Continuation of Court Operations

The United States District Court for the Central District of California will remain open during the partial government shutdown and can continue funded operations by using court fee balances and other “no-year” funds through January 25, 2019. 

The Court will continue to hear and decide cases without disruption, accept new filings and process them in a timely manner.  All proceedings and deadlines remain in effect as scheduled, unless otherwise advised.  The Court’s Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system will remain in operation for the electronic filing of documents with the court.

Jury trials will continue as scheduled.  Jurors should report for duty as instructed.  Payments to jurors will be made as long as funds are available.  If funds are not available, jurors will continue to be paid; however, payments will be deferred until after the judiciary receives an appropriation from Congress.

Payments to attorneys appointed under the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) to represent indigent criminal defendants were suspended starting December 24, 2018.  When appropriations become available, panel attorney payments will be made in full.  During this temporary suspension, judges will continue to appoint CJA panel attorneys for eligible defendants and authorize expert and other services as appropriate.

If the shutdown were to continue past January 25, 2019, the Judiciary will operate under the terms of the Anti-Deficiency Act, which permits mission critical work.  This includes activities to support the exercise of the courts’ constitutional powers under Article III, specifically the resolution of cases and related services. 
 

Kiry K. Gray
District Court Executive/Clerk of Court
January 18, 2019