Courtesy copies are required when a filing is >= 25 pages. Details: 1 copy, delivery upon filing, by chambers drop off. Non-pro-se parties must deliver one courtesy copy for ECF filings of 25+ pages, with required labeling, ECF stamp, and tabbed spiral binding.
Yes. A pre-motion letter is required for discovery. Details: 5 pages. Civil discovery disputes require a single jointly composed pre-motion letter capped at five pages, and separate/successive letters are not accepted.
Judge Hector Gonzalez's rule states these limits: 3 pages. Pre-motion response letters are limited to three pages.
Judge Hector Gonzalez's rule states these limits: 25 pages; 10 pages. Support/opposition memoranda are limited to 25 pages and reply memoranda are limited to 10 pages unless prior permission is granted.
Judge Hector Gonzalez's formatting rule includes file format PDF, filed on ecf and emailed to chambers., and applies to other submissions for adoption by the court.. Proposed orders, jury instructions, and similar submissions must be provided in PDF format via ECF and email to Chambers.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Adjournment or extension requests must be docketed as motions and clearly labeled as adjournment/extension requests in the ECF entry.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Any attorney who appears must file a notice of appearance on ECF.
Parties may contact Judge Hector Gonzalez's chambers by letter ecf only as allowed by the rule. Written communications with Chambers must be filed as ECF letters, with simultaneous copy service on pro se litigants.
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Hector Gonzalez. A motion for leave is required to file under seal, and the proposed sealed document must be attached.
Requests should be made at least 3 business days in advance when this rule applies before Judge Hector Gonzalez. Adjournment or extension requests must be filed at least three business days before the relevant deadline or appearance unless there is an emergency.
No. The rule prohibits holding covered papers for bundling. Motion papers must be filed promptly and not held for bundling.
Written communications with Chambers must be filed as ECF letters, with simultaneous copy service on pro se litigants.
ECF letters must include a brief subject-matter description in the entry field, not a generic label.
Counsel may email Chambers for unresolved rules questions and scheduling/calendar matters.
Urgent matters should be raised by phone to Chambers, with an initial email request for contact information.
Adjournment or extension requests must be filed at least three business days before the relevant deadline or appearance unless there is an emergency.
Adjournment or extension requests must be docketed as motions and clearly labeled as adjournment/extension requests in the ECF entry.
Adjournment or extension requests must be filed by ECF letter (except pro se) and include specified prior-date, history, consent, schedule, and grounds information.
Speedy Trial Act exclusion requests in criminal cases must include conferral/consent information, supporting facts, and a proposed exclusion order.
Any attorney who appears must file a notice of appearance on ECF.
Written submissions and supporting materials must be text-searchable where practicable.
Any request for relief must be docketed as a Motion, and the ECF entry must state the specific subject matter.
A motion for leave is required to file under seal, and the proposed sealed document must be attached.
Proposed orders, jury instructions, and similar submissions must be provided in PDF format via ECF and email to Chambers.
Non-pro-se parties must deliver one courtesy copy for ECF filings of 25+ pages, with required labeling, ECF stamp, and tabbed spiral binding.
For very large courtesy-copy submissions, parties must email Chambers for format instructions, including possible CD submission with separately named PDFs.
Civil discovery disputes require a single jointly composed pre-motion letter capped at five pages, and separate/successive letters are not accepted.
In cases with pro se parties, filing and service questions should be directed by phone to the Pro Se Office.
A detailed pre-motion letter of up to three pages is required before filing non-discovery motions.
Serving a pre-motion letter within Rule 12 or Rule 56 deadlines counts as timely motion service under those rules.
For Rule 56 motions, the movant must include a Rule 56.1 statement with the pre-motion letter.
Response letters are due within five business days for non-summary-judgment pre-motion letters.
Pre-motion response letters are limited to three pages.
For summary-judgment pre-motion letters, response letters are due within 21 days of service.
Requests to charge should be limited to claim elements, damages sought, and defenses.
A Rule 56 pre-motion response letter must include a line-by-line Rule 56.1 opposing statement.
Rule 56.1 statements in pre-motion practice must attach relevant exhibits and cite them by exhibit identifier and page or Bates number.
Pre-motion letters for summary judgment and Daubert-type expert-exclusion motions must be filed within 30 days after fact or expert discovery closes, whichever is later.
Similarly situated parties are encouraged to consolidate pre-motion letters to avoid duplication.
The moving party is not permitted to file a reply letter in the pre-motion letter process.
Cross-motions are prohibited, and motions omitted from timely pre-motion letters will not be considered.