The Central District of California Will Launch Opt-Out Civil Consent to Magistrate Judges Program on December 1, 2024

The Central District of California will launch 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 within the following time periods:

•           For original actions filed directly in the District Court:  The parties have 14 days from the receipt of the notice to submit an opt-out form.  Incarcerated pro se plaintiffs will have 21 days from the receipt of the notice to submit an opt-out form. 

•           For removal actions or matters being transferred to the Central District:  The parties have 7 days from the receipt of the notice to submit an opt-out form.

Counsel must submit the opt-out form by email to [email protected].  Pro se litigants may submit the opt-out form electronically through the Court’s Electronic Document Submission System (“EDSS”), submit it at the intake window of any courthouse of the Central District or mail it in paper format to the following address:  United States District Court c/o Magistrate Judge CRD Supervisor, 255 E. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.  The opt-out form will not be docketed to ensure the identity of the opting-out party will be masked, consistent with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73.  If a timely opt-out form is received, the case will be assigned randomly to a District Judge and a new Magistrate Judge, to handle discovery matters.  

If no timely opt-out form is received, the parties will be deemed to have consented knowingly and voluntarily to the jurisdiction of the assigned Magistrate Judge for all purposes, including trial.    

The following civil cases are not eligible for assignment to a Magistrate Judge under the opt-out consent program:  cases filed with a request for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction, death penalty habeas corpus petitions, bankruptcy appeals, bankruptcy withdrawal of reference cases, or cases filed with a notice of related cases. 

Brian D. Karth
District Court Executive/Clerk of Court
November 1, 2024