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

Hon. Stephen V. Wilson

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 Wilson — standing order

JPS #5: "Ex parte applications are considered on the papers and are not set for hearing... this Court allows ex parte applications solely for extraordinary relief - sanctions may be imposed for misuse of ex parte applications. See In Re: Intermagnetics America, Inc., 101 Bankr. 191 (C.D. Cal. 1989). The requesting party shall notify the responding party that opposing papers must be filed not later than 3:00 p.m. on the first business day succeeding the day the ex parte was served."

Contacting chambers
👤 Judge Wilson — standing order

JPS #7: "Counsel are NOT allowed to contact the judge's law clerk or secretary." JPS #8: "Inquiries regarding the status of a motion, stipulation or proposed order: See Local Rule 7-1."

Settlement notification
👤 Judge Wilson — 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 Wilson — standing order
Motion

Silent on page limits motions.

Opposition

Silent on page limits oppositions.

Reply

Silent on page limits replies.

Font & formatting
👤 Judge Wilson — standing order

Silent on font formatting.

Footnote policy
👤 Judge Wilson — standing order

Silent on footnote policy.

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 Wilson — standing order
Notice period

Silent on motion notice days.

Hearing days

JPS #1: "Civil motions are heard on Mondays, Time: 1:30 p.m. Criminal motions are heard on: Mondays, Time: 11:00 a.m. (If Monday is a holiday, next motion date is the following Monday.) It is not necessary to clear a motion date with the court clerk prior to filing the motion."

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

Yes

Details

JPS Important Notice: "NO COURTESY COPIES ARE REQUIRED PENDING FURTHER NOTICE." JPS #4 E-FILING: "No courtesy copies are required pending further notice."

Proposed orders
🏛 C.D. Cal. local rule

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

👤 Judge Wilson — standing order

Silent on proposed orders.

Filing under seal
👤 Judge Wilson — standing order

Silent on under seal requirements.

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 Wilson — standing order
Default practice

JPS #3: "Tentative rulings are not issued." No provision on oral argument default beyond calendared hearings on Mondays.

Tentative rulings
👤 Judge Wilson — standing order
Practice

JPS #3: "Tentative rulings are not issued."

Prohibition

JPS #3: "Tentative rulings are not issued."

Remote appearances
👤 Judge Wilson — standing order

JPS Important Notice: "All proceedings are held in person in Courtroom 10A. Requests for remote appearances must be filed a week prior to the proceeding. Requests are made in a pleading format, with a declaration stating the good cause why the attorney cannot appear in-person."

Continuances & calendar conflicts
👤 Judge Wilson — standing order

JPS #6: "Continuances are granted only upon a showing of good cause, particularly focusing upon evidence of diligent work by the party seeking delay and of prejudice that may result from the denial of a continuance. Counsel requesting a continuance MUST submit a DETAILED declaration as to the reason... The Court sets FIRM trial dates and will not change them without good cause having been shown. NO stipulations extending scheduling dates set by this Court are effective unless approved by this Court." JPS #9 Calendar conflicts: "Counsel shall notify both of the judges court clerks. Counsel should go to the most senior of the judges. A priority before that judge should be requested."

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

Joint stipulation required L.R. 37-2 ↗

👤 Judge Wilson — standing order

JPS #2: "Discovery motions are to be calendared before the magistrate judge."

Discovery dispute procedure
👤 Judge Wilson — standing order

JPS #2: "Discovery motions are to be calendared before the magistrate judge."

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Wilson — deviations that burn people
  • No tentative rulings issued — plan oral argument without a written preview of the court's thinking
  • No courtesy copies required pending further notice — do not send unsolicited chambers copies
  • All proceedings held in person in Courtroom 10A — remote appearance requests must be filed a WEEK before hearing in pleading format with a good-cause declaration
  • Ex parte opposition due by 3:00 p.m. the first business day after service — not 24 hours
  • Counsel are NOT allowed to contact the judge's law clerk or secretary — inquiries on motion status go through L.R. 7-1 only
  • Continuance requires a DETAILED declaration showing diligent work + prejudice from denial — not a boilerplate showing
  • No stipulation extending a scheduling date is effective unless the Court approves it — filed stipulation alone does not move a date
  • Calendar conflict protocol: notify BOTH judges' clerks and go to the more senior judge to request priority — do not unilaterally pick one
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment