Central District of California Exhibit Requirements
The Central District of California (CDCA) is the largest federal judicial district by case filings, headquartered in Los Angeles. It handles significant entertainment law, intellectual property, and commercial litigation. Check the local rules and the Final Pretrial Conference Order for exhibit marking and exchange requirements.
- The Central District of California's primary exhibit rule is L.R. 16-4, L.R. 16-5.
- Plaintiffs in the Central District of California mark exhibits PX 1, PX 2, PX 3....
- Defendants in the Central District of California mark exhibits DX 1, DX 2, DX 3....
- The Central District of California accepts e-filings through CM/ECF (PACER), with a limit of 25 MB per document.
- Exhibits in the Central District of California are exchanged per pretrial conference order.
- The Central District of California (CDCA) sits within the Ninth Circuit.
- ExhibitPrep applies CDCA exhibit stamps entirely in the browser, so case files never leave the attorney's computer.
Quick Reference
| E-Filing System | CM/ECF (PACER) |
| File Size Limit | 25 MB per document |
| Plaintiff Marking | PX 1, PX 2, PX 3... |
| Defendant Marking | DX 1, DX 2, DX 3... |
| Exchange Deadline | Per pretrial conference order |
| Primary Rule | L.R. 16-4, L.R. 16-5 |
What This Guide Covers
Divisions & Courthouses
Western Division (Los Angeles)
- •Main courthouse - First Street
- •Largest case volume
- •Entertainment and IP litigation hub
- •Spring Street Courthouse (civil)
Eastern Division (Riverside)
- •Riverside and San Bernardino counties
- •Growing caseload
- •Same local rules apply
Southern Division (Santa Ana)
- •Orange County cases
- •Ronald Reagan Federal Building
- •Active civil docket
Judge-Specific Practices
CDCA judges issue Standing Orders that supplement the Local Rules. Before filing, always review the assigned judge's Standing Order on the court website. Some judges have specific exhibit format requirements, modified deadlines, or particular preferences for exhibit organization that differ from default rules.
Pro Tips for CDCA
- 1File size limit is 35 MB per PDF file; divide larger files into sub-volumes
- 2Use CDCA's specific Final Pretrial Conference Order form
- 3PX/DX numbering with space (e.g., "PX 1" not "PX-1") per local convention
- 4Check assigned judge's Standing Order for specific requirements
- 5Entertainment cases may have special confidentiality protocols
- 6Check the Central District of California local rules for which filings must be made through CM/ECF.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
CDCA Exhibit FAQ
What is the file size limit for exhibits filed in CDCA?
CDCA caps electronic filings at 25 MB per document through CM/ECF, which is stricter than most federal districts. Split larger exhibits into multiple parts rather than compressing them past the point of legibility.
How are exhibits numbered in the Central District of California?
CDCA convention uses a space, not a hyphen: "PX 1, PX 2, PX 3" for plaintiff exhibits and "DX 1, DX 2, DX 3" for defendant exhibits, per the district's Final Pretrial Conference Order format under L.R. 16-4 and 16-5.
When must exhibits be exchanged in CDCA civil cases?
Exchange timing is set by the Final Pretrial Conference Order in each case rather than a fixed local-rule deadline, so check the assigned judge's scheduling order for the exact date.
Does the Central District of California have multiple courthouses for exhibit filing?
Yes. CDCA has three divisions: Western (Los Angeles, the largest by volume), Eastern (Riverside), and Southern (Santa Ana). All three divisions apply the same local rules for exhibits.
Do CDCA judges have exhibit requirements beyond the local rules?
Most CDCA judges issue individual Standing Orders that supplement L.R. 16-4 and 16-5 with specific exhibit format, numbering, or courtesy-copy requirements, so review the assigned judge's Standing Order before every filing.
Related Court Guides
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