Federal Courts Update – February 2025

For more federal courts content, please see the Quarterly Federal Courts Committee Newsletter. This quarter’s newsletter includes an interview with Judge Carolyn K. Delaney, Chief Magistrate of the Eastern District of California.

We are looking for six new members to join our Federal Courts Committee. If you are interested, please apply here or email Committee Chair Tom Stout for more information.

Southern District of California

Call for Art: The Court is accepting submissions for a juried art exhibition in the Court’s new display space. The theme is freedom, and what it means to you. Submissions must be received by March 7, 2025. (Notice.)

Change to Local Rules: The Court has amended Civil Local Rule 73.2 regarding general consent to magistrate judges in social security cases. (General Order No. 707-A.)

Central District of California

Launch of Opt-Out Civil Consent to Magistrate Judges Program:  The Central District launched the Opt-Out Civil Consent to Magistrate Judges Program on December 1, 2024. Pursuant to that Program, a certain portion of new civil filings will be assigned directly to Magistrate Judges. The parties will receive a notice and be provided an opportunity to opt-out of the Program. For more, see here.

Northern District of California

2025 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest: High school students are invited to enter the 2025 Northern District of California Civics Contest, the first stage of the 2025 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest. The theme of this year’s essay and video contest is “When Duty Calls: Why Exercising the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship is Important to Me.” Entries will be accepted beginning January 8, 2025, with a submission deadline date of March 7, 2025. (Notice)

Changes to Local Rules: Judges of the Northern District have proposed the following changes to Civil Local Rule 3-2 (concerning the civil cover sheet) and released a new civil cover sheet. (Notice 1, Notice 2)