---
title: "Samuel James Otero | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-james-otero-2477"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Samuel James Otero

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · U.S. District Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- State: California
- Role: U.S. District Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, District Court, C.D. California, 2003-present
- Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, 1990-2003
- Judge, Los Angeles California Municipal Court, 1988-1990
- Law clerk and attorney, Office of the City Attorney, Los Angeles, CA, 1976-1987

### Education

- Stanford University — J.D. (1976)
- California State University

### Additional information

- Joined the court in 2003 after being nominated by President George W. Bush (R).
- Regional counsel, Southern Pacific Transportation Co., 1987-1988
- Date of birth: 1951-01-01
- Birth place: Los Angeles, CA

## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2477/samuel-james-otero/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2477/samuel-james-otero/)
- [U.S. District Court for the Central District of California current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2477/samuel-james-otero/)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2477/samuel-james-otero/)
- [Otero, S. James | Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/otero-s-james)
- [S. James Otero](https://ballotpedia.org/S._James_Otero)
- [Wikidata: S. James Otero](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7387555)

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## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-651872d6e45e0d82319ecccc) — Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.
- [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.