Employment Requirements

Employees of the United States courts must be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident of the United States currently seeking citizenship or intending to become a citizen after meeting the eligibility requirements.  If you need further clarification regarding eligibility to work for the United States District Court, please call the Human Resources Office at (213) 894-2356.

Oath of Office

All United States District Court employees are deputized at the time of their appointment and are therefore required to take the following Oath of Office:

I, (your name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

Hiring Process

Submission of an Employment Application

Employment applications may be obtained from the Human Resources Department, Room 535, and completed in the office or taken home and returned by mail. You must complete one application for every position for which you want to apply. Copies of the employment application may be submitted for multiple positions; however, each copy must have an original signature. The application is kept on file and is considered active for a period of approximately three months.

Screening of Applications

Once received, employment applications are screened by Human Resources staff to ensure that the applicant meets the minimum qualifications for the position.

Hiring Authority Review

Individuals whose applications have met the minimum qualifications are forwarded to the hiring authority (i.e., manager of the department) for review. The hiring authority determines which applicants are to advance in the recruitment, and these applicants are referred back to the Human Resources Department for the next step in screening. Most recruitments include a testing phase prior to interviews.

Testing of Selected Applicants

Applicants selected by the hiring authority are scheduled for testing (where applicable) by the Human Resources Department. Once testing is completed, the results are scored and referred to the hiring authority for review. The hiring authority determines who will be invited for an interview.

Interview of Candidates

The Human Resources Department schedules the interviews. Most interviews include two or more panel members in order to facilitate selection of the most qualified finalist candidate(s).

Background Investigation and Referencing

Candidates are required to sign a release form giving the Court authorization to perform a background investigation in the event that the applicant becomes a finalist candidate. The Court Personnel Management Division Security Group performs a background investigation, while referencing is performed by the hiring authority or personnel specialist, on each finalist candidate. Referencing involves contacting former employers (and other persons as appropriate) to verify job history and performance. The current employer is contacted last, and only after verification that the finalist candidate is still interested in the position.

Position Offer to Finalist(s)

Once referencing is completed and the hiring authority is satisfied with the reference report, an offer is made to the finalist candidate and a start date (entrance on duty) is agreed upon.

*Special Note: Due to the large volume of applications received, only applicants who will be tested or interviewed will be contacted by the Court.

**Candidates who were tested and interviewed, but not selected for the position, will be informed by letter that the recruitment is closed.

Types of Appointments

Full-Time Permanent (FTP) - A full-time permanent employee works an 80-hour pay period and is eligible for all benefits.

Full-Time Temporary (FTT) - A full-time temporary employee works an 80-hour pay period and is eligible for all benefits.  However, the employee's employment status must be renewed by the Clerk of Court to continue employment after one year and one day.  A full-time temporary employee who works an 80-hour pay period, but whose length of employment does not exceed 1 year, is not eligible for benefits. Temporary positions are limited to four years.

Part-Time (PT) - A part-time employee works less than a full 80-hour pay period, typically half-time. Part-time permanent and part-time temporary (one year and one day) employees are eligible for employment benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Plan

The United States District Court, Central District of California, has adopted an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Plan which provides equal employment opportunity to all persons or classes of persons regardless of their race, sex, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, and/or sexual orientation.

Each appointing officer and supervisor will promote equal employment opportunity through a plan encompassing all facets of employment actions and conditions, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, advancement, and supervision.

Each appointing officer and supervisor will promote a court or office environment free of discrimination and discriminatory harassment. Any instances of discriminatory harassment for which a person seeks relief or assistance should be immediately reported. All court units shall promptly address all complaints alleging discrimination or discriminatory harassment and shall pursue resolution of each complaint in accordance with the procedures described in the plan.

Neither the EEO Plan, nor the complaint procedures outlined in the plan, shall constitute a contract or create any legally enforceable obligation.