Judge Linda Lopez
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Filings (>75 pages)
Required
Filings
Required
Filings (All filings)
Required
Adjournments
Communication
Phone
Chambers
Chambers
Ex Parte
Court
In Person
Co Party
Letter Ecf
Chambers
Email With Return Receipt Or Overnight Mail
Opposing Party
Sidebar
Chambers
Detailed Drafting Rules
Chambers calls limited to counsel with case knowledge; no procedural questions or time estimates.
Parties seeking a hearing date must refer to the procedure for doing so below in Section 3B. In light of the Court’s procedure for setting motion hearing dates, telephone calls to chambers are rarely necessary. Such calls may only be made by counsel with knowledge of the case. Counsel should not call chambers with procedural questions. The Court does not give time estimates for its written rulings. Court personnel are prohibited from giving legal advice or discussing the merits of
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredknowledge_of_case
- Status Inquiries
Letters, faxes, and emails prohibited unless authorized; e-file account only for specific documents.
Letters, faxes, and emails are prohibited unless otherwise authorized by the Court. The Court’s e-file email account must only be used to lodge or submit proposed orders, required trial documents, or other documents requested by the Court. It is generally not to be used for communication purposes (e.g., asking questions).
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredauthorization
- Status Inquiries
Discovery matters go to magistrate judge; objections filed as motion under Civ. L.R. 7.1.
Counsel must contact the magistrate judge’s chambers directly for all matters pertaining to discovery. Any objection to a discovery ruling of the magistrate judge must be filed as a motion pursuant to Civil Local Rule 7.1.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requireddiscovery_matter
- Status Inquiries
Chambers may not be contacted for hearing dates.
Parties intending to file a motion may not contact chambers for a hearing date.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Status Inquiries
Oral argument not permitted unless separately ordered.
PER CHAMBERS RULES, NO ORAL ARGUMENT UNLESS SEPARATELY ORDERED BY THE COURT.
Direct to: Chambers
- Status Inquiries
Oral argument may be requested by separate filing with explanation.
A party may request oral argument by filing a separate request that explains why oral argument would be helpful to the Court.
Direct to: Chambers
- Status Inquiries
Magistrate judge chambers must be contacted for hearing dates in referred cases.
Parties must contact the assigned magistrate judge’s chambers for hearing and scheduling dates needed for cases referred—either by operation of local rule or by order—to the magistrate judge.
Phone
Direct to: Magistrate Judge
- Status Inquiries
Proposed orders must not include filer's name or 'proposed' in caption.
proposed orders must not contain the name and law firm information of the filing party, and must not contain the word 'proposed' in the caption.
Multiple parties must coordinate for same hearing date.
If multiple parties are moving for substantially the same relief, they must make every effort to obtain the same hearing date for their motions.
Direct to: Opposing Counsel
- Status Inquiries
Multiple parties must coordinate briefing to avoid duplication.
If multiple parties are moving for substantially the same relief or opposing a motion seeking substantially the same relief sought against them, and noticed for the same hearing date, counsel must make every effort to coordinate and consolidate the briefing or use the notice of joinder procedure to avoid duplication in briefing.
Direct to: Opposing Counsel
- Status Inquiries
Ex parte request required for leave of court.
The parties must obtain leave of court by filing an ex parte request before filing any sur-replies or notices of supplemental authority.
Ex Parte
Direct to: Court
- Status Inquiries
Parties must coordinate motion and cross motion filings.
To the extent possible, the parties shall coordinate the filings of a motion and cross motion for summary judgment so that a consolidated briefing schedule may be applied.
Direct to: Opposing Counsel
- Status Inquiries
Meet and confer required 15 days before dispositive motion deadline.
No later than fifteen (15) days before the deadline for filing dispositive motions, all parties on the same side of the case (i.e., all defendants or all plaintiffs), must meet and confer about whether they intend to file a motion for summary judgment, and if so, the bases for that motion.
In Person
Direct to: Co Party
- Status Inquiries
Multiple parties must coordinate briefing to avoid duplication.
If multiple parties are moving for substantially the same relief or opposing a motion seeking substantially the same relief sought against them, counsel must make every effort to coordinate and consolidate the briefing or use the notice of joinder procedure to avoid duplication in briefing.
Direct to: Opposing Counsel
- Status Inquiries
Separate statements for summary judgment motions limited to 15 pages.
Absent leave of court, separate statements shall be limited to fifteen (15) pages and must comply with the font requirements of Civil Local Rule 5.1.
Courtesy copies required for filings over 75 pages, delivered within 3 days.
Courtesy copies of filings that exceed 75 pages in length, including attachments and exhibits, must be submitted in accordance with Section 2(e) of the ECF Manual via United States Postal Service mail, courier, or delivery to the Clerk’s Office at 333 West Broadway, Suite 420, San Diego, CA 92101. Courtesy copies must be received by the Court no later than three days after the filing date.
Courtesy Copies Required
Logistics
Parties must immediately notify court and magistrate judge of case settlement.
If the parties settle a case, counsel must immediately notify this Court and the magistrate judge of the settlement.
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredimmediately
Court prefers opposing party be served and given opportunity to oppose; otherwise follow ex parte procedures.
The Court’s strong preference is for the opposing party to be served and afforded a reasonable opportunity to file an opposition. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the parties shall follow the same procedures required for ex parte applications, as set forth in Section 5 above.
Email With Return Receipt Or Overnight Mail
Direct to: Opposing Party
- Status Inquiries
Defense counsel and government entities must cooperate in facilitating pro se prisoner appearances for conferences, hearings, or trials.
In cases involving pro se prisoners as litigants, the Court expects defense counsel and the government entity with which a defendant is associated to cooperate in facilitating the prisoner’s telephonic appearances or personal appearances for any scheduled conference, hearing, or trial.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
Proposed pretrial order must be emailed to chambers at least 14 days before pretrial conference.
Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 16.1(f)(6), the Court requires that the parties lodge by email to chambers a proposed pretrial order at least fourteen (14) days before the pretrial conference.
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required14_days_before_pretrial_conference
All parties must cooperate in completing the proposed pretrial order.
All parties are required to cooperate in completing the proposed pretrial order.
Direct to: Opposing Party
- Status Inquiries
Motions in limine and oppositions limited to 10 pages; attachments also limited to 10 pages.
Each motion in limine and each opposition shall not exceed ten (10) pages in length. Attachments to any motion in limine or opposition shall also be limited to ten (10) pages in length.
Telephonic appearances only allowed in emergencies with court approval.
Telephonic appearances will be permitted only in emergency circumstances upon court approval. If a party needs to appear telephonically before this Court, he or she must contact chambers immediately upon learning of the emergency and leave a voicemail. Upon reviewing the voicemail, the Court will contact the party. Until the Court grants permission for telephonic appearance, the party needing to appear telephonically must arrange to have a colleague appear on his or her behalf.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredimmediate
- Status Inquiries