Eastern District of California Filing Rules

Witnesses not on Final Trial Witness List may only be called for impeachment/rebuttal, stipulation, motion in limine ruling, or manifest injustice.

New Arrest Notification Form must be emailed to BKNA to set court calendar.

Joint letter must be filed at least 24 hours before telephonic conference.

Discovery motions must quote disputed discovery requests and responses, and cannot file transcripts unless ordered.

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

Civil law and motion hearings held Fridays at 9:30 AM; no date clearance needed.

Criminal hearings scheduled daily at 2:30 p.m.

Settlement conferences require contacting Courtroom Deputy Patricia Apodaca and may require pre-conference calls.

Proposed jury instructions must be emailed in Word format to saborders@caed.uscourts.gov one week before trial.

Parties must appear in person with counsel; telephonic appearances only with written request and good cause.

Joint letter brief limited to 4 pages, due 24 hours before informal video conference.

Joint letter brief limited to 2 pages (12-point type) for discovery disputes.

Civil case briefs limited to 25 pages (moving/opposition) and 10 pages (reply).

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

Civil briefs limited to 25 pages (support/opposition) and 15 pages (reply), TOC/TOA excluded.

Three sets of pre-marked exhibits in tabbed binders required: 2 to Courtroom Deputy, 1 for each opposing counsel.

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

Briefs must use minimum 12 pt font size, including footnotes.

Joint letter brief must be 12-point type.

Briefs must use Times New Roman, minimum 12pt font, footnotes no smaller than 11pt.

No extensions granted for court-ordered fines; late penalties may apply.

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

Sentencing deadlines: 42 days for PSR availability, 28 days for objections to probation officer, 21 days for probation officer submission, 14 days for formal objections.

Scheduling Order dates are firm and require good cause to modify, with affidavits/declarations needed.

Requests to exceed page limits must be filed in writing at least 7 days before filing.

No paper courtesy copy required for joint letter brief.

Courtesy copies of motion-related documents are unnecessary unless specifically requested.

Courtesy copies required for TRO and injunction papers.

Courtesy copies required for documents exceeding 25 pages.

Courtesy copies required for motion-related pleadings over 25 pages.

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

Court approval required before sealing or redacting documents.

Sealing/redaction requires court approval; direct to Judge Drozd if he decides the motion.

Previously-approved sealed documents must be emailed to ApprovedSealed@caed.uscourts.gov.

Motions in limine must be filed 3 weeks before hearing, opposition due 2 weeks after, hearing 2-3 weeks before trial.

Discovery motions require prior approval before filing.

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

Informal discovery conferences are optional alternative to formal motions under Local Rule 251.

Motions in limine cannot be filed before the pretrial conference.

Proposed verdict forms must be exchanged 3 weeks before trial, conference held, and joint form filed 1 week before trial.

Parties must coordinate to submit only two total sets of courtesy copies.

Court will hold hearing if junior attorney (under 5 years) requests oral argument 10 days in advance.

Parties are encouraged to provide less experienced attorneys opportunity to present oral argument.

Judge encourages assigning oral arguments to attorneys with 7 or fewer years of experience.