Federal Courts District Update — October 2023

For more federal courts content, please see the Quarterly Federal Courts Committee Newsletter. This quarter’s newsletter includes an Interview with Judge Sunshine Sykes of the Central District of California.

If you are interested in applying to join the Federal Courts Committee, please apply at https://calawyers.org/section/litigation/standing-committees/committee-on-federal-courts/.

Southern District of California

Local Rules: The court revised Civil Local Rules 7.1 (Time for filing opposition) and 73.4 (Assignment of § 1983 Cases to U.S. Magistrate Judges). (GO 754)

State of the District: The Southern District’s annual State of the District Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. Attendees will receive updates regarding the operation of the Court from Chief Judge Dana M. Sabraw, Presiding Magistrate Judge Bernard G. Skomal, Chief Bankruptcy Judge Christopher B. Latham, and Ninth Circuit Judge John B. Owens. The Southern District will also present the annual Bartick Award. Purchase tickets here.

Transcript Rates: The Court issued updated transcript rates. (CJO 104)

Central District of California

On Monday, October 9, 2023, the United States District Court and the Probation and Pretrial Services Office, in the Western, Eastern, and Southern Divisions, will be closed in recognition of Columbus Day.  Normal service will resume on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.  Notice.

U.S. District Judge George H. Wu of the Central District of California will take senior status in November. Judge Wu, who was nominated by President George W. Bush, has been on the bench since 2007.  Central District Of Calif. Judge To Take Senior Status (Law 360).

Eastern District of California

Eastern District Conference: The Eastern District Conference will take place at the Everline Report in Lake Tahoe from October 20-22, 2023. Registration for the conference itself closes on Tuesday, September 19, 2023. https://caedconference.com/.

Northern District of California

News Release: On September 19, 2023, the United States Senate voted 52-45 to confirm President Biden’s nomination of San Francisco Superior Court Judge Rita F. Lin to serve as a U.S. district judge for the Northern District of California.  (Press Release.)

Court operations will not be affected in the event of the shutdown of the federal government:  The Northern District of California will remain open and all proceedings will be held in accordance with published calendars.  Jurors should report for duty as instructed.