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. CDCA has specific local rules for exhibit marking and requires strict compliance with the Final Pretrial Conference Order format, which governs exhibit exchange deadlines and procedures.
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 25 MB - split larger exhibits into parts
- 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
- 6Always e-file - CDCA requires CM/ECF for most filings
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Related Court Guides
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