [ramirez-almadani-monica \| page_limits_motions]
Reply Limit	Silent on page limits replies. [ramirez-almadani-monica \| page_limits_replies]
Chambers Copies	Conditional (JPS) Electronic Filing and Mandatory Chambers Copies: The Court does not require chambers copies of any motion papers or exhibits and... [ramirez-almadani-monica \| chambers_copies_details]
Tentative Rulings	Silent on tentative rulings. Not applicable: federal court does not issue tentative rulings. [ramirez-almadani-monica \| tentative_rulings]
Remote Appearances	(JPS) ALL hearings will be heard IN PERSON in Courtroom 9B unless otherwise ordered by the court. Any request for a telephonic appearance must be filed no later than five (5) court days before the court proceeding. Such a request must be supported by a declaration and proposed order setting forth good cause for the remote appearance. If the court grants the request, the type of remote appearance allowed will be at the court's discretion. Please note that requests for remote appearances are rarely granted [ramirez-almadani-monica \| remote_appearances]
Discovery	(JPS) Discovery Motions: All discovery matters have been referred to the assigned magistrate judge, who will hear all discovery disputes. The magistrate judge's initials follow the district judge's initials next to the case number. [ramirez-almadani-monica \| discovery_referral]

Procedural Briefing by Motion Type

mail Subscribe to Judge Ramirez Almadani procedures email updates

Primary sources. No fluff. Straight to your inbox.

chevron_right

Before You File

Motion Days & Times

(JPS) CIVIL MOTIONS: Civil motions are heard on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. It is not necessary to clear a hearing date with the courtroom deputy prior to filing a motion in a civil case. Counsel must check the "Closed Motion Dates" portion of the motion calendar to ensure a date is available prior to filing. CRIMINAL MOTIONS: Criminal motions are heard on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. Counsel must contact the Courtroom Deputy to obtain an available hearing date and time prior to filing a motion in a criminal case. [ramirez-almadani-monica | motion_hearing_days]

Notice Period

(JPS) All motions must be filed and served at least 28 days before the hearing date. Opposition papers are to be filed and served not later than 21 days before the hearing date, and any reply papers are to be filed and served at least 14 days before the hearing date. See Local Rules 6-1, 7-9, 7-10. However, Rule 56 motions before this Court must be noticed, served, and filed not later than 42 days before the hearing date. Oppositions must be filed not later than 28 days before hearing. Replies must be filed not later than 21 days before hearing. [ramirez-almadani-monica | motion_notice_days]

Motion Page / Word Limit

Silent on page limits motions. [ramirez-almadani-monica | page_limits_motions]

Opposition Limit

Silent on page limits oppositions. [ramirez-almadani-monica | page_limits_oppositions]

Reply Limit

Silent on page limits replies. [ramirez-almadani-monica | page_limits_replies]

chevron_right

At Filing

Chambers Copies

Conditional (JPS) Electronic Filing and Mandatory Chambers Copies: The Court does not require chambers copies of any motion papers or exhibits and discourages the parties from sending chambers courtesy copies. If the Court directly requests a copy, the mandatory chambers copy must comply with Local Rule 11-3 but need not be blue-backed. It must be prominently labeled MANDATORY CHAMBERS COPY on the face page and include the NEF as the last page. Chambers copies shall be delivered to Judge Ramírez Almadani's courtesy box, located outside of Courtroom 9B on the 9th floor, by the deadline set by the Court. [ramirez-almadani-monica | chambers_copies_details]

ECF Stamp Requirements

(JPS) Electronic Filing and Mandatory Chambers Copies: All original filings must be filed electronically pursuant to Local Rule 5-4 and must comply with Local Rules 11-3-11.9 as to form and format, including limitations on length set forth in Local Rule 11-6.1. Certification of compliance with this requirement is set forth in Local Rule 11-6.2. If the Court directly requests a chambers copy, it must also be prominently labeled MANDATORY CHAMBERS COPY on the face page and include the NEF as the last page of the document. [ramirez-almadani-monica | ecf_stamp_requirements]

Proposed Orders

(JPS) Proposed Orders: Each party filing or opposing a motion or seeking the determination of any matter shall concurrently 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. A copy of the proposed order in Word format shall be e-mailed to MRA_chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov on the day the document is e-filed. Proposed orders must include Judge Ramírez Almadani's correct name and title: Hon. Mónica Ramírez Almadani, United States District Judge. Orders with an incorrect spelling or title will not be signed. [ramirez-almadani-monica | proposed_orders]

chevron_right

Before the Hearing

Tentative Rulings

Silent on tentative rulings. Not applicable: federal court does not issue tentative rulings. [ramirez-almadani-monica | tentative_rulings]

Prohibition / Ex Parte Contact Re Tentatives

Silent on tentative ruling prohibition. Not applicable: federal court does not issue tentative rulings. [ramirez-almadani-monica | tentative_ruling_prohibition]

Oral Argument

Silent on oral argument default. [ramirez-almadani-monica | oral_argument_default]

Remote Appearances

(JPS) ALL hearings will be heard IN PERSON in Courtroom 9B unless otherwise ordered by the court. Any request for a telephonic appearance must be filed no later than five (5) court days before the court proceeding. Such a request must be supported by a declaration and proposed order setting forth good cause for the remote appearance. If the court grants the request, the type of remote appearance allowed will be at the court's discretion. *Please note that requests for remote appearances are rarely granted* [ramirez-almadani-monica | remote_appearances]

chevron_right

Background Rules

Chambers Contact

(JPS) No Contact with Chambers: Counsel must not contact the Court or its Chambers staff by telephone or by any other ex parte means. Counsel may contact the courtroom deputy with appropriate inquiries, preferably through the Chamber's email address (MRA_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov), and must include all counsel in such communications. [ramirez-almadani-monica | chambers_contact_restrictions]

Discovery Referral

Discovery Motion Process

(JPS) Discovery Motions: All discovery matters have been referred to the assigned 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 review the magistrate judge's Procedures and Schedules on the Central District's website to schedule discovery matters for hearing. [ramirez-almadani-monica | discovery_motion_process]

Ex Parte Applications

(JPS) Ex Parte Applications: Ex parte applications are considered on the papers and typically not set for hearing. Counsel are reminded that ex parte applications are solely for extraordinary relief and are discouraged. Applications that do not meet the requirements set forth in Local Rule 7-19 will not be considered. If counsel do not intend to oppose the ex parte application, they must inform the courtroom deputy by telephone. Any opposition to an ex parte application should be filed within 24 hours of receipt of the ex parte application. In addition, sanctions may be imposed for misuse of ex parte applications. [ramirez-almadani-monica | ex_parte_notice]

Settlement Notification

(JPS) Notice of Settlement: The parties must advise the Court promptly when a settlement is reached. Upon being advised that a resolution as to all parties and all claims has been reached, the Court will issue an order staying all proceedings pending a stipulation of dismissal by the parties. The parties are expected to finalize the terms of the settlement and file a stipulation of dismissal within 60 days of the entry of the Court's stay order. When a motion is calendared or under submission, counsel are required to inform the Court promptly of any finalized or imminent settlement that may render the motion moot. [ramirez-almadani-monica | settlement_notification]

Under Seal Filings

(JPS) Discovery Motions: Documents may not be filed under seal in matters pending before the district judge based on a protective order signed by the magistrate judge. A separate and additional showing of good cause as to each category of document or information is required. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c); Phillips ex rel. Estates of Byrd v. General Motors Corp., 307 F.3d 1206, 1212 (9th Cir. 2002). The parties must also comply with Local Rule 79-5 (Confidential Court Records). Chambers copies of under seal documents shall all be placed together in a manila envelope labeled "UNDER SEAL" and be delivered to the Intake Department on the 1st floor. [ramirez-almadani-monica | under_seal_requirements]

Continuances & Calendar Conflicts

(JPS) Continuances or Extensions of Time: Continuances are granted only on a showing of good cause. Requests must be by motion or stipulation and accompanied by a declaration setting forth the reasons. The declaration should include whether there have been any previous requests. Counsel must submit any request for a continuance or extension of time not later 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 constitutes a presumptive lack of due diligence. Stipulations extending dates set by this Court are not effective unless approved by the Court. [ramirez-almadani-monica | continuances_calendar_conflicts]

Sources & Currency

description CDCA Judge Procedures & Schedules — Official Court Page

verified Procedures verified . Verify now →

All C.D. Cal. Judges

Aenlle-Rocha Anderson Bernal Birotte Blumenfeld Bristow Carter Castillo Christensen Court Donahue Early Eick Fairbank Fischer Fitzgerald Frimpong Garnett Gee Hatter Holcomb Hsu Hwang Kato Kaufman Kim Klausner Kronstadt Kwok Marshall McCormick Mircheff Murillo Olguin Oliver Park Pym Ramirez Almadani ← Richlin Roberts Rocconi Sagar Scarsi Scott Selna Slaughter Snyder Spaeth Staton Stevenson Sykes Valenzuela Vera Viramontes Walter Wilson Wright Wu

gavel C.D. Cal. Local Rules balance Litigation resources account_balance All federal courts