Federal Courts Update – May 2025

For more federal courts content, please see the Quarterly Federal Courts Committee Newsletter.

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 at Litigation@calawyers.org for more information.

Southern District of California

National Law Day:  On May 1, 2025, National Law Day, some 270 attorneys retook their sworn oath at the Southern District courthouse. As reported by the San Diego Union Tribune, Chief Judge Cynthia Bashant gave the keynote speech, where she spoke on the rule of law. For example, Judge Bashant noted that while people are fallible, laws are “objective and dispassionate, applicable to everyone, evenhandedly.” Judge Bashant further stated that she cringes when media reports detail which president appointed a judge, “because the suggestion is we’re ruling the way we are because we are political hacks or because of our political beliefs. … If we lose the prestige and respect historically given to the judiciary, then we have nothing. … We have no army, we have no power of the purse. We rely on society to follow what we order. … And if the suggestion is made that you don’t have to do what a judge orders because they’re just political hacks, then we lose our third branch of government and democracy as we know it.”

Central District of California

Multifactor Authentication Requirement for PACER & CM/ECF beginning mid-May: Starting mid-May, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) will begin implementing multifactor authentication (MFA) to enhance system security for CM/ECF and PACER. MFA provides an added layer of security to accounts by helping protect against cyberattacks that steal passwords, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

Once implemented, all CM/ECF and PACER users will be able to enroll in MFA. Users with filing and all other types of CM/ECF-level access will be required to enroll in MFA, while users with PACER-only access will have the option to enroll. 

For additional information, review the PACER Announcement. 

Changes to Local Rules Proposed to Become Effective June 1, 2025. The Court preliminarily has approved amendments and additions to the local rules. They can be found here. The proposed effective date is June 1, 2025. Members of the public are invited to submit comments on the proposed changes to the rules.

Recruitment Notice for Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Trial Attorney Panel. The United States District Court for the Central District of California is seeking attorneys for participation in the Criminal Justice Act Trial Attorney Panel, which is comprised of private attorneys who are eligible and willing to be appointed to provide representation under the CJA. Private attorneys from the CJA Trial Attorney Panel shall be appointed in cases in which the Office of the Federal Public Defender has a conflict of interest or is otherwise unable to accept appointment. CJA Trial Attorney Panel members may serve in the Western (Los Angeles), Eastern (Riverside), or Southern (Santa Ana) Divisions.  Unfortunately, there are no funds available to compensate the selected attorneys for their time and expenses. This program is designed to provide the opportunity to obtain trial and other federal criminal litigation experience with expert mentoring and supervision. Interested persons should complete the application, which can be found under the “Criminal Justice Act” section of the Court’s website at http://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/attorneys/cja/application-membership-cja-trial-attorney-panel. Applications will be reviewed by the CJA Trial Attorney Panel Defense Advisory Committee, which will make recommendations to the Court for approval. Applications and supporting documents should be submitted to the CJA Office on or before June 2, 2025, at CJA@cacd.uscourts.gov.

Memorial Day.  On Monday, May 26, 2025, 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 Memorial Day. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

Northern District of California

Magistrate Judge Vacancy (Oakland): The United States District Court for the Northern District of California invites applications for a vacant Magistrate Judge position at the Oakland Courthouse. The deadline to submit applications is May 14, 2025, and an appointment will be made by January 10, 2026. Information regarding the Magistrate Judge application process and position may be found here.

Eastern District of California

EDCA Bankruptcy Judge Vacancies: The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications from highly qualified candidates for two bankruptcy judgeships for the Eastern District of California. The term of office is 14 years with a possible renewal appointment subject to reappointment procedures. Applicants must submit their own applications in the format required by the Ninth Circuit. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. (Pacific Time) on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Link.

Multifactor Authentication Requirement for PACER & CM/ECF beginning mid-May: Starting mid-May, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) will begin implementing multifactor authentication (MFA) to enhance system security for CM/ECF and PACER. MFA provides an added layer of security to accounts by helping protect against cyberattacks that steal passwords, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

Once implemented, all CM/ECF and PACER users will be able to enroll in MFA. Users with filing and all other types of CM/ECF-level access will be required to enroll in MFA, while users with PACER-only access will have the option to enroll. 

For additional information, review the PACER Announcement.