Court Rules
senior Judge
Verified Current7 days ago

Judge William H. Orrick

Northern District of California

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Motions In Limine
25 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Filings (All filings)

Required • Binding: Three Hole Punched

Filings (Chambers Copy, Exhibits)

Required

Adjournments

Notice Required
10Calendar Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Proposed New Dates

Communication

All

Prospective Juror

No Status Inquiries
Email

Chambers

SchedulingEmergenciesTechnical Issues
Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Letter Ecf

Chambers

Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

415-782-8982
Scheduling
Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

(415) 522-2077
No Description, Status Inquiries
Email

Chambers

whocrd@cand.uscourts.gov
SchedulingEmergenciesTechnical Issues
No Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

Scheduling
Advance Notice Required
Chambers

Chambers

Scheduling
Advance Notice Required
Email

Intake Unit

www.cand.uscourts.gov
Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Letter Ecf

Chambers

Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantCommunicationConferencesElectronicsTRO/InjunctionLettersCourtroom ConductJuryExhibits

Detailed Drafting Rules

Communication ProtocolMandatory

No contact allowed with prospective jurors through any means.

This Order also restricts the parties, their counsel and anyone working for a party or counsel from contacting or attempting to contact any prospective juror. This means that the parties, their counsel, and any agent, consultant, investigator, or other person working for them shall not communicate with or otherwise contact or attempt to communicate with or attempt to otherwise contact any prospective juror in any manner, whether through social media, by email, by telephone or messaging platforms (including WhatsApp, Telegram, and the like), by mail, or in person.

All

Direct to: Prospective Juror

Approved Topics
Contact
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecNo Contact with Prospective Jurors
Communication ProtocolNote

Pro se parties should visit court's Legal Help Center link.

Parties representing themselves should visit the link titled 'If You Don't Have a Lawyer' on the Court's homepage, www.cand.uscourts.gov.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    not specified
Prohibited
  • Hours
    not specified
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecNotice to Unrepresented (Pro Se) Parties in Non-Prisoner Cases
Communication ProtocolNote

Legal Help Center locations in San Francisco and Oakland.

In San Francisco, the Legal Help Center is located on the 15th Floor, Room 2796, of the courthouse at 450 Golden Gate Avenue. In Oakland, the Legal Help Center is located on the 4th Floor, Room 470S, of the courthouse at 1301 Clay Street.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    not specified
Prohibited
  • Hours
    not specified
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecNotice to Unrepresented (Pro Se) Parties in Non-Prisoner Cases
Communication ProtocolNote

Call 415-782-8982 to make Legal Help Center appointment.

To make an appointment for San Francisco or Oakland, call 415-782-8982.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    not specified
Prohibited
  • Hours
    not specified
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecNotice to Unrepresented (Pro Se) Parties in Non-Prisoner Cases
Communication ProtocolMandatory

No ex parte contact with Judge or Chambers staff except for Courtroom Deputy Jean Davis at whocrd@cand.uscourts.gov or 415-522-2077.

Unless otherwise authorized, parties shall not attempt to make ex parte contact with the Judge or his Chambers staff by telephone, facsimile, letter, or any other means but may contact Judge Orrick's Courtroom Deputy, Jean Davis, at whocrd@cand.uscourts.gov or 415-522-2077 with appropriate inquiries.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolNote

Civil law and motion hearings are on Wednesdays at 2:00 PM via Zoom unless in-person argument is granted.

Civil Law and Motion is generally conducted on Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. Unless a request is made for an in-person argument that is granted by Judge Orrick, all civil law and motion hearings will be conducted by Zoom videoconference.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolNote

Civil Case Management Conferences are on Tuesdays at 2:00 PM via Zoom unless specially set.

Civil Case Management Conferences are generally conducted on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. Unless specially set, all Initial and Further Case Management Conferences will be conducted by Zoom videoconference.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolNote

Pretrial Conferences are on Mondays at 2:00 PM in Courtroom 2 on the 17th floor.

Pretrial Conferences are generally conducted in person on Mondays at 2:00 p.m. in Courtroom 2 on the 17th floor.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Prohibition against photographing, recording, or rebroadcasting court proceedings, including Zoom hearings.

Persons granted remote access to court proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings (including those held by telephone or videoconference).

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Absolutely prohibited to record or screenshot Zoom/teleconference court proceedings.

Any recording of a court proceeding held by video or teleconference, including 'screen-shots' or other visual copying of a hearing, is absolutely prohibited.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolImportant

Violations may result in sanctions including removal of media credentials or restricted hearing access.

Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court-issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the court.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Courtesy CopyMandatory

No courtesy copies except for electronic media manually filed to chambers, or exhibits over 100 pages for TROs, preliminary injunctions, or summary judgment motions.

No courtesy copies shall be provided, except: (1) courtesy copies of electronic media manually filed shall be provided to chambers; and (2) if the exhibits submitted in support of motions for temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, or summary judgment exceed 100 pages, courtesy copies shall be provided in binders with tabs separating each exhibit.

Courtesy Copies Required

When: Document Type Set
Logistics
Quantity1 Copy
TimingUpon Filing
MethodHand Delivery
Communication ProtocolNote

Pro se parties should visit Legal Help Center resources on court website.

Parties representing themselves should visit the link titled “If You Don’t Have a Lawyer” on the Court’s homepage, www.cand.uscourts.gov. The link discusses the Court’s “Legal Help Center” for unrepresented parties. The Legal Help Center can be reached at 415-782-8982. In San Francisco, the Legal Help Center is located on the 15th Floor, Room 2796, of the courthouse at 450 Golden Gate Avenue. In Oakland, the Legal Help Center is located on the 4th Floor, Room 470S, of the courthouse at 1301 Clay Street.

Email

Direct to: Intake Unit

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolNote

Parties may indicate pronouns and titles in pleadings or letter to chambers.

Parties and attorneys may indicate their pronouns and titles (e.g., Mr., Ms., Mx.) by including them in the name block or signature line of their pleadings, or by submitting a letter directed to chambers.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries