News Announcements

Check this page, or the News and Announcements box on the homepage, for the latest official news and announcements released by the court. You can also access archived news and announcements from this page.

How the Bar Can Help the Clerk's Office

 As a federal institution funded by taxpayers, the United States District Court for the Central District of California is committed to using public resources efficiently and effectively. To this end, we request the assistance and support of the...

Changes to the Local Rules Proposed to Become Effective June 1, 2013

      The Court has preliminarily approved the amended Local Civil and Criminal Rules that accompany this notice.  The proposed effective date for these amended rules is June 1, 2013.  The amended rules are posted on the Court’s website, and include...

Changes to CM/ECF Effective February 19, 2013

 The Central District of California was upgraded to CM/ECF Version 5 on February 19, 2013.  One of the new features requires users to create more secure passwords.  After logging in with your current password, a pop-up message will instruct you to...

Senior District Judge A. Howard Matz to Retire on April 1, 2013

 Senior District Judge A. Howard Matz has announced that he will retire from the bench of the United States District Court for the Central District of California effective April 1, 2013, after serving on the Court for nearly 15 years.  Judge Matz,...

Part-time Magistrate Judge Rita C. Federman Appointed to San Luis Obispo County Superior Court

 Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. has appointed part-time United States Magistrate Judge Rita C. Federman to a judgeship on the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court.  For more details, please see the press release issued by Governor Brown's office.

Senate Confirms Magistrate Judge Fernando M. Olguin as U.S. District Judge for Central District of California

 On December 17, 2012, by voice vote, the United States Senate confirmed President Barack Obama’s nomination of Magistrate Judge Fernando M. Olguin to serve as a federal district judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of...

Senate Confirms Jesus G. Bernal as U.S. District Judge for Central District of California

 On December 11, 2012, the United States Senate confirmed President Barack Obama’s nomination of Jesus G. Bernal to serve as a federal district judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of California.  Bernal, who was...

Notice of Public Drawing of Names for the Selection of Jurors

 Notice is hereby given that on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at approximately 10:00 a.m., the Clerk’s Office will randomly draw - using electronic data processing procedures - a fair cross section of the citizens residing in the counties within the...

Local Rules Effective December 1, 2012

 The Local Civil Rules, Local Rules for Admiralty and Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions, Local Criminal Rules, and Local Rules Governing Bankruptcy Appeals, Cases, and Proceedings that will be effective December 1, 2012, have been posted...

Rescheduling of Hearing in USA v. Youssef from November 9 at 2:00 p.m. to November 7 at 1:30 p.m. - UPDATE

 The hearing in USA v. Youssef, 09-cr-00617-CAS, that was previously scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on November 9, 2012, has been rescheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 7, 2012.  A limited number of seats will be available in Courtroom 890 of the...

Public Notice of Intent to Consider the Reappointment of Magistrate Judges

 Public Notice of Intent to Consider the Reappointment of the Following United States Magistrate Judges:        Ralph Zarefsky (July 29, 2013) Margaret A. Nagle (July 24, 2013)

Court Commemorates the Assumption of Chief Judgeship by New Chief Judge George H. King

 On September 28, 2012, a ceremony was held at the Spring Street Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles to commemorate the passing of the gavel and the title and duties of Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of...

Relocation of Civil Intake Department in Western Division Spring Street Courthouse

 Effective September 28, 2012, the Civil Intake Department in the Western Division Spring Street Courthouse will be relocated to Room G-8.  Room G-8 is located on the south side of the Main Street entrance near the down escalator bank.  Public hours...

Increase in Certain Fees Listed on Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule

 The Judicial Conference of the United States has approved increases to certain fees listed on the Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule (form G-72, page 4).  Effective October 1, 2012, the Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule is amended as follows...

Online Submission of Applications for Admission to the Bar of the Central District of California

 Effective September 17, 2012, applications for attorney admissions in the Central District of California will be accepted electronically.  The process begins by completing Form G-60, Application for Admission to the Bar of the Central District of...

District Judge George H. King Becomes Chief Judge for United States District Court, Central District of California

 District Judge George H. King will assume the office of Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California at the close of business on Friday, September 14, 2012.  He will succeed the Honorable Audrey B. Collins,...

Flags Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Victims of Attack in Benghazi

 In response to President Barack Obama’s presidential proclamation, the flag of the United States at all courthouses of the United States District Court for the Central District of California shall be flown at half-staff until sunset, September 16,...

Reappointment of Part-Time United States Magistrate Judge Rita Coyne Federman

 As stated in General Order No. 12-06, Rita Coyne Federman has been reappointed as a part-time Magistrate Judge for the Central District of California for a term of four years beginning on December 26, 2012, when her current term is scheduled to...

Changes to the Local Rules Proposed to Become Effective December 1, 2012

 The Court has preliminarily approved the amended Local Civil Rules, amended Local Rules for Admiralty and Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions, and amended Local Rules Governing Bankruptcy Appeals, Cases, and Proceedings that are attached to...

Passing of Senior District Judge Robert J. Kelleher

 Chief Judge Audrey B. Collins announced the passing of Senior District Judge Robert J. Kelleher, who died Wednesday morning, June 20, 2012. Judge Kelleher, who was 99 at the time of his death, was the oldest-serving federal judge in the nation. 

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