Effective April 1, 2020, the Central Family Law Division at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles will implement a series of Bench assignment and courtroom changes to its Family Law operations.
New Restraining Order Courtrooms:
The following departments will become restraining order hearing courtrooms:
- Judge Emily T. Spear will preside over Restraining Order matters in Department 13. Cases currently assigned to Judge Spear or Judge Gregory J. Weingart in Department 65 will be randomly reassigned to new courtrooms. Matters scheduled on or after April 1 will be rescheduled and the parties will receive notice of the new hearing dates and times.
- Commissioner Laura D. Cohen will preside over Restraining Order matters in Department 21. Cases currently assigned to Commissioner Cohen in Department 2C will be randomly reassigned to new courtrooms. Matters scheduled on or after April 1 will be rescheduled and the parties will receive notice of the new departments, hearing dates and times.
- Commissioner Laura Hymowitz will preside over Restraining Order matters in Department 23.
Requests for Temporary Restraining Orders continue to be filed in the Restraining Order Center, Room 245. Requests for Temporary Restraining Orders not filed in existing family law cases will be randomly assigned to restraining order courtrooms. Requests for Temporary Restraining Orders filed in existing family law cases will be heard in the assigned home courtrooms.
Judicial Officer Reassignments:
- Judge Lynn H. Scaduto is moving from Department 13 to Department 65. Cases assigned to Judge Scaduto in Department 13 remain assigned to her. Future hearing dates will not change.
- Judge Audra Mori is moving from Department 21 to Department 84. Cases assigned to Judge Mori in Department 21 remain assigned to her. Future hearing dates will not change.
- Judge Alison Mackenzie is moving from Department 23 to Department 88. Cases assigned to Judge Mackenzie in Department 23 remain assigned to her. Future hearing dates will not change.
- Judge Steven A. Ellis is moving from Department 84 to Department 2C; cases assigned to Judge Ellis in Department 84 remain assigned to him. Future hearing dates will not change.
- Judge Ana Maria Luna is moving to a Probate assignment. Cases currently assigned to Judge Luna in Department 88 will be randomly reassigned to other judicial officers. Matters scheduled on or after April 1 will be rescheduled and the parties will receive notice of the new departments, hearing dates and times.
- Judge Mark H. Epstein is moving to a Civil assignment. Cases currently assigned to Judge Epstein in Department 81 will be reassigned to Judge Gregory J. Weingart in Department 81. Future hearing dates will not change.
As of February 3, 2020, new filings for cases currently assigned to Departments 2C, 65 and 88 setting hearings on or after April 1, 2020, generate a notice of case reassignment identifying the newly-assigned home courtroom.
Counsel and parties are instructed to identify the assigned judicial officer and department on the first page of all documents filed with the clerk, beneath the case number, to ensure proper departmental assignment, calendaring of hearings, and the distribution of documents.
