The Local Rules may also be found on the United States District Court’s website at the following address: http://www.cacd.uscourts.gov. Please note that Local Rules have recently been amended.
The attention of counsel is particularly directed to Local Rules 6, 7, 9, and 23 for the conduct of mandatory pretrial and settlement proceedings.
b. MOTIONS IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES
Motions in civil cases are heard on each Monday of the month at 10:00 a.m., unless otherwise ordered by the Court. If Monday is a national holiday, the following Monday shall be the motion day and all matters noticed for hearing on the Monday that is a national holiday shall be heard on the following Monday without special order or notice.
Motion papers must comply with the Local Rules. Briefs should not exceed the page limits authorized by the Local Rules. The Court will rarely grant leave to file briefs that exceed the authorized page limits. Counsel are admonished not to circumvent page limits by the filing multiple motions which purport to address separate issues in a case. Such motions will not be considered unless counsel obtains leave to file more than one motion or to file a brief that exceeds the page limits authorized by the Local Rules.
Motions in criminal cases are heard on each Monday of the month at 1:30 p.m., unless otherwise ordered by the Court. If Monday is a national holiday, the following Monday shall be the motion day and all matters noticed for such Monday will be heard on the following Monday without special order or notice.
Special Note: The Court does not reserve hearing dates for any motions. Counsel refer to the applicable rules regarding notice of any matter being set upon the Court’s calendar (See, e.g., Local Rule 7).
c. STATUS CONFERENCES, PRETRIAL CONFERENCES
Status conferences and pretrial conferences in civil cases are held on Mondays at 11:00 a.m., unless they have previously been scheduled to take place at a different time. Counsel are reminded to comply fully with Local Rule 16 in preparing for pretrial conferences. Motions in limine shall be noticed to be heard on the same date and time the pretrial conference is scheduled for. Briefing on the motions in limine must comply with the Local Rules. However, no replies are to be filed as the Court will not consider such filings.
Status conferences in criminal cases are held on Mondays at 1:30 p.m., unless they have previously been scheduled to take place at a different time. Motions in limine shall be noticed to be heard on the same date and time the status conference is scheduled for. Briefing on the motions in limine must comply with the Local Rules. However, no replies are to be filed as the Court will not consider such filings.
2. DISCOVERY CUTOFF
Generally, the Court will set a discovery cutoff date at the initial mandatory scheduling conference in all civil cases. The Court expects all discovery, including responses and motions to compel, to be filed by the discovery cutoff date. Motion to compel discovery must be scheduled to be heard at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the pretrial conference. See Local Rule 37-3. Unless the Court has issued a contrary order, all discovery motions should be set before the Magistrate Judge to whom the case is assigned. Furthermore, Judge Snyder has a blanket referral of all discovery matters to be handled by the Magistrate Judge to whom the case is assigned.
3. ARE TENTATIVE RULINGS ISSUED?
Generally, prior to argument, written tentative rulings are provided to counsel on the date of the scheduled hearing. The courtroom is open to the public twenty (20) minutes before calendar call, upon which counsel may obtain such written tentative rulings, if available. In some cases, counsel will be notified that the motion has been taken under submission and that counsel need not appear for oral argument.
4. ARE MANDATORY CHAMBERS COPIES REQUIRED BY THE COURT?
Yes, mandatory chambers copies of all papers filed are to be delivered directly to chambers and deposited in Judge Snyder’s courtesy box located outside Judge Snyder’s chambers no later than 12:00 p.m. on the first court day following the date the papers were electronically filed. Moreover, in all cases asserting claims under the antitrust laws, the patent laws or federal securities laws, and in specific cases as may be designated by the Court, counsel must deliver to chambers two (2) mandatory chambers copies of all documents that are electronically filed.
In addition, counsel shall email any and all proposed orders to the Courtroom Deputy Clerk in “Word” or “WordPerfect” format to CAS_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov.
5. PROCEDURES FOR FILING AN EX PARTE APPLICATION
Ex parte applications must comply with Local Rule 7.19. The Court will not require an appearance of counsel for these matters. Proof of service and a declaration under penalty of perjury of notification to opposing parties are necessary for acceptance of said papers. The Court will normally allow two (2) days from receipt of the ex parte application for the submission of objections or comments by opposing side, before ruling on said application. It is advisable for the opposing party to notify the Courtroom Deputy Clerk by telephone and/or fax of the party’s intention to oppose an ex parte application. The Courtroom Deputy Clerk’s fax number is 213-894-0249.
6. TO REQUEST A CONTINUANCE OF ANY SCHEDULED COURT APPEARANCE
A written request must be made to the Court one (1) week prior to the scheduled date of appearance; the request should be by written stipulation. Ex parte applications may be made, but only upon a showing of good cause and that opposing counsel has unreasonably withheld his or her consent to the continuance. Once the Court has ruled on the request, the Courtroom Deputy Clerk will either notify the parties of the Court’s ruling by telephone or by facsimile.
7. NO COMMUNICATION WITH CHAMBERS STAFF
Counsel are not permitted to contact the Judge’s law clerks or judicial assistance. See Local Rule 83-2.11. Furthermore, counsel shall not call the Judge’s chambers, unless ordered by the Court. All questions should be directed to the Courtroom Deputy Clerk at (213) 894-3433.
8. CALENDAR CONFLICTS
Any person appearing before the Court must check in with the Courtroom Deputy Clerk prior to calendar call, and advise the Courtroom Deputy Clerk of the calendar conflict. The Court will provide a priority position on the calendar or, hold the matter until the end of the calendar or permit a party to submit on the tentative ruling.
9. ELECTRONIC OR PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT
The Local Rules prohibit the recording of federal proceedings, either by electronic recording means or by camera. Video cassette recorders, monitors, computers, overhead projectors, and silent copiers, and the like for presentation of evidence are permitted, only by approval. Counsel shall contact the Courtroom Deputy Clerk by telephone to request leave to bring electronic equipment into the courtroom. Counsel will be advised by the Courtroom Deputy Clerk that such a request shall be made by a letter addressed to the U.S. Marshal's Office, carbon copied to the Court Coordinator and prepared for the Courtroom Deputy Clerk's signature, along with the case name and case number, the purpose, and on what date or for what duration equipment is needed. Counsel may fax the letter listing the equipment that he or she intends utilize to the Courtroom Deputy Clerk for signature, in advance of the trial or hearing, for approval and authorization. Upon approval, counsel shall present the letter to Court Security on the day(s) of the hearing, for admission.
Note: Arrangements for bringing voluminous exhibits into the courtroom and/or ELMO reservations/tutorials may be made through the Space and Facilities Help Desk at (213) 894-1400.
10. TO ORDER A TRANSCRIPT OF A PROCEEDING
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.
11. TRIAL CALENDAR AND REQUIRED PREPARATION
Court hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Court may conduct bench trials to 6:30 p.m. and specifically schedule hearings after 5:00 p.m. if convenient for the parties. Luncheon recess is 12:00 p.m. (Noon) to 1:30 p.m.
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EXHIBITS: Two (2) Sets - in the form specified in Local Rule 16-5. When applicable, the Court prefers all written exhibits to be placed in 3-ring, binders, with numbered tabs and, volume numbers identified on the outside spine of the exhibit book. Good photographs of physical exhibits are to be inserted into the bench book, and the actual physical exhibit with the appropriate evidence tag may be tendered to the Courtroom Deputy Clerk. If the physical exhibit is to be returned at the conclusion of trial, a photograph of same is to be provided to the Courtroom Deputy Clerk.
EXHIBIT LISTS: Three (3) copies are to be submitted to the Courtroom Deputy Clerk at the beginning of trial.
WITNESS LISTS: Three (3) copies are to be submitted to the Courtroom Deputy Clerk at the beginning of trial.
DEPOSITIONS: If counsel plans to use deposition transcripts during trial for any purpose, including impeachment, counsel should arrange to have the original lodged on the first day of trial. If the original is not available, please lodge a certified copy in lieu or the original or, counsel may stipulate to the use of an uncertified copy. The use of depositions at trial will not be permitted if the original or a copy has not been lodged.
Where witnesses testify by deposition, counsel for the parties should do the following: Prepare and file with the Court a stipulated summary of what the witness’ testimony will be, and mark those portions of the deposition transcripts that will be offered. Plaintiffs shall use blue markings and defendants shall use red markings. Other colors, clearly identified as to the designating party, shall be used if there are multiple defendants. If there are objections to testimony upon which counsel seeks a ruling from the Court, counsel must indicate the request for a ruling in the margin of the deposition transcript.
VOIR DIRE: Ordinarily the Court will conduct voir dire. Counsel should submit proposed voir dire examination no later than the Wednesday of the week prior to trial.
JURY INSTRUCTIONS: Jury instructions in the form described below are to be submitted not later than the Wednesday of the week prior to trial. Counsel need only submit proposed substantive instructions. The Court will propound its own general instructions and will essentially follow the format set out in the Manual of Model Criminal Jury Instructions for the Ninth Circuit (West Publishing, latest edition). In those cases where a special verdict is desired, counsel shall submit a proposed verdict form with the jury instructions Counsel shall submit a floppy disk or compact disc containing the proposed joint and disputed instructions and special verdict.
The parties must submit JOINT jury instructions and a JOINT proposed verdict form (if a special verdict is requested). In order to produce these joint instructions, the parties shall meet and confer sufficiently in advance of the required submission date with the goal of agreeing upon instructions and verdict forms. The jury instructions shall be submitted as follows: 1) JOINT jury instructions, those instructions which are agreed to be all parties; and 2) DISPUTED jury instructions, those instructions propounded by a party to which another party objects. Objections to disputed instructions shall be filed no later than the Friday before the commencement of trial. Each requested jury instruction shall be numbered and set forth in full on a separate page, citing the case authority or other source of the requested instruction.
The Court prefers counsel to use the instructions from the Manual of Model Criminal Jury Instructions for the Ninth Circuit, West Publishing, latest edition. Another suggested source is Federal Jury Practice and Instructions, Devitt, Blackmar, Wolff and O’Malley, West Publishing Co., current edition.
An index page shall accompany all jury instructions that are submitted to the Court. The index page shall indicate the following:
(1) The number of the instruction;
(2) A brief title of the instruction;
(3) The source of the instruction; and
(4) The page number of the instruction.
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