Court Rules
About United States Magistrate Judge Frank J. Singer

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California United States Magistrate Judge, appointed March 19, 2026 University of the Pacific–McGeorge School of Law, J.D., 2003 2009-2026U.S. Department of Justice – Environment & Natural Resources Division, Washington, D.C. 2005-2009Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP, Palo Alto, CA 2005Law Clerk, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, Sacramento, CA Frank J. Singer was appointed as a magistrate judge in the Fresno Division of the Eastern District of California on March 19, 2026.  Judge Singer presides over a large variety of federal matters. Judge Singer also conducts settlement conferences. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Singer was a trial attorney, then senior trial attorney, and ultimately a senior litigation counsel with the Natural Resources Section of the Justice Department’s Environment & Natural Resources Division. There, Judge Singer focused on trial work and litigated a wide range of matters, including Fifth Amendment takings cases, tribal trust cases, and challenges to governmental action under the Administrative Procedure Act. Judge Singer also frequently taught courses on civil litigation at the Justice Department’s National Advocacy Center. Before joining the Justice Department, Judge Singer practiced general commercial civil litigation in Palo Alto, California, and environmental civil litigation in Sacramento, California, with private law firms. Judge Singer also served as a term law clerk to the Hon. Garland E. Burrell, Jr., of the Eastern District of California. Judge Singer attended the University of the Pacific – McGeorge School of Law and graduated in 2003 with great distinction. Judge Singer was recognized as the outstanding graduating senior of his class and was inducted into the Order of the Coif and the Order of the Barristers. Judge Singer participated in moot court and was a staff writer for the McGeorge Law Review. While attending law school, Judge Singer worked full-time as a public lands management specialist with the California State Lands Commission. Judge Singer earned his undergraduate degree in economics at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Robert E. Coyle United States Courthouse 2500 Tulare Street Fresno, CA  93721 Courtroom 8, 6th floor evaldez@caed.uscourts.gov (559) 499-5788 Fresno_ECRO@caed.uscourts.gov (559) 499-5660 Fax: (559) 499-5662 Telephone: (559) 499-5788 **Staff:** Judge Staff

Common questions about Judge Frank J. Singer's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Frank J. Singer?

Courtesy copies are required for motions, briefs, oppositions, replys, exhibits, and notice of motions. Details: delivery upon filing, by hand delivery. All motion-related documents require tabbed, fastened courtesy copies clearly marked and submitted to Judge Singer's chambers.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Civil Law and Motion Calendar

What page or word limits apply to dispute synopsis before Judge Frank J. Singer?

Judge Frank J. Singer's rule states these limits: 4 pages. Excludes exhibits and attachments. Dispute synopsis for informal discovery conferences must not exceed 4 pages, excluding exhibits and attachments, filed 48 hours prior.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Informal Telephonic or Video Conferences re Discovery Disputes

What page or word limits apply to brief before Judge Frank J. Singer?

Judge Frank J. Singer's rule states these limits: 25 pages; 10 pages. Moving and opposition briefs limited to 25 pages, reply briefs to 10 pages, unless prior leave is obtained 7 days before filing; non-compliant briefs may not be considered.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Length of Briefs on Motions Other Than Rule 251 Motions

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Frank J. Singer?

Judge Frank J. Singer's formatting rule includes file format docx. Email copy of the Scheduling Conference Report must be in Microsoft Word (DOCX) format.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Scheduling Conferences

What must be included with scheduling conference report filings before Judge Frank J. Singer?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Joint Scheduling Conference Report must be electronically filed 1 week prior to the conference, with a Word-format email copy sent to fjsorders@caed.uscourts.gov.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Scheduling Conferences

What must be included with settlement conference statement filings before Judge Frank J. Singer?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Confidential Settlement Conference Statements must be submitted to chambers 7 calendar days before the settlement conference.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Settlement Conferences

How may parties contact Judge Frank J. Singer's chambers?

Parties may contact Judge Frank J. Singer's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email evaldez@caed.uscourts.gov. Notify chambers via caption or email at least 1 week prior to video conference motion hearings.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Video Conference and Telephonic Appearances

Does Judge Frank J. Singer encourage junior lawyer participation?

Yes. Judge Frank J. Singer's rules include a junior lawyer participation incentive. Attorneys with 7 or fewer years of experience arguing motions increase the likelihood of an oral argument hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Civil Law and Motion Calendar
Complete rules summary for Judge Frank J. Singer

All motion-related documents require tabbed, fastened courtesy copies clearly marked and submitted to Judge Singer's chambers.

Attorneys with 7 or fewer years of experience arguing motions increase the likelihood of an oral argument hearing.

Joint Scheduling Conference Report must be electronically filed 1 week prior to the conference, with a Word-format email copy sent to fjsorders@caed.uscourts.gov.

Email copy of the Scheduling Conference Report must be in Microsoft Word (DOCX) format.

Scheduling Conference Report email copies must be sent to fjsorders@caed.uscourts.gov.

Confidential Settlement Conference Statements must be submitted to chambers 7 calendar days before the settlement conference.

Notify chambers via caption or email at least 1 week prior to video conference motion hearings.

Telephonic scheduling conferences use dial-in 16692545252, meeting ID 161 923 1396, passcode 720262.

Joint Statement of Discovery Disagreement or LR 251 affidavit must be filed 14 days prior to discovery hearing to avoid cancellation.

Dispute synopsis for informal discovery conferences must not exceed 4 pages, excluding exhibits and attachments, filed 48 hours prior.

Proposed orders and stipulations must be submitted in Microsoft Word format, not PDF, to fjsorders@caed.uscourts.gov.

Proposed orders and stipulations must include attorney electronic signature (/s/First/Last name) and signing date; unsigned documents are rejected.

Documents requiring court approval must be emailed to fjsorders@caed.uscourts.gov.

Moving and opposition briefs limited to 25 pages, reply briefs to 10 pages, unless prior leave is obtained 7 days before filing; non-compliant briefs may not be considered.

Briefs exceeding 10 pages must include a table of contents and table of authorities.

Rule 251 joint statements in civil cases before Judge Singer must be succinct and are limited to 30 total pages.

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