Court Rules
About United States District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta

**United States District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta** was appointed to the Eastern District of California by President Joseph R. Biden in 2023. He was nominated on August 1, 2022, to a seat vacated by the Hon. John A. Mendez, confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 16, 2023, and received his commission on February 21, 2023. Before his appointment, Judge Calabretta served as a Sacramento Superior Court judge (2019–2023) and previously as Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary to Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. He began his legal career with a clerkship for Associate Justice John Paul Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court and a clerkship for Circuit Judge William A. Fletcher of the Ninth Circuit. He has taught constitutional law at Lincoln Law School of Sacramento and taught direct democracy law at UC Davis School of Law. **Education** - University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 2003 - Princeton University, B.A., 2000 **Career** - 2019–2023: Judge, Sacramento Superior Court - 2013–2019: Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. - 2008–2013: Deputy Attorney General, California Department of Justice - 2005–2008: Associate, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP - 2004–2005: Law Clerk to Hon. John Paul Stevens, Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court - 2003–2004: Law Clerk to Hon. William A. Fletcher, Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

**Division:** Sacramento **Courthouse:** Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse, 501 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 **Chambers:** Courtroom 7, 14th Floor **Phone:** (916) 930-4115 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: Gabriel Michel, gmichel@caed.uscourts.gov, (916) 930-4114

Common questions about Judge Daniel J. Calabretta's rules

Does Judge Daniel J. Calabretta require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

The rule does not state that a pre-motion letter is required, but it sets the applicable pre-motion procedure. Pre-filing meet and confer required for motions in cases with represented parties.

What page or word limits apply to brief before Judge Daniel J. Calabretta?

Judge Daniel J. Calabretta's rule states these limits: 25 pages; 15 pages. Moving/opposition briefs limited to 25 pages; reply briefs limited to 15 pages.

What page or word limits apply to brief before Judge Daniel J. Calabretta?

Judge Daniel J. Calabretta's rule states these limits: 25 pages; 15 pages. Moving/opposition briefs limited to 25 pages, reply briefs to 15 pages, sur-replies and supplemental briefs prohibited without leave; extensions require good cause.

View ruleSource: page 2, section I. LAW AND MOTION B. Briefing

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Daniel J. Calabretta?

Judge Daniel J. Calabretta's formatting rule includes arial font, 12 point type. Briefs must use 12 pt font; footnotes no more than 2 sizes smaller; sans serif fonts encouraged.

What must be included with notice of motion filings before Judge Daniel J. Calabretta?

The rule requires certificate of conference. Motion notice must include certification that meet and confer efforts were exhausted with brief summary.

What must be included with bench trial filings before Judge Daniel J. Calabretta?

The rule requires proposed order. Proposed consent decrees and findings/conclusions required after bench trial, emailed in Word format.

How may parties contact Judge Daniel J. Calabretta's chambers?

Parties may contact Judge Daniel J. Calabretta's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email gmichel@caed.uscourts.gov. Counsel must contact the Courtroom Deputy via email to obtain available hearing dates for the civil law and motion calendar.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. LAW AND MOTION A. Calendar

How does Judge Daniel J. Calabretta handle sealed or redacted filings?

A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Daniel J. Calabretta. Process: file unredacted to clerk and file unredacted to chambers. Documents cannot be sealed or redacted without prior court approval, except as required by Local Rule 140.

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Daniel J. Calabretta?

Judge Daniel J. Calabretta's rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. The request must include original date, reason for request, number of previous requests, and previous requests granted or denied. Extension requests must be filed well in advance and include existing dates, specific good cause reasons, and prior extension history.

Does Judge Daniel J. Calabretta require motion papers to be bundled?

Yes. Judge Daniel J. Calabretta requires bundling for covered papers. Proposed jury instructions must be filed jointly in a single set.

View ruleSource: page 2, section B. Jury Instructions

Is electronic filing required before Judge Daniel J. Calabretta?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Notice of Request to Seal Document(s) must be filed electronically pursuant to Local Rule 141.

View ruleSource: page 5, section I. LAW AND MOTION - A. Requests for Sealing

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Daniel J. Calabretta?

The rule states that filing is treated as not specified. Joint Pretrial Statements must be filed 7 days before the Final Pretrial Conference.

View ruleSource: page 6, section V. TRIAL - A. Pretrial Statements and Final Pretrial Conference
Complete rules summary for Judge Daniel J. Calabretta

Moving/opposition briefs limited to 25 pages; reply briefs limited to 15 pages.

Briefs must use 12 pt font; footnotes no more than 2 sizes smaller; sans serif fonts encouraged.

Multi-page exhibits must be internally paginated starting at 1, with references including exhibit and page number.

Pre-filing meet and confer required for motions in cases with represented parties.

Motion notice must include certification that meet and confer efforts were exhausted with brief summary.

Memoranda limited to 25 pages (support/opposition) and 10 pages (reply).

Proposed orders not required for civil motions except TRO and preliminary injunction.

Proposed consent decrees and findings/conclusions required after bench trial, emailed in Word format.

Documents cannot be sealed or redacted without prior court approval, except as required by Local Rule 140.

Sealing requests must comply with Local Rule 141 and FRCP, state opposition status, and allow 3 days for opposition/non-opposition.

Sealing requests must be filed electronically with specific email addresses and include proposed order in Word format.

Protective orders don't govern public docket sealing; proponent must file sealing requests and provide advance notice to opposing parties.

Extension requests must be filed well in advance and include existing dates, specific good cause reasons, and prior extension history.

Stipulations continuing dispositive motion dates or trial dates are disfavored.

Joint Pretrial Statement required 7 days before final pretrial conference, emailed as Word doc.

Joint Pretrial Statement must include neutral case statement, joint exhibits, detailed exhibit descriptions, and trial length.

Motions in limine prohibited before pretrial conference.

Plaintiff must complete service of process within 90 days of filing.

Plaintiff must serve copies of new civil case orders and file certificate of service.

Removing party must serve new civil case orders and file certificate after removal.

Corporate parties must file disclosure statement on initial appearance or filing.

Diversity jurisdiction parties must file disclosure statement on initial appearance or filing.

Parties must confer and submit joint status report with discovery plan within 60 days.

Briefs must use 12 pt font with footnotes no more than 2 sizes smaller; sans serif fonts encouraged.

Moving/opposition briefs limited to 25 pages; reply briefs limited to 15 pages.

Supplemental briefs and sur-replies prohibited without prior leave of court.

Pretrial motions must be filed at least 14 days before hearing date.

Opposition to motions must be filed within 7 days after motion filing.

Non-opposition to motions requires filing a statement of non-opposition.

Replies must be filed within 4 days after opposition deadline.

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