- Civil motions are heard on:
Only Mondays, time: 11:00 A.M.
Pre-Trial Conferences are heard on: Mondays, time: 1:30 P.M.
(If Monday is a holiday, motion date is: The Next Monday)
It is not necessary to clear a motion date with the court clerk prior to filing a motion.
Discovery motions are to be scheduled before the District Judge
(Judge Pfaelzer will have the court clerk refer each motion to the Magistrate Judge)
Are tentative rulings issued? No.
Please submit three (3) conformed mandatory chambers copies to Chambers.
Three (3) mandatory chambers copies of e-filed documents shall be delivered to chambers. Each of the 3 mandatory chambers copies must be clearly marked MANDATORY CHAMBERS COPY.
Procedures for filing an Ex Parte Application: A party submits an Ex Parte Application, with a declaration of notification to the other parties, and a separate proposed order. The Court will either grant, deny or have the party set the matter for a notice of motion.
To request a continuance of any scheduled court proceeding: The party(ies) must make the request in writing by either submitting a stipulation or ex parte application with a proposed order for the Court's signature.
Are counsel allowed to contact the Judge's law clerks or secretary? No; all inquiries of any nature are to be directed to the court clerk.
Inquiries regarding the status of a motion, stipulation or proposed order: Are to be made to the court clerk.
Calendar conflicts (procedures for attorneys to follow if they have a calendar conflict): If date is set by the Judge in court, counsel must advise the Judge at the time of any conflicts; if the conflict has arisen later, for instance just prior to a hearing, counsel must advise the court clerk by telephone (however, be advised: priority at the hearing can be arranged, but without a written
stipulation/ex parte application and an order signed by the Judge, counsel must appear or risk being held in contempt)
Procedures for bringing electronic equipment into the courtroom: None is allowed without prior approval of Court; contact the court clerk. If approved, the party bringing the equipment will have to make arrangements with the Space & Facilities Help Desk at 213-894-1400 on how to bring the equipment into the building (use of loading dock, etc.)
To obtain a transcript of any reported or digitally recorded proceeding, please contact the assigned court reporter/recorder. To determine the court reporter/recorder for a particular proceeding, go to the Court Reporter Schedule web page and click on View by Date. Once you've determined the correct court reporter/recorder for the desired session, click on Court Reporter Phone and Email List for contact information.
Questions regarding law clerk positions: Shall be directed to the Judge's secretary Pat Patino at 213-894-7284. Judge Pfaelzer does not utilize the services of externs.
Trial Preparation:
Court hours: 9:30 A.M. to 12 noon; then 1:00 P.M. to whenever the Judge adjourns for the evening
Exhibit preparation: Pursuant to the local rules (the exhibits, except for physical exhibits, shall be in 3-ring binders, the original tagged set for the court clerk -- one set for the Judge and a third set for the witnesses if possible)
Jury instructions: To be submitted in the form and time frames in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure and the local rules;
Verdict forms: The court clerk prepares the verdict form in criminal cases; in civil cases the plaintiff submits the proposed verdict form in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the local rules
Other: The parties shall come to court fully prepared, with the three sets of bound exhibits as described above; and also with two clean copies of their witness lists and two clean copies of their exhibit lists, all which shall be given to the court clerk before the start of court.
Procedures for obtaining the services of an interpreter on a civil case: The party must hire a certified Federal Court interpreter, whether it be done through the Court Interpreter's Section, or from some outside source. (Court Interpreter's telephone number: 213-894-4599). |