**Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero** was appointed to the Northern District of California in 1999 and served as Chief Magistrate Judge from 2015 to 2023. Judge Spero graduated from Columbia University School of Law in 1981. He clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, practiced at Skadden Arps, and became a partner at Coblentz, Cahen, McCabe & Breyer. He has served as settlement judge in over 1,500 cases and received the Thurgood Marshall Award from the Bar Association of the City of New York. **Education** - Columbia University School of Law, J.D., 1981 **Career** - Law Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit - Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom - Associate then Partner, Coblentz, Cahen, McCabe & Breyer (now Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass) - Mediator, Harvard Law School; Northern District ADR Program - Judge Pro-Tem, San Francisco County Superior Court - Recipient, Thurgood Marshall Award, Bar Association of the City of New York
**Courthouse:** 450 Golden Gate Ave, 16th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102 **Chambers:** Courtroom D, 15th Floor **Phone:** (415) 522-2035 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy/Calendar Clerk: jcscrd@cand.uscourts.gov
Courtesy copies are required for all covered filings. Details: delivery upon filing, by email. No paper courtesy copies; email courtesy copies and proposed orders to jcspo@cand.uscourts.gov
Yes. A pre-motion letter is required for discovery motions. Details: 5 pages. Discovery disputes require meet and confer by video conference followed by a joint letter not exceeding 5 pages within 5 business days.
The rule requires case number and signature blocks. Consent/Declination form must be filed within 2 weeks of receipt in cases assigned to Judge Spero
The rule requires certificate of service. Parties must immediately preserve all evidence including electronic records upon notice of this order
Parties may contact Judge Joseph C. Spero's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email jcspo@cand.uscourts.gov. Proposed stipulations and orders must be sent by email to jcspo@cand.uscourts.gov.
Judge Joseph C. Spero's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Process: file redacted on ecf. In Social Security cases, parties should use only the plaintiff's initials in pleadings to protect privacy.
Requests should be made at least 7 calendar days in advance when this rule applies before Judge Joseph C. Spero. Requests to appear telephonically must be filed and served one week before the conference.
Civil motions heard Wednesdays at 9:30 AM; no advance hearing date reservation needed
Criminal motions heard Wednesdays at 10:30 AM
Case Management Conferences held Wednesdays at 2:00 PM; recording only if pro se party or specific request
Telephonic appearance requests suspended; all appearances by Zoom Webinar (ID: 161 926 0804, Password: 050855)
Consent/Declination form must be filed within 2 weeks of receipt in cases assigned to Judge Spero
No paper courtesy copies; email courtesy copies and proposed orders to jcspo@cand.uscourts.gov
Parties must immediately preserve all evidence including electronic records upon notice of this order
Parties may indicate pronouns and honorifics through confidential letter, docket filing, or pleadings.
Social Security cases must use plaintiff initials only in pleadings to protect privacy.
Requests to appear telephonically must be filed and served one week before the conference.
Scheduling questions should be emailed to JCSCRD@cand.uscourts.gov.
No paper courtesy copies accepted; email courtesy copies to jcspo@cand.uscourts.gov instead.
Proposed stipulations and orders must be sent by email to jcspo@cand.uscourts.gov.
Settlement Conference Statements must be lodged via email to JCSsettlement@cand.uscourts.gov, not electronically filed.
Discovery disputes require meet and confer by video conference followed by a joint letter not exceeding 5 pages within 5 business days.
In Social Security cases, parties should use only the plaintiff's initials in pleadings to protect privacy.