The United States District Court, Central District of California is one of the largest federal courts in the nation. The clerk’s office has put this information together to provide a quick reference for attorneys and the general public regarding the services that are currently available. Feedback and suggestions as to how we might improve our service are always appreciated.
Web Site
The district court is now on line. Gather information about attorney admissions and filing procedures; review master and daily calendars, requirements for court appearances, Local Rules, General Orders and recently issued opinions; obtain extensive attorney assistance information and available court services; download court forms and keep apprised of recent innovations in the clerk’s office. Visit the court’s home page at www.cacd.uscourts.gov.
Office Hours
The clerk’s office hours are 10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M., Monday-Friday, excluding court observed holidays. For after hour emergency filings in the Western, Southern, and Eastern Divisions, call 213-894-2485.
PACER
The “Public Access to Court Electronic Records” (PACER) is an electronic retrieval system that provides criminal and civil summaries and docket information using a computer terminal. The docket information may be downloaded for printing or may be viewed on screen. The PACER service is available 24 hours a day, including weekends. For more information, call 800-676-6856.
Records
All pending criminal, civil, magistrate, and MDL cases may be reviewed, at no charge, at the clerk’s office. Case files and dockets may be viewed on the same day as requested unless the requested material is unavailable. Certain closed cases are located at the court’s storage facility. To identify which clerk’s office maintains the case file you wish to view, please refer to the prefix of the case number (two digits after the letters represent the filing year, for example, 00 is year 2000) as follows:
Western Division (Los Angeles)
- CV 00-0000 - civil
- CR 00-0000 - criminal
Southern Division (Santa Ana)
- SACV 00-0000 - civil
-SACR 00-0000 - criminal
Eastern Division (Riverside)
- EDCV 00-0000 - civil
- EDCR 00-0000 - criminal
Viewing hours are from 10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M., Monday-Friday, excluding federal holidays. There is a charge for copies, certifications, and exemplifications. For more information on closed or archived court records, call the appropriate division or visit the court’s website. The telephone numbers are listed on the back page of this brochure.
Interpreter Services
The interpreter services section of the clerk’s office provides interpreters for all criminal cases that require the use of a language other than English, including American Sign Language. The interpreters services section also makes interpreter referrals in response to inquiries from private law firms for civil cases or matters pending in state court. For further information, visit the Court Interpreters web page or call 213-894-4370.
Attorney Work Room
For attorneys, a work room is located on the second floor of the Spring Street Courthouse, on the first floor of the Roybal Federal Building, and on the tenth floor of the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse. The workrooms have Pentium personal computers with access to the Internet, Westlaw, WordPerfect, and PACER; laser printers, storage lockers, copy machines and individual conference rooms. For copy machine access, please submit a Copier Password Request.
Evidence Presenters
The clerk’s office has evidence presenters available for attorneys to use in court proceedings. This technology connects an overhead projector to monitors which display pictures for the judge, attorneys and the jury. There is no charge for using the equipment; however, due to the high demand for its use, the equipment is reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information or to reserve the equipment, visit the court’s website regarding Electronic Evidence Presenter - Reserving the Equipment.
Videoconferencing
Videoconferencing allows parties at off-site locations to appear at court hearings by way of two-way audio and visual monitors. The appropriate courtroom deputy clerk should be contacted as to whether use of this equipment in the courtroom is permitted for the specific hearing or trial. There are minimal telephone charges but no equipment charges for use of the unit.
Ordering Transcripts
District court civil and criminal transcripts may be ordered by making financial arrangements with the individual court reporters. To identify which reporter to contact for a specific in-court matter, please refer to the appropriate docket entry on the civil or criminal docket sheet which is now electronically available on PACER. Transcript orders from magistrate judge courts should be placed with the magistrate judge courtroom deputy clerk. Please refer to the website for the necessary telephone numbers and applicable fees. For further information, visit the court's website regarding Ordering Audio Tape/Transcripts from an Electronically Recorded Proceeding web page.
Photocopy Service
Photocopy services are available from outside copy services. Please note all certifications and exemplifications must be obtained from the clerk’s office. For payment options, contact Symplex Digital (Western Division) at 213-253-9413, Southern Division at 714-338-4768, and English Research Services (Eastern Division) at 951-328-9995.
WESTERN DIVISION
U.S. Courthouse
Clerk’s Office, Room G-8
312 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, California 90012
Symplex Digital
213-253-9413
SOUTHERN DIVISION
Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse
Clerk’s Office, Room 1-053
411 West 4th Street
Santa Ana, California 92701-4516
714-338-4768 EASTERN DIVISION
Clerk’s Office / Records Department
3470 12th Street, Room 134
Riverside, CA 92501
951-328-4470 |
