Court Rules
Judge Sean C. Riordan
Magistrate Judge

Judge Sean C. Riordan

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Rules last changed:
Eastern District of California

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Brief
20 pgs

Adjournments

7Calendar Daysnotice
  • Requests to exceed page limits must be filed in writing at least 7 days before filing.
10Calendar Daysnotice
  • Remote appearance requests must be filed in writing at least 10 days before hearing with notice to other parties.
Reason For RequestBasis For Request
Filters:AllMandatoryFormattingMemorandaSummary JudgmentExhibitsTypographyPage Limits

Page & Word Limits1 rule

Page Limits

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Besides cross motions for summary judgment (see Section I.C), all other motions and oppositions are limited to twenty (20) pages, and replies are limited to ten (10) pages.

Summary: Non-summary judgment motions limited to 20 pages; replies limited to 10 pages.

Brief

20 pages

Applies to: Attorney

Reply Brief

10 pages

Applies to: Attorney

Document Format Requirements3 rules

Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

If a request for a remote appearance is granted, all parties will appear remotely by Zoom. There are no hybrid hearings.

Summary: If remote appearance granted, all parties must appear by Zoom; no hybrid hearings allowed.

Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Multi-page exhibits must be internally paginated, with the pagination for each exhibit beginning at one (1) (for example, Exh. A-1, Exh. A-2, etc.).

Summary: Multi-page exhibits must be internally paginated starting at 1 for each exhibit.

Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Briefs must be submitted using a minimum of 12-point font for all text, including footnotes.

Summary: All briefs must use minimum 12-point font for all text including footnotes.

Typography
Size12 pt

Document Filing Requirements1 rule

Filing Requirements

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Pages that exceed the page limits, supplemental briefs, or sur-replies filed without prior leave of court will not be considered.

Summary: Documents exceeding page limits without leave will not be considered.

Document Type

Brief

Content & Formatting
Page Count

Filing & Service rules

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Requests to exceed page limits must be filed in writing at least 7 days before filing.

Only in rare instances and for good cause will requests to expand these page limits or to file a supplemental brief or sur-reply be granted. Any such requests must be filed in writing at least seven (7) days before the filing, absent good cause to deviate from that timeline.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.

Remote appearance requests must be filed in writing at least 10 days before hearing with notice to other parties.

Requests for a remote appearance are generally disfavored absent a showing of hardship (for example, a pro se party without means to travel to the courthouse, a substantial increase in litigation costs from travel by counsel, health concerns, etc.). A request for a remote appearance must be filed in writing at least ten (10) days before the hearing, only after providing courtesy notice to other parties of the request, and must include the basis for the request.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.

Junior Lawyer Participation Incentives

Parties are encouraged to provide less experienced attorneys opportunity to present oral argument.

The Court values the importance of training less experienced attorneys. The parties are encouraged to consider providing less experienced attorneys with the opportunity to present oral argument.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.

About United States Magistrate Judge Sean C. Riordan

**United States Magistrate Judge Sean C. Riordan** was appointed as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of California on August 1, 2024. Judge Riordan comes to the bench with extensive practice experience in both civil and criminal matters. He served for more than twelve years as an attorney at two different regional affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), most recently the ACLU's Northern California affiliate, focusing on complex civil litigation. He also worked for several years as an assistant federal public defender in the Eastern District of California, representing indigent defendants in a variety of felony cases. He began his legal career at the ACLU on a highly-selective Skadden Foundation Fellowship, after clerking in the Central District of California. **Education** - UCLA School of Law, J.D. - American University in Cairo, M.A. - Whittier College, B.A. **Career** - Assistant Federal Public Defender, Eastern District of California - Attorney, ACLU Northern California (and prior ACLU regional affiliate) — more than 12 years total - Law Clerk, U.S. District Court, Central District of California

**Division:** Sacramento **Courthouse:** Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse, 501 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 **Chambers:** Courtroom 27, 8th Floor **Phone:** (916) 930-4210 **Fax:** (916) 930-4179 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: Shelly Her, sher@caed.uscourts.gov, (916) 930-4128 - Judicial Assistant: Donna Dal Porto, ddalporto@caed.uscourts.gov, (916) 930-4210

Common questions about Judge Sean C. Riordan's rules

What page or word limits apply to brief before Judge Sean C. Riordan?

Judge Sean C. Riordan's rule states these limits: attorney: 20 pages; attorney: 10 pages. Non-summary judgment motions limited to 20 pages; replies limited to 10 pages.

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Sean C. Riordan?

Judge Sean C. Riordan's formatting rule includes 12 point type. All briefs must use minimum 12-point font for all text including footnotes.

What must be included with brief filings before Judge Sean C. Riordan?

The rule requires page count. Documents exceeding page limits without leave will not be considered.

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Sean C. Riordan?

Requests should be made at least 7 calendar days in advance when this rule applies before Judge Sean C. Riordan. Requests to exceed page limits must be filed in writing at least 7 days before filing.

Does Judge Sean C. Riordan encourage junior lawyer participation?

Yes. Judge Sean C. Riordan's rules include a junior lawyer participation incentive. Parties are encouraged to provide less experienced attorneys opportunity to present oral argument.

Complete rules summary for Judge Sean C. Riordan

Non-summary judgment motions limited to 20 pages; replies limited to 10 pages.

All briefs must use minimum 12-point font for all text including footnotes.

Multi-page exhibits must be internally paginated starting at 1 for each exhibit.

Requests to exceed page limits must be filed in writing at least 7 days before filing.

Documents exceeding page limits without leave will not be considered.

Remote appearance requests must be filed in writing at least 10 days before hearing with notice to other parties.

If remote appearance granted, all parties must appear by Zoom; no hybrid hearings allowed.

Parties are encouraged to provide less experienced attorneys opportunity to present oral argument.

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