Court Rules
senior Judge
Verified Current7 days ago

Judge Claudia Wilken

Northern District of California

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Discovery Letter Brief
12 pgs
Motion
25 pgs
Motion In Limine
25 pgs
Discovery Letter Brief
8 pgs
Opposition
25 pgs
Reply
15 pgs
Reply To Cross Motion
15 pgs
Motions In Limine
25 pgs
Joint Proposed Jury Instructions
25 pgs

Communication

Website

Court

Scheduling
No Status Inquiries
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantCommunicationLettersExhibitsDiscoveryMemorandaJuryECF FilingTRO/Injunction

Detailed Drafting Rules

Document RequirementMandatory

Discovery disputes require joint letter (max 8 pages) with up to 12 pages of attachments, filed under specific ECF category.

the parties shall prepare a joint letter of not more than eight (8) pages explaining the dispute. Up to twelve (12) pages of attachments may be added. The joint letter must be electronically filed under the Civil Events category of “Motions and Related Filings > Motions--General > Discovery Letter Brief.”

Document Type

Discovery Letter Brief

Content & Formatting
Joint Letter
Exhibit List
Legal Argument
Table Of Contents
Statement Of Facts
Table Of Authorities
Page 2
|SecDiscovery disputes
Page or Word LimitImportant

Discovery letter brief may include up to 12 pages of attachments.

Up to twelve (12) pages of attachments may be added.

Page 2
|SecDiscovery disputes
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Summary judgment motions have specific timing and page limits: plaintiffs file 6 weeks before cut-off, defendants file cross-motion within 25-page opposition 14 days after, reply 15 pages 7 days after opposition.

If Plaintiffs wish to file a motion for summary judgment, they shall do so six (6) weeks before the cut-off date. If Defendants wish to file a cross motion as well as an opposition to the motion, any cross-motion shall be contained within the opposition to the motion, which may contain up to twenty-five (25) pages in total, and shall be filed fourteen (14) days after the filing of the motion. The reply to the motion shall include the opposition to any cross-motion, may contain up to fifteen (15) pages in total, and shall be filed seven (7) days after the filing of the opposition.

Page 2
|SecMotions for Summary Judgment
Communication ProtocolNote

Civil motions heard Tuesdays at 2:30 PM; no need to reserve but check website for unavailable dates.

Civil motion calendar is conducted on Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. Parties need not reserve a hearing date for civil motions; however, parties must check the legal newspapers or the Court’s website at www.cand.uscourts.gov for unavailable dates.

Website

Direct to: Court

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecCivil motion calendar
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Motions in limine limited to 25 pages total in one document.

All motions in limine shall be contained within one document, limited to twenty-five (25) pages pursuant to Civil L.R. 7-2(b), with each motion listed as a subheading.

Page 6
|SecMotions in Limine
Document RequirementMandatory

Disputed jury instructions must include argument and authority on separate pages.

Argument and authority for and against each disputed instruction shall be included as part of the joint submission, on separate pages

Document Type

Jury Instructions

Content & Formatting
Disputed Instruction Arguments
Page 7
|SecJoint Proposed Jury Instructions
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Discovery disputes require joint letter (max 8 pages) with up to 12 pages of attachments.

After the parties have met and conferred, the parties shall prepare a joint letter of not more than eight (8) pages explaining the dispute. Up to twelve (12) pages of attachments may be added.

Page 1
|SecDiscovery disputes
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Defendants' cross-motion must be in opposition (max 25 pages) filed 14 days after motion.

If Defendants wish to file a cross motion as well as an opposition to the motion, any cross-motion shall be contained within the opposition to the motion, which may contain up to twenty-five (25) pages in total, and shall be filed fourteen (14) days after the filing of the motion.

Page 1
|SecMotions for Summary Judgment
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Reply (max 15 pages) must be filed 7 days after opposition.

The reply to the motion shall include the opposition to any cross-motion, may contain up to fifteen (15) pages in total, and shall be filed seven (7) days after the filing of the opposition.

Page 1
|SecMotions for Summary Judgment
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Reply to cross-motion (max 15 pages) must be filed 7 days after opposition.

A reply to any cross-motion may contain up to fifteen (15) pages, and shall be filed seven (7) days after the filing of the opposition.

Page 1
|SecMotions for Summary Judgment
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Motions in limine limited to 25 pages total

All motions in limine shall be contained within one document, limited to twenty-five (25) pages pursuant to Civil L.R. 7-2(b), with each motion listed as a

Page 4
|SecMotions in Limine
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Joint proposed jury instructions limited to 25 pages, filed 7 days after pretrial meeting.

contained within one document, limited to twenty-five (25) pages, with corresponding subheadings, and filed seven (7) days thereafter.

Page 5
|SecI. PRETRIAL CONFERENCE