judge console · C.D. Cal.
C.D. Cal. · Judge Marshall · Practice Guide

Consuelo B. Marshall

All local rules for C.D. Cal., integrated with this judge's published requirements.

Before You File
Ex parte applications
🏛 C.D. Cal. local rule

Good-faith oral notice to all parties required L.R. 7-19.1 ↗

👤 Judge Marshall — standing order

SO §10 Ex Parte Applications: Counsel are reminded ex parte applications are solely for extraordinary relief. Applications that do not meet the requirements set forth in Local Rules 7-19 will not be considered. The Court considers ex parte applications on the papers and usually does not set these matters for hearing. (JPS) Procedures for filing an EXPARTE Application: Counsel shall comply with Local Rule 7-19 and 7-19.1. Ex Parte Application shall stand submitted until further order of Court. Counsel are to alert the Courtroom Deputy by email at CBM_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov or by phone when you file an exparte that affects a hearing date.

Lead counsel requirements
👤 Judge Marshall — standing order

SO §2 Presence of Lead Counsel: Lead trial counsel shall attend any proceeding before this Court, including all status and settlement conferences.

Contacting chambers
👤 Judge Marshall — standing order

Are counsel allowed to contact the Judge's law clerks or secretary? No. All oral and written communication must be submitted to the Courtroom Deputy Clerk with copies to all counsel of record. (Judge's Procedures) SO §12 Communications with Chambers: Counsel shall not attempt to contact the Court or its chambers staff by telephone or by any other ex parte means, although counsel may contact the Courtroom Deputy, Yolanda Skipper, at: yolanda_skipper@cacd.uscourts.gov, with appropriate inquiries.

Settlement notification
👤 Judge Marshall — standing order

Silent on settlement notification.

Drafting the Motion
Length limits — motion, opposition, reply
🏛 C.D. Cal. local rule
Motion

25 pages maximum for memorandum in support of or opposition to any motion C.D. Cal. L.R. 11-6 ↗

Opposition

7,000 words maximum L.R. 11-6.1 ↗

Reply

12 pages maximum for reply memorandum C.D. Cal. L.R. 11-6 ↗

👤 Judge Marshall — standing order
Motion

SO §7c Length and Format of Motion Papers: Pursuant to Local Rule 11-6, Memoranda of Points and Authorities in support of or in opposition to motions shall not exceed twenty-five (25) pages, absent leave of Court.

Opposition

SO §7c Length and Format of Motion Papers: Pursuant to Local Rule 11-6, Memoranda of Points and Authorities in support of or in opposition to motions shall not exceed twenty-five (25) pages, absent leave of Court.

Reply

SO §7c: Replies shall not exceed ten (10) pages. Only in rare instances and for good cause shown will the Court grant an application to extend these page limitations.

Font & formatting
👤 Judge Marshall — standing order

SO §7c: Footnotes shall be in typeface no less than two sizes smaller than text size (e.g., if text size is 14, font size shall be no smaller than 12) and shall be used sparingly.

Footnote policy
👤 Judge Marshall — standing order

SO §7c: Footnotes shall be in typeface no less than two sizes smaller than text size (e.g., if text size is 14, font size shall be no smaller than 12) and shall be used sparingly.

Filing & Scheduling
Briefing schedule & hearing date
🏛 C.D. Cal. local rule
Notice period

28 days before hearing date L.R. 6-1 ↗

Hearing days

Filer designates; no district-wide hearing day L.R. 6-1 ↗

👤 Judge Marshall — standing order
Notice period

SO §7a Time for Filing and Hearing Motions: Motions shall be filed in accordance with Local Rules 6 and 7. Local Rule 6-1 provides: "The notice of motion shall be filed with the Clerk not later than twenty-eight (28) days before the date set for hearing, and shall be served on each of the parties electronically or, if excepted from electronic filing, either by deposit in the mail or by personal service." The briefing schedule for the motion shall be governed by Local Rules 6 and 7. No supplemental brief shall be filed without prior leave of Court.

Hearing days

SO §7a: This Court typically hears motions on TUESDAYS, beginning at 10:00 a.m. (JPS) MOTIONS: Tuesday at 10:00 A.M.

Chambers / courtesy copies
👤 Judge Marshall — standing order
Required?

Yes

Details

SO §8 MANDATORY Courtesy Copies: Pursuant to General Order 08-11 and Local Rule 11-3, and unless otherwise ordered by the Court, mandatory chambers copies of all filed documents, including Ex Parte or Temporary Restraining Order documents, must be delivered to the courtesy copy boxes next to the Customer Service window, at 350 W. 1st Street, Attention: Yolanda Skipper, on the 4th floor of the U.S. Courthouse, no later than 12:00 noon the following business day. The mandatory chambers copy must be prominently labeled CHAMBERS COPY on the face page. The mandatory chambers copy of all electronically filed documents must include the Notice of Electronic Filing as the last page of the document. Failure to timely supply courtesy copies of papers may result in the hearing being taken off calendar.

Proposed orders
🏛 C.D. Cal. local rule

E-file PDF; email Word copy to chambers L.R. 52-4.1 ↗

👤 Judge Marshall — standing order

SO §9 Proposed Orders: 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. A party objecting to evidence shall similarly lodge a Proposed Order setting forth the specific evidence and basis for the objection(s). All Proposed Orders shall be submitted via e-mail to cbm_chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov in Microsoft Word format. Where applicable, parties shall comply with Local Rules 52 and 58.

ECF stamp requirements
👤 Judge Marshall — standing order

SO §8: The mandatory chambers copy of all electronically filed documents must include the Notice of Electronic Filing as the last page of the document. (JPS) Each copy must include 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 the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) as the last page of the document.

Filing under seal
👤 Judge Marshall — standing order

SO §7f Under Seal Filings: Applications to file documents under seal shall comply with Local Rule 79-5.2, and shall identify the specific material with supporting legal authority (i.e., rule, statute and/or case law) to support a good cause showing. A protective order signed by the parties does not establish good cause to file documents under seal with the Court. For additional information regarding under seal filings, see https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/e-filing/sealed-documents. (JPS) APPLICATIONS UNDER SEAL - Please follow L.R. 79-5.2.2 - provide a declaration "establishing good cause or demonstrating compelling reasons why the strong presumption of public access in civil cases should be overcome, with citations to the applicable legal standard", and provide/inform the Court whether anyone opposes the application to seal.

The Hearing
Oral argument
🏛 C.D. Cal. local rule

Court may dispense with oral argument on any motion and decide it on the papers; counsel notified by court order C.D. Cal. L.R. 7-15 ↗

👤 Judge Marshall — standing order
Default practice

Silent on oral argument default.

Tentative rulings
👤 Judge Marshall — standing order
Practice

Silent on tentative rulings. Not applicable: federal court does not issue tentative rulings.

Prohibition

Silent on tentative ruling prohibition. Not applicable: federal court does not issue tentative rulings.

Remote appearances
👤 Judge Marshall — standing order

(JPS) ALL HEARINGS SHALL PROCEED IN PERSON IN COURTROOM 8D OR AS ASSIGNED, UNLESS ORDERED BY THE COURT. ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY EMAIL THE COURTROOM DEPUTY CBM_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov.

Continuances & calendar conflicts
👤 Judge Marshall — standing order

SO §11 Continuances: Counsel requesting a continuance must lodge -- prior to the date to be continued -- a Proposed Stipulation and Order including a detailed declaration of the grounds for the requested continuance or extension of time. The Court grants continuances only upon a showing of good cause, focusing on the diligence of the party seeking the continuance and any prejudice that may result if the continuance is denied. Failure to comply with the Local Rules and this Order may result in denial of the request for continuance. (JPS) Calendar conflicts: If a date is set by the Judge in court, counsel must advise the Judge at that time of any conflicts. If the conflict arises later, for instance, just prior to a hearing, counsel must advise the Courtroom Deputy Clerk by telephone or email.

Discovery
Discovery referral procedure
🏛 C.D. Cal. local rule

Joint stipulation required L.R. 37-2 ↗

👤 Judge Marshall — standing order

SO §6 Discovery: All discovery matters have been referred to a Magistrate Judge, who will hear all discovery disputes. (The Magistrate Judge's initials follow the District Judge's initials next to the case number.)

Discovery dispute procedure
👤 Judge Marshall — standing order

SO §6 Discovery: All discovery matters have been referred to a 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 documents must include the words "DISCOVERY MATTER" in the caption to ensure proper routing. Please do not deliver courtesy copies of discovery documents to the District Judge.

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Marshall — deviations that burn people
  • Motion hearings only on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. — most CA-CD judges hear motions on Fridays or Mondays; Tuesday calendar is atypical
  • Reply briefs capped at 10 PAGES — a page-limit trap on replies where motions/oppositions default to L.R. 11-6's 25 pages
  • Footnotes must be typeface at least two sizes smaller than body text (e.g., 12-pt if body is 14-pt) AND used SPARINGLY — sparingly is an actual rule, not a suggestion
  • Mandatory chambers copies of ALL filed documents (including ex parte and TRO papers) due by 12:00 noon the following business day at 350 W. 1st Street 4th floor — failure may result in the hearing being taken OFF calendar
  • Chambers copies must include the NEF as the LAST page and be labeled 'CHAMBERS COPY' on the face page; NEF omission = defective courtesy copy
  • Proposed orders MUST be emailed in Microsoft Word format to cbm_chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov — for evidentiary objections, a separate proposed order is required identifying specific evidence and basis
  • Protective order signed by the parties does NOT establish good cause to seal — the court requires an independent good-cause/compelling-reasons declaration
  • All hearings in Courtroom 8D IN PERSON unless the court orders otherwise; no default telephonic or video option
  • Counsel are NOT allowed to contact the judge's law clerks or secretary — all communication routes through Courtroom Deputy Clerk Yolanda Skipper, with copies to all counsel of record
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment