Honorable David T. Bristow

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Magistrate Judge

George E. Brown, Jr. United States Courthouse, 3470 12th Street, 3rd Floor, Courtroom 4, Riverside, CA 92501​​​

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Recording, copying, photographing and rebroadcasting of court proceedings is prohibited by federal law. A violation of this prohibition may result in sanctions, including suspension of your license to practice before this court, referral to the state bar, denial of the right to appear by video or telephonically at future proceedings, criminal prosecution, contempt, denial of admission to future hearings, and any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court.

Law and Motion Schedule: 
Civil motions are heard on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. If Thursday is holiday, the next motion date is the following Thursday. It is not necessary to clear a motion date with the court clerk prior to filing the motion, although the Judge reserves the right to sua sponte continue motions or decide them on the papers without oral argument.  The Judge does not permit telephonic appearances for hearings absent exceptional circumstances.

Judge's Procedures: 

  1. Discovery Motions: Discovery motions are to be set before the district judge unless the district judge to whom the case is assigned has a blanket referral of all discovery matters to the magistrate judge or already has issued a case specific order referring all discovery matters to the magistrate judge. Strict compliance with Local Rules 37-1 and 37-2 is required. It is the Judge’s general practice to decline requests by counsel for telephonic conferences to resolve discovery disputes that arise during pending
    depositions.
  2. E-Filing: Mandatory Chambers Copies of all e-filed documents shall be delivered to the courtesy copy box on the 3rd Floor. It is imperative that mandatory chambers copies be delivered by noon following the date of filing as required by General Order 08-11.IV.D. Failure to deliver timely mandatory chambers copies may result in a delay in hearing a motion or ordering the matter off calendar. Electronic copies of proposed orders shall be emailed to the Court at DTB_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov (link sends email).  Proposed orders shall be in .pdf format or Microsoft Word format.
  3. Procedures for Filing an Ex Parte Application: Strict compliance with Local Rule 7-19 is required. Any opposition shall be served and filed within 24 hours of receipt of the applicant's oral notice. Conformed paper copies of the filed application and any opposition should be delivered directly to the Judge's chambers. Ex parte applications will generally be decided on the papers without oral argument. The Judge will notify the parties if a telephonic hearing is desired.
  4. Continuace of Court Proceedings: Continuances will be granted only on a showing of good cause. To request a continuance, the parties should submit a signed stipulation and proposed order. If opposing counsel will not agree to a continuance, the request should be made by ex parte application.
  5. Status Inquiries: Inquiries concerning the status of a motion, stipulation or proposed order should be made to the Court's deputy clerk. Counsel are not allowed to contact the Judge's law clerk or secretary, or to communicate with the Court or Chambers by means of the Court's email address other than to email proposed orders.
  6. Calendar Conflicts: (Procedures for attorneys to follow if they have a calendar conflict). Immediately advise the court clerk telephonically; attempt to secure other counsel's agreement to stipulate to a new date.
  7. Electronic Equipment: Permission to bring in or use audio, video, or electronic equipment should be requested from the court clerk in advance of the date of the court proceeding.
  8. Requesting a Transcript: For general information on how to order a transcript of any reported or digitally recorded proceeding, please contact 213-894-3015 or visit the court website (www.cacd.uscourts.gov) section referring to Court Reporter/Recorder Transcripts. If you require an estimate of cost for the preparation of a transcript, contact the court reporter/recorder for the desired proceeding. 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.
  9. Questions regarding law clerk/extern positions: Communicate via letter to the Judge.
  10. Interpreter Services: It is the responsibility of the parties to obtain the services of an interpreter on a civil case if one is needed.
  11. Settlement conferences: The parties should contact the court clerk about dates available for settlement conferences. The proposed date(s) should be at least two weeks in advance. All settlement conference papers should be emailed to DTB_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov.
  12. Stipulated Protective Orders: Parties must comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c).
  13. Extensions of Time for Social Security Cases: Whenever possible, a request for extension of time should be made in the form of a joint stipulation and proposed order. Pursuant to the Court's General Procedure No. 1, requests for extension of time must contain the new date(s) for all subsequent filing deadlines that are extended as a result.
  14. Criminal Duty Documents:
    The USAO shall submit all criminal duty documents to Judge Bristow's chambers via .pdf format to DTB_CrimDuty@cacd.uscourts.gov.  No hard copies of any duty documents shall be delivered to Chambers unless prior approval has been received.  Federal law enforcement agents and/or the U.S. Attorney's Office shall advise chambers in advance of the anticpated submission of criminal duty documents for the Court's review by emailing DTB_CrimDuty@cacd.uscourts.gov.  This email must include courtesy copies in .pdf format of all documents for the Court's review and the phone number and emaill address of the agent who will be scheduling an appointment to swear out affidavits related to the criminal matter. Once Chambers has reviewed the criminal duty documents submitted via email, Judge Bristow will contact the agent or office directly via email or telephone to schedule a telephonic swearing out of the documents. Once documents have been electronically signed, Chambers will send a signed, electronic courtesy copy of the documents to the USAO and agent or officer included on the original submission email. Chambers will then send electronic documents to the Court Clerk's office for docketing as usual.