Federal judges offer practitioners a view from the bench

Federal judges in Los Angeles offered attorneys a window into their courtrooms Wednesday, discussing trial strategy, artificial intelligence and opportunities for young lawyers while highlighting the Central District of California's growing reliance on magistrate judges.

The Los Angeles County Bar Association Litigation Section's Federal Courts Symposium brought district and magistrate judges together with practitioners for three panels at the DoubleTree in downtown Los Angeles.

Peter Morrison, the section's officer liaison to the Federal Courts Committee, described the biennial symposium as one of the Litigation Section's marquee events and an opportunity for practitioners to hear directly from federal judges.

Brian Hershman, co-chair of LACBA's Federal Courts Committee, said the program is particularly useful for attorneys relatively new to federal practice.

"A lot of the lessons they learn help them grow and learn more about how to practice in federal court," Hershman said.

The first panel featured U.S. District Judges André Birotte Jr., Wesley L. Hsu and Anne Hwang, who discussed motions in limine, trial time limits, voir dire and courtroom efficiency.

Birotte urged attorneys to avoid unnecessary evidentiary fights and stipulate to facts or documents that are not genuinely disputed.

"I'm not saying stipulate away your case," Birotte said, "but to the extent you can, stuff that's non-controversial, why not just stipulate?"

U.S. District Judges Michelle Williams Court, Serena R. Murillo and Cynthia Valenzuela followed with a discussion of their early years on the federal bench, the use of AI in litigation, pro bono work and opportunities for junior attorneys.

Murillo, making her first public bar association appearance since joining the federal bench, said such events help make judges more accessible to lawyers.

"It's just important for them to have access to the court, I think, and to find out what's happening and to see who we are as people," she said.

The evening concluded with Chief U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee, Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Stevenson and Magistrate Judge David T. Bristow discussing the court's magistrate judge direct-assignment program.

Gee said the Central District's heavy caseload makes greater use of magistrate judges increasingly important. Stevenson said more than 1,000 cases districtwide are currently being handled entirely through the direct-assignment consent program.

Organizers said the symposium was also intended to give attorneys an opportunity to interact with judges outside the formality of the courtroom.

Retired judge and JAMS mediator Michael R. Wilner said that interaction gives practitioners a better understanding of how judges approach their work.

"It's a real opportunity for people to see the judges as people and learn about how they handle themselves in court," Wilner said. "It's a great event."

Vicki Chou, a Federal Courts Committee co-chair who moderated the trial-practice panel, said the symposium is designed to serve lawyers at different levels of experience while keeping them abreast of changes in federal practice.

"We try to make this program relevant to a wide range of practitioners and help people stay updated on trends in federal courts," Chou said, "which is always incredibly valuable to hear directly from the judges."