Honorable Sherilyn Peace Garnett

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District Judge

​First Street Courthouse, 350 West 1st Street, Courtroom 5C, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

ALL HEARINGS SHALL PROCEED IN-PERSON UNLESS A REQUEST FOR ZOOM IS E-FILED BY THE PARTIES AND GRANTED BY THE COURT. THE LINK BELOW MAY BE USED ONLY IF ORDERED BY THE COURT.

ANY REQUEST FOR A REMOTE ZOOM APPEARANCE MUST BE MADE BY THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE HEARING AND MUST INDICATE THAT COUNSEL HAS MET AND CONFERRED WITH OPPOSING COUNSEL CONSISTENT WITH LOCAL RULE 7-3.​

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Recording, copying, photographing and rebroadcasting of court proceedings is prohibited by federal law. A violation of this prohibition may result in sanctions, including suspension of your license to practice before this court, referral to the state bar, denial of the right to appear by video or telephonically at future proceedings, criminal prosecution, contempt, denial of admission to future hearings, and any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court.​

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Law and Motion Schedule: 

​CIVIL matters are heard on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m.

CRIMINAL matters are heard on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.

Scheduling Motions:  It is NOT necessary to clear a hearing date with the Courtroom Deputy Clerk (CRD) before filing a motion. Before filing motions, the parties must check the column to the right of this page to make sure the hearing date has not been closed. The closed date column is typically updated on a weekly basis. If a motion is calendared for a date that is closed or becomes unavailable on the Court's calendar, the Court will issue a minute order continuing the motion to a date that is available.

Rule 56 Motions: Before filing Rule 56 motions, parties must review and comply with the Court's Standing Order for MSJ, which sets forth the briefing schedule and specific requirements for joint briefing and filing such motions.

Settlement: Counsel must notify the Court at least 2 weeks before the scheduled hearing if the parties are conducting settlement discussions that may render the motion moot and must notify the Court immediately if a settlement is reached. A belated settlement notice wastes scarce judicial resources and may subject the offending parties to sanctions.​

Judge's Procedures: 

​JUDGE'S PROCEDURES:

1.   Electronic Filing (e-filing): Counsel shall e-file all original civil and criminal filings pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(d)(3) and Local Rule 5-4.

2.  Under Seal Filings: 

     Civil Matters: Counsel are ORDERED to follow the procedures outlined in L.R. 79-5.2.2. The Guide to Electronically Filing Under Seal Documents in Civil Cases". 

     Criminal Matters: Counsel shall refer to the Under Seal Instructions for Criminal Cases.

3.   Ex Parte Applications: 

Ex Parte Applications Generally: Applications seeking ex parte relief, whether based on lack of notice and/or a request for an expedited briefing schedule, are highly disfavored if due to lack of diligence, a crisis of the applicant’s own making, or an unwillingness to work through procedural issues w​ith an opposing party.  See Mission Power Engineering Co. v. Continental Casualty Co., 883 F. Supp. 488 (C.D. Cal. 1995).  Parties are encouraged to meet, confer, and resolve procedural issues.  If with the exercise of due diligence, compliance with the applicable briefing schedule, and adherence to the Court’s scheduling order, a hearing is not available on the Court’s calendar prior to an impending deadline, a party may file a stipulation/ex parte application and propose a hearing date. The parties should not assume that an unopposed ex parte application will be granted; and a last-minute application (or stipulation) that is denied will not serve to relieve a party of an underlying obligation (e.g., a soon-to-expire deadline).

Ex Parte Applications for TROs: An ex parte application for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction under Fed. R. Civ. P. 65, seeks an “extraordinary remedy that may only be awarded upon a clear showing that the plaintiff is entitled to such relief.” Winter v. NRDC, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 22 (2008) (citation omitted). Such applications must comply with Local Rule 7-19 (and Local Rule 65 for temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions).  The moving party must serve the opposing party by email, fax, or personal service, and notify that party that opposing papers must be filed not later than forty-eight (48) hours following service or by 3:00 p.m. on the first court day after the service, whichever is later, or certify pursuant to Rule 65 and Local Rule 65-1 the efforts made to give notice and reasons why it should not be required under the circumstances. The opposing party should advise the CRD as soon as possible whether it intends to oppose the ex parte application.  For TROs, the parties must provide Mandatory Chambers Copies of TRO-related documents on the same day they are filed.  The application will not be considered until a Mandatory Chambers Copy has been provided.  Unless the application presents a true emergency, the Court generally will not rule on the application for relief for at least forty-eight (48) hours (or two court days) after the party subject to the requested order has been served. 

4.  Requests for Continuances: Continuances are granted only on a showing of good cause.  Requests for continuances must be by motions or stipulation and must be accompanied by a declaration setting forth the reasons for the requested continuance. The declaration also should include whether there have been any previous requests for continuances and whether these requests were granted or denied by the Court.  Stipulations extending dates  set by this Court are not effective unless approved by the Court. Continuances will not be granted routinely.

 

5.  Discovery Matters: All discovery matters are referred to the assigned magistrate judge.  All discovery documents must include the words "DISCOVERY MATTER" in the caption to ensure proper routing.  Documents may not be filed under seal in matters pending before the district judge based on a protective order signed by the magistate judge.  A separate and additional showing of good cause as to each category of document or information is required. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c); Phillips ex rel. Estates of Byrd v. General Motors Corp., 307 F.3d 1206, 1212 (9th Cir. 2002). The parties must also comply with Local Rule 79-5 (Confidential Court Records).

6.  Tentative Rulings:  The Court does not issue written tentative rulings.

7.  Contacting Chambers:  Counsel shall not contact the Court or its Chambers staff by telephone or by any other ex parte means (unless contact has been first initiated by Chambers staff).  Counsel may contact the CRD with appropriate inquiries.   The preferred method of communication with the CRD is email.  To facilitate communication with the CRD, counsel should list their email addresses along with their telephone numbers on all filings. Inquiries regarding the status of submitted motions, stipulations, or proposed orders will not be responded to unless the matter has been pending for more than 90 days.

8.  Interpreters, transcripts, technology: For information about transcript, interpreter services, or use of court technology, please see the Central District Court website.  In a civil case, it is counsel's responsibility to arrange for the services of an interpreter.

Counsel should contact the CRD in advance to request leave to bring electronic equipment into the courtroom and to receive instructions on how to obtain proper permission from the U.S. Marshals Service to do so. Information regarding use of the Court's own courtroom technology is available on the Court's website or by contacting the Courtroom Technology Help Desk at 213-894-3061.

9.  Media requests:  Neither Judge Garnett nor her CRD will respond to requests from the media.  Media should refer to the Central District website for information and instructions on how to communicate with the Court.

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