Court Rules
Judge Kirk E. Sherriff
Judge

Judge Kirk E. Sherriff

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Eastern District of California

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Brief
25 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Courtesy copies

  • 1 copy • Hand Delivery

TRO Motions, Preliminary Injunction Motions

  • 1 copy • Chambers Copy • Upon Filing
Filters:AllMandatoryMemorandaProposed OrdersTRO/InjunctionTypographyPage LimitsCourtroom ConductOral Argument

Page & Word Limits1 rule

Page LimitsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

All briefs must be submitted using a font of no less than 12 pt. size. Footnotes must be no more than one size smaller than the text size. Moving and opposition briefs and legal memoranda in civil cases shall not exceed 25 pages without prior leave of court. Reply briefs filed by moving parties shall not exceed 15 pages.

Summary: Briefs must use 12 pt font (footnotes 1 size smaller); moving/opposition briefs limited to 25 pages; reply briefs limited to 15 pages.

Brief

25 pages

Reply Brief

15 pages

Document Filing Requirements4 rules

Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

The parties are required to comply with Local Rule 233 when filing miscellaneous administrative matters. As stated in the rule, such matters may include motions to exceed applicable page limitations, requests to shorten time on a motion, requests to extend a response deadline, and requests to alter a briefing schedule. See L.R. 233. Parties shall comply with all procedural requirements set forth in Local Rule 233, including that a motion for administrative relief be accompanied by a proposed order. L.R. 233(a).

Summary: Administrative relief motions require compliance with Local Rule 233 and proposed order.

Document Type

Administrative Relief Motion

Content & Formatting
Proposed Order
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Ex parte applications are typically taken under submission by the Court without oral argument, unless otherwise notified. The filer is required to contact the courtroom deputy and the opposing party prior to the filing of the ex parte application to advise that such an application is being made. In addition, the document(s) must indicate whether an opposition will be filed. The filer shall include an affidavit indicating a satisfactory explanation for the following: (1) the need for the issuance of such an order, (2) the inability of the filer to obtain a stipulation for the issuance of such an order from other counsel or parties in the action, and (3) why such request cannot be noticed on the Court’s civil law and motion calendar as provided by Local Rule 230.

Summary: Ex parte applications require affidavit explaining need, inability to obtain stipulation, and why not on regular calendar.

Document Type

Ex Parte Application

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

The parties are not required to submit proposed orders with civil motions set for hearing before Judge Sherriff, with the exception that proposed orders shall be submitted with motions for a temporary restraining order and motions for a preliminary injunction. In addition, parties seeking a consent decree shall provide a proposed consent decree, and parties shall submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law following a bench trial. Any such required proposed order shall be submitted in compliance with Local Rule 137(b) and emailed in Microsoft Word format to kesorders@caed.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Proposed orders required only for TROs, preliminary injunctions, consent decrees, and bench trial findings.

Document Type

Motion

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?

Judge Sherriff does not issue tentative rulings.

Document Type

Motion

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.

Filing & Service rules

Courtesy Copy Requirements

Courtesy copies required for documents over 25 pages (in-person or overnight delivery).

Counsel shall deliver to the Clerk’s Office at the Robert E. Coyle Federal Courthouse (1st floor) clearly marked courtesy copies of all electronically filed documents that exceed 25 pages (including exhibits and attachments), and conformed courtesy copies of all manually filed documents, by in-person delivery or overnight delivery. Courtesy copies of electronically filed documents shall include the ECF date/page stamp at the top of each page. The parties need not provide courtesy copies of answers or shorter pleadings. The sender shall notify any delivery service that the signature of the recipient is not required.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

TROs require 24-hour notice; courtesy copies to chambers required for TROs and preliminary injunctions.

Parties seeking emergency or provisional relief shall comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65 and Local Rule 231. The Court typically will not rule on any application for a TRO for at least twenty-four (24) hours after the party subject to the requested order has been served; such party may file opposing or responding papers in the interim. The parties shall lodge a courtesy copy with chambers of all papers relating to proposed TROs and preliminary injunctions, conformed to reflect that they have been filed.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

Pre-filing meet and confer required before motions; certification of efforts required in notice of motion.

Prior to filing a motion in a case in which the parties are represented by counsel, counsel shall engage in a pre-filing meet and confer to discuss thoroughly the substance of the contemplated motion and any potential resolution. Counsel should resolve minor procedural or other non-substantive matters during the meet and confer process so that briefing on motions that proceed to hearing is directed only to those substantive issues requiring resolution by the Court. A notice of motion shall contain a certification by counsel that meet and confer efforts have been exhausted, with a brief summary of meet and confer efforts.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Discovery motions must be noticed before assigned magistrate judge.

Pursuant to Local Rule 302(c), all discovery motions shall be noticed before the assigned magistrate judge, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

About United States District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff

**United States District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff** was appointed to the Eastern District of California by President Joseph R. Biden in 2024. He was nominated on November 15, 2023, to a seat vacated by the Hon. Ana de Alba, confirmed by the Senate on January 31, 2024, and received his commission on February 7, 2024. Before his appointment, Judge Sherriff spent over two decades as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of California's Fresno office. He served as Chief of the Fresno Office (2015–2024), Chief of the White Collar Crime Unit (2013–2015), and worked in both the Criminal Division (2007–2024) and Civil Division (2002–2007). He began his legal career as an associate at White & Case LLP and clerked for Chief Justice Deborah T. Poritz of the New Jersey Supreme Court. **Education** - Harvard Law School, J.D., 1995 - Columbia College, Columbia University, B.A., 1990 **Career** - 2002–2024: Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of California, Fresno (Chief, Fresno Office, 2015–2024; Chief, White Collar Crime Unit, 2013–2015; Criminal Division, 2007–2024; Civil Division, 2002–2007) - 1997–2001: Associate, White & Case LLP - 1996–1997: Law Clerk to Hon. Deborah T. Poritz, Chief Justice, New Jersey Supreme Court - 1995–1996: Associate, White & Case LLP

**Division:** Fresno **Courthouse:** Robert E. Coyle United States Courthouse, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA 93721 **Chambers:** Courtroom 6, 7th Floor **Phone:** (559) 499-5921 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: Victoria Gonzales, VGonzales@caed.uscourts.gov, (559) 499-5676

Common questions about Judge Kirk E. Sherriff's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Kirk E. Sherriff?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for tro and preliminary injunction. Details: 1 copy, delivery upon filing, by chambers copy. TROs require 24-hour notice; courtesy copies to chambers required for TROs and preliminary injunctions.

Does Judge Kirk E. Sherriff require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Yes. A pre-motion letter is required for covered motions. Pre-filing meet and confer required before motions; certification of efforts required in notice of motion.

What page or word limits apply to brief before Judge Kirk E. Sherriff?

Judge Kirk E. Sherriff's rule states these limits: 25 pages; 15 pages. Briefs must use 12 pt font (footnotes 1 size smaller); moving/opposition briefs limited to 25 pages; reply briefs limited to 15 pages.

View ruleSource: page 2, section II. BRIEFING

What must be included with motion filings before Judge Kirk E. Sherriff?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Proposed orders required only for TROs, preliminary injunctions, consent decrees, and bench trial findings.

What must be included with ex parte application filings before Judge Kirk E. Sherriff?

The rule requires affidavit. Ex parte applications require affidavit explaining need, inability to obtain stipulation, and why not on regular calendar.

Complete rules summary for Judge Kirk E. Sherriff

Pre-filing meet and confer required before motions; certification of efforts required in notice of motion.

Judge Sherriff does not issue tentative rulings.

Proposed orders required only for TROs, preliminary injunctions, consent decrees, and bench trial findings.

Discovery motions must be noticed before assigned magistrate judge.

TROs require 24-hour notice; courtesy copies to chambers required for TROs and preliminary injunctions.

Ex parte applications require affidavit explaining need, inability to obtain stipulation, and why not on regular calendar.

Administrative relief motions require compliance with Local Rule 233 and proposed order.

Courtesy copies required for documents over 25 pages (in-person or overnight delivery).

Briefs must use 12 pt font (footnotes 1 size smaller); moving/opposition briefs limited to 25 pages; reply briefs limited to 15 pages.

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