Local Rule 11-3: Pro Hac Vice

11-3. Pro Hac Vice

(a) Application. An attorney who is not a member of the bar of this Court may apply to appear pro hac vice in a particular action in this district by submitting to the Clerk, together with the written application, a true and correct copy of a certificate of good standing or other similar official document issued by the appropriate authority governing attorney admissions for the relevant bar. Said certificate or other document must be dated no more than one year prior to the date of application for admission. The applicant must also submit an oath certifying the following: (1) That he or she is an active member in good standing of the bar of a United States Court or of the highest court of another state or the District of Columbia, specifying such bar; (2) That he or she agrees to abide by the Standards of Professional Conduct set forth in Civil L.R. 11-4, and to become familiar with the Local Rules and Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs of this Court and, where applicable, with the Bankruptcy Local Rules; (3) That an attorney, identified by name and office address, who is a member of the bar of this Court in good standing and who maintains an office within the State of California, is designated as co-counsel. (4) The number of times the applicant has been granted pro hac vice admission by the Court in the 12 months preceding the application.

(b) Time of Application. An attorney seeking to appear pro hac vice must submit the application and admission fee at the time of the filing of a complaint or the attorney's first appearance in the case. A failure to meet this deadline may result in denial of the application.

(c) Disqualification from Pro Hac Vice Appearance. Unless authorized by an Act of Congress or by an order of the assigned Judge, an applicant is not eligible for permission to practice pro hac vice if the applicant: (1) Resides in the State of California; or (2) Is regularly engaged in the practice of law in the State of California.

This disqualification shall not be applicable if the pro hac vice applicant (i) has been a resident of California for less than one year; (ii) has registered with, and completed all required applications for admission to, the State Bar of California; and (iii) has officially registered to take or is awaiting results from the California State Bar exam.

(d) Approval. The Clerk shall present the application to the assigned Judge for approval. The assigned Judge shall have discretion to accept or reject the application, or excuse the admission fee.

(e) Admission Fee. At the time the application is submitted, an attorney requesting to practice under Civil L.R. 11-3 must pay to the Clerk the Pro Hac Vice admission fee set by the Court's fee schedule, available at cand.uscourts.gov/rules-forms-fees/court-fee-schedule. The Clerk will not present an application to the assigned Judge unless the filing fee has been paid or a request to waive the filing fee has been submitted. The fee will be placed in the Court's Non-Appropriated Fund for library, educational, and other appropriate uses. If the assigned Judge rejects the application, the fee will be refunded at the attorney's request.

(f) Appearances and Service on Local Co-Counsel. All papers filed by the attorney must indicate appearance pro hac vice. Service of papers on and communications with local co-counsel designated pursuant to Civil L.R. 11-3(a)(3) shall constitute notice to the party.