Important Notice
NOTES: Information on this page is not intended to take the place of Judge Walter's Standing Order and/or Scheduling and Case Management Order
* The civil motion calendar for August 24, 2026 is closed (as of 9:00 a.m. 7/23/26)
ORDER RE: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:
If any attorney for a party or a
pro se
party has used any generative artificial intelligence (“AI”) in the preparation of any complaint, answer, motion, brief, or other document filed with the Court, the attorney or
pro se
party shall disclose that AI has been used in the preparation of the document, and
CERTIFY
that the attorney or
pro se
party has personally reviewed and verified the accuracy of all legal citations, quotations, factual statements, and analyses contained in the document. Failure to include such certification will result in the striking of the document.
HEARINGS:
All civil and criminal matters will be held in person unless instructed otherwise.
At this time the Court is not conducting any telephonic or video conference hearings. Please do not email the clerk requesting a remote appearance. Should the parties still wish to request a remote appearance, no later than three (3) court days before the court proceeding an ex parte application and proposed order or stipulation and proposed order shall be filed. Such a request must be supported by a declaration setting forth good cause for the remote appearance. In the unlikely event the court grants the request, the type of remote appearance allowed will be at the court’s discretion.
RECORDING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED:
Recording, copying, photographing and rebroadcasting of court proceedings is prohibited by federal law.
MEDIA REQUESTS:
Neither Judge Walter nor his CRD will respond to requests from the media. Media should refer to the Central District website for information and instructions on how to communicate with the Court.
Law and Motion Schedule
Criminal
Criminal matters are heard on:
Monday at 8:00 a.m.
The Court will not consider any stipulation or application to continue any hearing unless such stipulation or application is properly filed with a separate proposed order at least three court days prior to the date of the hearing. If the stipulation/application for continuance was not filed at least three court days prior to the date of the hearing, or if the Court has not ruled on the stipulation/application, counsel and the defendant(s) shall appear on the scheduled hearing date.
Filing criminal documents under seal: Refer to the Local Rules.
Civil
Civil motions are heard on:
Monday at 1:30 p.m.
Tentative rulings are not issued.
It is not necessary to clear a motion date with the Courtroom Deputy Clerk ("CRD") before filing the motion.
Before filing motions, the parties must check the section of this webpage regarding Closed Motion Dates to make sure the hearing date has not been closed. If a motion is calendared for a date that is closed, the Court will STRIKE the Motion.
If Monday is a holiday, counsel shall choose the next available/open Monday hearing date.
Discovery motions are to be calendared before the Magistrate Judge.
Continuances are granted only upon a showing of good cause. Requests for continuances must be made by motion, stipulation, or application with a separate proposed order accompanied by a declaration setting forth the reasons for the requested continuance. The declaration should also state whether there have been any prior requests for continuances and whether these requests were granted or denied by the Court and shall include all pending dates set by the Court. Stipulations extending dates set by this Court are not effective unless approved by the Court. Requests for continuance should be submitted well in advance of the requested relief. Requests for continuance not in compliance with the Court’s Standing Order or the Local Rules will be denied.
Filing civil documents under seal: Refer to the Local Rules and the Court's Standing Order.
If any party chooses to appear in pro se to litigate in this Court, they are obligated and expected to become familiar with and adhere to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the local rules of the Court, and the individual rules of the Honorable John F. Walter. The Court cannot offer legal advice. Pro se litigants are encouraged to visit the Court’s website: People Without Lawyers. (https://prose.cacd.uscourts.gov)
Judge's Procedures
General Information
All documents which are required to be filed in an electronic format pursuant to Local Rules governing electronic filing
shall be filed electronically no later than 4:00 p.m. on the date due unless otherwise ordered by the Court. Any documents filed electronically after 4:00 p.m. on the date due will be considered late and may be stricken by the Court. Any documents which counsel attempt to file electronically which are improperly filed will not be accepted by the Court.
All documents filed electronically shall be filed in accordance with the Local Rule 5-4. Each PDF file shall contain no more than one document or exhibit, see Local Rule 5-4.3.1, and each document or exhibit shall be meaningfully described on the docket such that the document or exhibit can be easily identified. For example, if a declaration in support of a motion appears as Docket No. 30, exhibit 1 to the declaration should be filed as Docket No. 30-1 with a description of the exhibit that includes the title of the exhibit and the exhibit number (e.g., Exhibit 1: Letter from John Doe to Jane Doe dated January 1, 2021). Exhibit 2 to the declaration should be filed as Docket No. 30-2 with a description of the exhibit which includes the title of the exhibit and exhibit number (Exhibit 2: Letter from Jane Doe to John Doe dated January 2, 2021), and so on.
When a proposed order accompanies a filing, a WordPerfect or Word copy of the proposed order, along with a copy of the PDF electronically filed main document, shall be e-mailed to the Chamber’s e-mail address listed on the ECF Website. The subject line of the e-mail shall be in the following format: court’s divisional office, year, case type, case number, document control number assigned to the main document at the time of filing, judge’s initials and filer (party) name. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the denial or striking of the request or the Court may withhold ruling on the request until the Court receives the required documents.
All filed documents must contain counsel’s “E-mail Address of Record”.
Ex parte
Applications, Temporary Restraining Orders and Injunctions: Refer to the Local Rules and the Court's Standing Order.
Calls or e-mails will not be returned regarding the status of submitted motions, stipulations, or proposed orders. Counsel may determine the status of any submitted motion, stipulation, or proposed order by accessing the docket through PACER.
Counsel are not permitted to contact the judge’s law clerks or judicial assistant unless responding to an inquiry they initiated.
For general information on how to order a transcript of any reported or digitally recorded proceeding, please contact 213-894-3015 or visit the court website (www.cacd.uscourts.gov) section referring to
Court Reporter/Recorder Transcripts
. If you require an estimate of cost for the preparation of a transcript, contact the court reporter/recorder for the desired proceeding.
To determine the court reporter/recorder for a particular proceeding, go to the
Court Reporter Schedule
web page and click on View by Date. Once you've determined the correct court reporter/recorder for the desired session, click on
Court Reporter Phone and Email List
for contact information.
The following trial preparation will be discussed at the Scheduling Conference and Pretrial Conference:
Court hours
Motions in Limine
Exhibit preparation
Jury Instructions and Verdict Forms
Counsel are directed to the Court's website for information related to reserving courtroom equipment.
The Court requires the following to be submitted to the CRD on the first day of trial:
The original exhibits with the Court’s exhibit tags. Plaintiff shall use yellow tags; defendant shall use blue tags. Each tag shall be affixed to the front of the exhibit as detailed in the Court’s Civil and Criminal Trial Orders. Exhibit tags can be obtained from the Clerk’s Office.
One bench book with a copy of each exhibit for the Court’s use, tagged as described above.
Three (3) copies of exhibit lists (CRD will instruct at pretrial conference as to format). Counsel shall also email a copy to the Chambers email box at least one day prior to trial.
Three (3) copies of witness lists in the order in which the witnesses will be called to testify (CRD will instruct at pretrial conference as to format). Counsel shall also email a copy to the Chambers email box at least one day prior to trial.
All exhibits will be returned to counsel at the end of trial and will not be kept by the Court. Counsel shall keep the lodged and admitted exhibits in their possession pursuant to Local Rules.
It is the responsibility of counsel in a civil case to arrange for the services of an Interpreter. Interpreter’s Office: (213) 894-4599.
Other information: Counsel are directed to comply with all Local Rules and all Orders issued by the Court.
Law clerk/extern positions: Submit resume
Mandatory Chambers Copies
Counsel are ORDERED to deliver 2 copies of all documents filed electronically to Chambers. For each document filed electronically, one copy shall be marked “CHAMBERS COPY” and the other copy shall be marked “COURTESY COPY.” The copies of each electronically filed document must include on each page the running header created by the ECF system. In addition, on the first page of each copy, in the space between lines 1-7 to the right of the center, counsel shall include the date the document was e-filed and the document number. The copies shall be delivered to Chambers no later than 10:00 a.m. on the next business day after the document was electronically filed. For any document that is not required to be filed electronically, counsel are ORDERED to deliver 1 conformed copy of the document, which shall be marked “COURTESY COPY” to Chambers at the time of filing. Judge Walter's courtesy box is located outside Chambers on the 7th floor. Do not buzz Chambers regarding delivery of documents.
