Litigation

Federal Courts District Update – June 2024

For more federal courts content, please see the Quarterly Federal Courts Committee Newsletter. This quarter’s newsletter includes an interview with United States District Judge Rita F. Lin.

We are looking for two new members to join our Federal Courts Committee. If you are interested, please apply at https://calawyers.org/section/litigation/standing-committees/committee-on-federal-courts/ or email Committee Chair Jenn French for more information.

Southern District of California

Presiding Magistrate Judge Position Established: The Southern District established the position of Presiding Magistrate Judge. (G.O. 162-F)

Central District of California

Local Rule Changes: The District Court approved amendments to the Local Rules, proposed to be effective on June 1, 2024. The first is a revision to L.R. 83-1.3.3, which pertains to Notices of Related Cases. The second is a proposed new rule setting forth Special Requirements for Cases Raising Challenges to or Enforcement of State or Federal Laws Seeking Declaratory Judgment or Injunctive Relief. Among other things, the latter proposed rule would require parties to indicate that they are seeking such relief on the civil cover sheet, the caption, and any motion or pleading. See the proposed rules here. Members of the public are invited to submit comments to the proposed changes to the rules. All comments must be submitted no later than May 17, 2024.

Recruitment Notice for the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Trial Attorney Panel. The Court is looking for private attorneys who are eligible and willing to be appointed to represent criminal defendants who are unable to obtain adequate legal representation due to financial hardship. More information about the CJA Panel and the requirements for serving on the panel can be found here. The deadline is June 3, 2024.

New Chief Judge: Effective March 30, 2024, the Honorable Philip S. Gutierrez, having served as Chief Judge for the Central District of California since June 26, 2020, has ended his tenure as Chief Judge. Judge Gutierrez resumes service as an active District Judge in the Court’s Western Division in Los Angeles. The Honorable Dolly M. Gee succeeds Judge Gutierrez as Chief Judge of the Central District.

Eastern District of California

Judicial Confirmation: On May 22, 2024, the United States Senate confirmed Superior Court Judge Dena M. Coggins to serve as a District Judge. Judge Coggins served as superior court judge for the Superior Court of California in Sacramento County since 2021. Previously, she served as an administrative law judge in the General Jurisdiction Division and the Special Education Division for the State of California’s Office of Administrative Hearings from 2018 to 2021 and from 2015 to 2017, respectively. Judge Coggins served as the deputy legal affairs secretary for the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., from 2013 to 2015, and worked in private practice in San Francisco and Sacramento from 2007 to 2013. (Notice)

Northern District of California

Recruitment Notice for Mediation and Early Neutral Evaluation Panels: The U.S. District Court for the Northern District is now accepting applications for both mediator and early neutral evaluation panels. Each has separate training requirements. The Court expressed interest in applicants whose participation will increase the diversity of its ADR panels to better serve the diverse backgrounds of ADR participants and in applicants to serve as neutrals in one or more high-volume practice areas: ADA, Consumer Credit, ERISA, Government, and Civil Rights, including Police Practices, and those who are willing and able to support pro se litigants. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2024, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. For additional information or to apply, please access the submission requirements here or the application portal here.


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