United States District Court for the Central District of California
The United States District Court for the Central District of California is one of four federal district courts serving the State of California. The others cover the Northern, Eastern, and Southern Districts and one of 94 district courts covering the United States.
The federal district courts are the trial courts of the federal court system, hearing cases for federal crimes, specific interstate civil actions, questions of Constitutional law, and other matters under federal jurisdiction (e.g., patents, copyrights, etc.).
Despite their labels, the four federal court districts in California do not necessarily refer to geographic sections of the state but instead are divided up according to population.
For example, the Northern District covers only the northern coastal region of California, while the Eastern District covers most of the interior of Northern and Central California.
The Central District of California covers seven counties, including Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura. It spans from the coast of California eastward to the Nevada and Arizona borders.
This Federal Court District serves about 19 million people in Southern and Central California, meaning it's the most populous federal judicial district.
The Central District was created in September 1966. Most cases from this district are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
The Central District of California is divided into three divisions. It has jurisdiction over seven counties, including Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura.
The United States attorney for the Central District of California is E. Martin Estrada, representing the United States Government in civil and criminal cases. Title 18 U.S. Code Chapter 211 lists the rules regarding jurisdiction and venue for federal criminal cases.
About the Central District of California
The Central District Court has jurisdiction over only seven counties across Southern California, but those seven counties make up the state's largest population center.
All told, as noted, it serves approximately 19 million people, making it the largest federal district in California population-wise and the largest federal district in the U.S. The Central District sees an average of more than 17,000 cases filed annually.
The Central District is further subdivided into three divisions:
- The Western Division (Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties);
- The Eastern Division (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties); and
- The Southern Division (Orange County).
Federal District Court Locations
The Central District Federal Court has four locations to serve the three divisions:
Western Division (Los Angeles - 2 locations)
First Street U.S. Courthouse
350 W 1st Street, Suite 4311
Los Angeles, CA 90012-4565
Business Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Phone: (213) 894-1565
Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and United States Courthouse
255 East Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3332
Business Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Phone: (213) 894-1565
Eastern Division (Riverside)
George E. Brown, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse
3470 Twelfth Street
Riverside, CA 92501-3801
Business Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Phone: (951) 328-4450
Southern Division (Santa Ana)
Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse
411 West 4th Street, Room 1053
Santa Ana, CA 92701-4516
Business Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Phone: (714) 338-4750
Federal Judges for the Central District
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California is presided over by 28 federal judges. These judges are nominated by the current president and then confirmed to lifetime terms by the Senate.
The current active judges in the Central District are:
- Philip Gutierrez (Chief Judge)
- Fernando Aenlle-Rocha
- Percy Anderson
- Jesus Bernal
- André Birotte, Jr.
- Stanley Blumenfeld
- Cormac Carney
- David Carter
- Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong
- Dale Fischer
- Michael Fitzgerald
- Sherilyn P. Garnett
- Dolly Gee
- Philip Gutierrez
- John William Holcomb
- Robert Klausner
- Fernando Olguin
- Mark C. Scarsi
- Fred W. Slaughter
- Josephine Staton
- Sunshine S. Sykes
- John Walter
- Stephen Wilson
- Otis Wright
- George Wu
In addition to these posts, the Central District of California has a roster of senior and magistrate judges to help handle some caseloads.
- Senior judges are federal judges who have become eligible for retirement after a certain age and at least 15 years of service and now hear cases on a volunteer basis. There are currently ten senior judges serving the Central District.
- Federal magistrate judges are lower judges elected by their constituents to renewable eight-year terms rather than appointed by the President. Their duties may vary, but they generally are assigned to specific tasks by the active federal judges to assist in the workings of the courts. There are currently 25 magistrate judges serving the Central District.
How the Federal District Court System Works
The Central District, as a federal court, has jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases.
The types of civil cases heard by the Central District are those considered “diverse” and involve parties from different states or countries.
Examples include contracts, employment discrimination, intellectual property disputes, bankruptcy proceedings, immigration matters, and personal injury claims stemming from federal acts.
Criminal cases involving violations of federal laws are also heard in the Central District. These include tax fraud, counterfeiting, drug trafficking, and other crimes with a nexus to federal laws.
In both cases, adverse decisions in the Central District of California may be appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (Pasadena location).
At Eisner Gorin, we represent defendants facing criminal charges in federal court. Our attorneys have extensive experience appearing at all four locations within the U.S. District Court for the Central District.
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