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Judge John F. Walter -- United States District Court, Central District of California

Courtroom 7A, 7th Floor, Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez United States Courthouse, Los Angeles

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Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught

  1. 1. Civil motions only on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. (afternoon calendar); if Monday is a holiday, choose the next available/open Monday — check Closed Motion Dates or motion will be STRICKEN
  2. 2. TWO copies required for every electronically filed document — one marked 'CHAMBERS COPY' and one marked 'COURTESY COPY' (most CA-CD judges require only one)
  3. 3. Chambers copies must include the ECF running header on every page PLUS the e-filing date and document number in the space between lines 1-7 to the right of center on the first page — a Walter-specific stamp requirement
  4. 4. Chambers copies due to the 7th-floor courtesy box by 10:00 a.m. the next business day — earlier than most CA-CD judges' 12:00 noon or 5:00 p.m. deadlines
  5. 5. AI disclosure certification is MANDATORY for any generative AI use in any filing — failure to include the certification will result in the document being STRICKEN
  6. 6. Proposed order email subject line must follow a strict format: divisional office, year, case type, case number, document control number, judge's initials, filer name — non-compliance may result in denial, striking, or withheld ruling
  7. 7. All matters IN PERSON; remote-appearance requests require an ex parte application (with declaration of good cause) filed at least 3 court days before the proceeding — and the court states remote grants are 'unlikely'
  8. 8. Counsel may NOT contact the judge's law clerks or judicial assistant unless responding to an inquiry they initiated; status calls/emails will not be returned — check PACER instead
  9. 9. Do not buzz Chambers regarding delivery of documents — a specific delivery-etiquette rule that will get counsel flagged

Quick Reference

Topic Rule
Motion Days (JPS) Civil motions are heard on: Monday at 1:30 p.m. Criminal matters are heard on: Monday at 8:00 a.m. It is not necessary to clear a motion date with the Courtroom Deputy Clerk ("CRD") before filing the motion. Before filing motions, the parties must check the section of this webpage regarding Closed Motion Dates to make sure the hearing date has not been closed. If a motion is calendared for a date that is closed, the Court will STRIKE the Motion. If Monday is a holiday, counsel shall choose the next available/open Monday hearing date. [walter-john | motion_hearing_days]
Motion Limit Silent on page limits motions. [walter-john | page_limits_motions]
Reply Limit Silent on page limits replies. [walter-john | page_limits_replies]
Chambers Copies Conditional (JPS) Counsel are ORDERED to deliver 2 copies of all documents filed electronically to Chambers. For each document filed electronically, one... [walter-john | chambers_copies_details]
Tentative Rulings (JPS) Tentative rulings are not issued. [walter-john | tentative_rulings]
Remote Appearances (JPS) HEARINGS: All civil and criminal matters will be held in person unless instructed otherwise. At this time the Court is not conducting any telephonic or video conference hearings. Please do not email the clerk requesting a remote appearance. Should the parties still wish to request a remote appearance, no later than three (3) court days before the court proceeding an ex parte application and proposed order or stipulation and proposed order shall be filed. Such a request must be supported by a declaration setting forth good cause for the remote appearance. In the unlikely event the court grants the request, the type of remote appearance allowed will be at the court's discretion. [walter-john | remote_appearances]
Discovery (JPS) Discovery motions are to be calendared before the Magistrate Judge. [walter-john | discovery_referral]

Procedural Briefing by Motion Type

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Before You File
Motion Days & Times
(JPS) Civil motions are heard on: Monday at 1:30 p.m. Criminal matters are heard on: Monday at 8:00 a.m. It is not necessary to clear a motion date with the Courtroom Deputy Clerk ("CRD") before filing the motion. Before filing motions, the parties must check the section of this webpage regarding Closed Motion Dates to make sure the hearing date has not been closed. If a motion is calendared for a date that is closed, the Court will STRIKE the Motion. If Monday is a holiday, counsel shall choose the next available/open Monday hearing date. [walter-john | motion_hearing_days]
Notice Period
Silent on motion notice days. [walter-john | motion_notice_days]
Motion Page / Word Limit
Silent on page limits motions. [walter-john | page_limits_motions]
Opposition Limit
Silent on page limits oppositions. [walter-john | page_limits_oppositions]
Reply Limit
Silent on page limits replies. [walter-john | page_limits_replies]
Font & Formatting
Silent on font formatting. [walter-john | font_formatting]
Footnote Policy
Silent on footnote policy. [walter-john | footnote_policy]
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At Filing
Chambers Copies
Conditional (JPS) Counsel are ORDERED to deliver 2 copies of all documents filed electronically to Chambers. For each document filed electronically, one copy shall be marked "CHAMBERS COPY" and the other copy shall be marked "COURTESY COPY." The copies of each electronically filed document must include on each page the running header created by the ECF system. In addition, on the first page of each copy, in the space between lines 1-7 to the right of the center, counsel shall include the date the document was e-filed and the document number. The copies shall be delivered to Chambers no later than 10:00 a.m. on the next business day after the document was electronically filed. For any document that is not required to be filed electronically, counsel are ORDERED to deliver 1 conformed copy of the document, which shall be marked "COURTESY COPY" to Chambers at the time of filing. Judge Walter's courtesy box is located outside Chambers on the 7th floor. Do not buzz Chambers regarding delivery of documents. [walter-john | chambers_copies_details]
ECF Stamp Requirements
(JPS) The copies of each electronically filed document must include on each page the running header created by the ECF system. In addition, on the first page of each copy, in the space between lines 1-7 to the right of the center, counsel shall include the date the document was e-filed and the document number. [walter-john | ecf_stamp_requirements]
Proposed Orders
(JPS) When a proposed order accompanies a filing, a WordPerfect or Word copy of the proposed order, along with a copy of the PDF electronically filed main document, shall be e-mailed to the Chamber's e-mail address listed on the ECF Website. The subject line of the e-mail shall be in the following format: court's divisional office, year, case type, case number, document control number assigned to the main document at the time of filing, judge's initials and filer (party) name. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the denial or striking of the request or the Court may withhold ruling on the request until the Court receives the required documents. [walter-john | proposed_orders]
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Before the Hearing
Tentative Rulings
(JPS) Tentative rulings are not issued. [walter-john | tentative_rulings]
Prohibition / Ex Parte Contact Re Tentatives
(JPS) Tentative rulings are not issued. [walter-john | tentative_ruling_prohibition]
Oral Argument
Silent on oral argument default. [walter-john | oral_argument_default]
Remote Appearances
(JPS) HEARINGS: All civil and criminal matters will be held in person unless instructed otherwise. At this time the Court is not conducting any telephonic or video conference hearings. Please do not email the clerk requesting a remote appearance. Should the parties still wish to request a remote appearance, no later than three (3) court days before the court proceeding an ex parte application and proposed order or stipulation and proposed order shall be filed. Such a request must be supported by a declaration setting forth good cause for the remote appearance. In the unlikely event the court grants the request, the type of remote appearance allowed will be at the court's discretion. [walter-john | remote_appearances]
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
(JPS) Calls or e-mails will not be returned regarding the status of submitted motions, stipulations, or proposed orders. Counsel may determine the status of any submitted motion, stipulation, or proposed order by accessing the docket through PACER. Counsel are not permitted to contact the judge's law clerks or judicial assistant unless responding to an inquiry they initiated. [walter-john | chambers_contact_restrictions]
Discovery Referral
(JPS) Discovery motions are to be calendared before the Magistrate Judge. [walter-john | discovery_referral]
Discovery Motion Process
(JPS) Discovery motions are to be calendared before the Magistrate Judge. [walter-john | discovery_motion_process]
Ex Parte Applications
(JPS) Ex parte Applications, Temporary Restraining Orders and Injunctions: Refer to the Local Rules and the Court's Standing Order. [walter-john | ex_parte_notice]
Under Seal Filings
(JPS) Filing civil documents under seal: Refer to the Local Rules and the Court's Standing Order. Filing criminal documents under seal: Refer to the Local Rules. [walter-john | under_seal_requirements]
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
(JPS) Continuances are granted only upon a showing of good cause. Requests for continuances must be made by motion, stipulation, or application with a separate proposed order accompanied by a declaration setting forth the reasons for the requested continuance. The declaration should also state whether there have been any prior requests for continuances and whether these requests were granted or denied by the Court and shall include all pending dates set by the Court. Stipulations extending dates set by this Court are not effective unless approved by the Court. Requests for continuance should be submitted well in advance of the requested relief. Requests for continuance not in compliance with the Court's Standing Order or the Local Rules will be denied. [walter-john | continuances_calendar_conflicts]
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AI & Style Preferences
AI Disclosure Requirement
(JPS) ORDER RE: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: If any attorney for a party or a pro se party has used any generative artificial intelligence ("AI") in the preparation of any complaint, answer, motion, brief, or other document filed with the Court, the attorney or pro se party shall disclose that AI has been used in the preparation of the document, and CERTIFY that the attorney or pro se party has personally reviewed and verified the accuracy of all legal citations, quotations, factual statements, and analyses contained in the document. Failure to include such certification will result in the striking of the document.

Sources & Currency

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