Honorable Ronald S.W. Lew

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District Judge
​United States Courthouse
350 W. First Street, Courtroom 5B, 5th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90012

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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: 

​MOTION DATES NEED NOT BE RESERVED. 
Counsel shall set matters for hearing pursuant to the Local Rules of Court and ensure compliance with notice requirements. Courtroom location: 5B.

  • CIVIL MOTIONS are heard on Tuesdays at 10:00 A.M.
  • CRIMINAL MOTIONS are heard on Tuesdays at 10:00 A.M. (Judge Lew does not ordinarily hold criminal status conferences/pretrial conferences).
    Counsel may file a request for such a hearing in writing.
  • FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCES are held on Tuesdays at 10:00 A.M.
  • EX PARTE APPLICATIONS  Counsel should refer to Local Rules 7-19 and 7-20. As a general policy, all oppositions are due within 24 hours from the filing of the Ex Parte. Opposing party is to be notified that they have 24 hours to file an opposition.    Also, opposing counsel shall contact the Courtroom Deputy Clerk within 24 hours as to their position. Judge Lew will rule on the pleadings that are submitted to the Court.  Ex Parte Applications should not include a hearing date.  Judge Lew DOES NOT hold hearings on Ex Parte Applications.  
  • DISCOVERY MOTIONS are to be set before the assigned Magistrate Judge.  This includes motions or requests for protective orders.  However, scheduling issues concerning discovery cut-off dates set by the District Judge are properly before Judge Lew. 
Judge's Procedures: 
  1. ADR PROGRAM - If counsel has received a "Notice to Parties of Court-Directed ADR Program" (form ADR-08), please see General Order 11-10,
    which is located in the "General Orders" section on the home page of
    the Court website. For information about the Court's ADR Program and
    Mediation Panel, visit the 'ADR' page of the Court website.  Judge Lew
    participates in the Court's ADR Program and will generally assign the
    parties to a Mediation Panel Neutral under ADR Procedure No. 2.  Judge
    Lew will also refer the parties to a private mediatior (ADR Procedure
    No. 3), if requested. Requests for mediation before the assigned
    Magistrate Judge are usually not approved unless self assignment from
    the  assigned Magistrate is made or the parties prior attempts at
    mediation before a ADR Program panel memeber or private mediator have
    been unsuccessful.
  2. CONTINUATIONS - To request a continuance of any scheduled court proceedings, the parties should properly file a stipulation with proposed order. Counsel should then email to rswl_chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov the following items: the pdf version of the Stipulation and a proposed order in word or word perfect format. DO NOT assume that your stipulation will be granted. All requests for continuances should be submitted at least FIVE (5) calendar days prior to the scheduled court proceeding.
  3. APPEARANCE CONFLICTS - Counsel shall contact the Courtroom Deputy Clerk, via email or telephone, at least THREE (3) calendar days prior to a hearing date if a calendar conflict is pending so that alternate arrangements can be made. Counsel are to make appearances based upon the Seniority List as established by the Chief Judge.
  4. TRIAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS -
    • PRETRIAL AND TRIAL DOCUMENTS:  The parties shall comply with the schedule of documents to be filed pursuant to Local Rule 16. 
    • MOTIONS IN LIMINE: All motions in limine shall be properly filed no later than the date of the Final Pretrial Conference. Oppositions shall be properly filed no later than 7 days after the Final Pretrial Conference; replies, if any, shall be properly filed no later than 14 days after the Final Pretrial Conference.   If the calculated dates do not allow for briefing in time for trial, the parties shall meet, confer, and make an appropriate filing requesting an alternate schedule for the Court's consideration.
    • PROPOSED JURY INSTRUCTIONS:  In addition to hard copy submissions, parties must email a copy of the proposed jury instructions in conformance with Local Rules 51-1 through 51-5.1 to rswl_chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov in MSWord (.doc/x) or WordPerfect (.wpd) format. Please see the attached jury instruction for guidance.  
    • EXHIBITS: Counsel are to prepare their exhibits for presentation at trial by placing them in volumes which are tabbed down the front, right side with the exhibit numbers. These volumes are to be prepared in an original and one (1) copy for the Court. Each volume of exhibits shall be contained in a three-ring notebook. Exhibits must be numbered in accordance with Local Rule 16.6.4.  All exhibits will be returned to
      counsel at the end of trial and will not be kept by the Court. Counsel
      are to keep the lodged and admitted exhibits in their possession
      pursuant to Local Rules 79-37 and 79-4.  Digital exhibit tags are also now available on the Court's website under Court Forms > General forms > Form G-14A (plaintiff) and G-14B (defendant).  Digital exhibit tags may be used in place of the tags obtained from the Clerk’s Office. 
    • THE COURT REQUIRES THAT THE FOLLOWING BE SUBMITTED TO THE COURTROOM DEPUTY CLERK ON THE FIRST DAY OF TRIAL:
      • TWO separate books of exhibits . The first book shall contain the original exhibits which shall be used by the witness. The second book shall be used by the Judge.
      • THREE *copies of your EXHIBIT LIST (*no file stamp on these copies)
      • THREE *copies of your WITNESS LIST (*no file stamp on these copies)
    • ARRIVAL ON FIRST DAY OF TRIAL: On first day of trial, counsel are to arrive no later than 8:45 a.m. Trial hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, with a 90 minute lunch break. 
  5. BRINGING VOLUMINOUS MATERIALS TO COURT FOR TRIAL OR OTHERWISE/USE OF LOADING DOCK - Most materials brought to the First Street Courthouse may be brought through the main entrance.  Only materials that are too large to be brought into the main entrance or are too voluminous (in that normal foot traffic would be impeded) will be allowed through the loading dock.  Arrangements for bringing voluminous trial materials or exhibits into the Courtroom through the Building Vehicle Loading Dock (if required) may be made through the Space & Facilities (S&F) Help Desk, at 213.894.1400.  Before contacting S&F for a required building security pass, prior approval of delivery must be coordinated with the above-listed Courtroom Deputy Clerk. Counsel should email the Courtroom Deputy Clerk, no later than one week before the delivery date, a request setting forth the case name, number, date and time of intended delivery, and description of the materials to be loaded through the dock.  Once approval from the Courtroom Deputy Clerk is received, logistical delivery information must be provided to S&F with adequate notice (at least one day) to create and issue required building security pass.  Counsel and messengers who attempt to access building parking and the loading dock without required pass will be denied entry and must utilize public entrances to the courthouse. 
  6. INTERPRETERS - To obtain the services of an interpreter in a civil case contact the Interpreters Department at 213-894-4370.
  7. REPORTER'S TRANSCRIPTS
    - 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.  Court Reporter information is available on the Court's website under the Clerk's Services section under Court Reporter Phone and Email List   To determine the court reporter/recorder for a particular proceeding, access the minutes of the particular proceeding/hearing which should indicate the name of th  reporter.
  8. TELEPHONIC CONFERENCES - Judge Lew generally DOES NOT allow telephonic appearances.  Only in unusual circumstances will they
    be allowed.  Counsel must make an application well advance of the
    hearing date setting forth specific grounds.
  9. FURTHER SPECIAL RULES - Judge Lew follows the Local Rules and does not have any other special rules.
  10. COURTROOM TECHNOLOGY - For information concerning courtroom technology, please access/click:
    www.cacd.uscourts.gov/clerk-services/courtroom-technology