Court Rules

Northern District of California Document Format Requirements

397 rules from official source documents

36 of 397 checked against the court's document. Each rule says how far it was checked. A value with a question mark is not in the court's wording on its card.

Font, margin, spacing, and file format requirements for court filings. This page is scoped to Northern District of California; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

The witness information must be presented in chart format and organized by party.

This information shall be presented in chart format and organized by party.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

The exhibit-list information must be presented in chart format and organized numerically.

This information shall be presented in chart format and organized numerically.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Each disputed designation must be numbered separately and correspond to the materials submitted to the Court for resolving the dispute.

EACH disputed designation shall be separately numbered and shall correspond to the materials provided to the Court for resolution of the dispute.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Disputed designations must be highlighted, underlined, or otherwise marked and include sufficient context for the Court.

Further, they shall be highlighted, underlined or otherwise marked for ease of the Court's reference and contain sufficient contextual information.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Requested instructions should generally use the Model Instructions or state equivalent, with each typed in full on a separate page followed by authority annotations or citations; instructions must be brief, clear, plain English, and nonargumentative, with explanations of authorities and revisions.

(D) In general, parties shall provide the Court with instructions from the Model Instructions or the relevant state equivalent. Each requested instruction shall be typed in full on a separate page with annotations or citations to the authorities upon which the instruction is based included below the instruction. Instructions shall be brief, clear, written in plain English, and free of argument. Model Instructions shall be revised to address the particular facts and issues of this case. The parties shall give a brief explanation of their authorities and any revisions to Model Instructions.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Format
DOCX

The listed trial documents must be sent electronically in MS Word format to the specified court email address.

Parties shall send an electronic copy in MS Word format to ygrpo@cand.uscourts.gov of the following documents listed above: (i) Proposed Order Re: Trial Stipulations; (ii) Proposed Order Re: Discovery Excerpts; (iii) Joint Set of Jury Instructions; (iv) any revised or supplemental jury instructions; (v) Proposed Juror Questionnaire (if any); (vi) Proposed Verdict Forms; and (vii) Proposed Order(s) on Motions in limine.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Each part of a multi-part exhibit group, including photographs, must be marked separately.

All groups of exhibits containing multiple parts (including photographs) shall be marked separately for each part (e.g., 1-A, 1-B, and 1-C).

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Each exhibit must be pre-marked with a non-white exhibit tag in the top-right corner of the first page.

Each exhibit shall be pre-marked with an exhibit tag placed in the top right corner of the first page of a document. Parties are to use different colors than white for the exhibit tags.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Proposed findings must be brief, written in plain English, and contain no pejorative language, conclusions, or argument.

Proposed Findings shall be brief, written in plain English and free of pejorative language, conclusions, and argument.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Format
DOCX

Questionnaires must be submitted without formatting, on an unformatted Word document rather than pleading paper.

**Parameters:** No formatting at all in the document you send us. This means that questionnaires should not be on pleading paper, but in an unformatted word document.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Questionnaire questions must not be indented or numbered, and answers must not be bulleted, lettered, or otherwise structured.

Questions should not be indented or numbered, and the answers should not be bulleted, lettered, or otherwise structured in any way.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Parties must underline, highlight, or otherwise identify the lines of documents and transcripts they rely on in support of or opposition to a motion.

Moreover, parties shall underline, highlight, or otherwise specify lines of the documents and transcripts upon which they rely in support of or opposition to a motion.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Format
DOCX

Electronic copies of proposed orders must be sent to the listed address in Word format.

Electronic copies of proposed orders must be sent in Word format to jstpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Judge Jon S Tigar

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Unless otherwise ordered, deliver three sets of pre-marked exhibits in labeled three-ring binders to the Clerk at least seven days before trial; binder quality and labeling should facilitate review, and binder spines should be no wider than three inches whenever possible.

Unless otherwise ordered, at least seven days before trial, the parties must deliver three sets of all pre-marked exhibits in clearly labeled three-ring binders to the Clerk’s office, marked for the attention of the Courtroom Deputy, Robert McNamee. The quality, condition, and labeling of the binders should be such that the Court can easily transport and review the binders’ contents. Whenever possible, the spine of a binder should not be wider than three inches.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Format
DOCX

The specified joint pretrial materials must also be emailed to the Courtroom Deputy in Word format no later than 14 days before the final pretrial conference.

No later than 14 days before the final pretrial conference, the parties shall also submit the joint proposed pretrial statement and proposed order, and any proposed jury instructions, voir dire questions, verdict form(s), and statement of the case in Word format via email to Courtroom Deputy, Robert McNamee, at TLTPO@cand.uscourts.gov.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Format
DOCX

No later than 14 days before the final pretrial conference, the parties must email the specified proposed pretrial documents in Word format to the Courtroom Deputy.

No later than 14 days before the final pretrial conference, the parties shall also submit the joint proposed pretrial statement and proposed order, and any proposed jury instructions, voir dire questions, verdict form(s), and statement of the case in Word format via email to Courtroom Deputy, Robert McNamee, at TLTPO@cand.uscourts.gov.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Unless otherwise ordered, parties must deliver three sets of pre-marked exhibits in clearly labeled three-ring binders to the Clerk’s office at least seven days before trial, with the specified attention marking; the binders should be easy to transport and review and, whenever possible, have spines no wider than three inches.

Unless otherwise ordered, at least seven days before trial, the parties must deliver three sets of all pre-marked exhibits in clearly labeled three-ring binders to the Clerk’s office, marked for the attention of the Courtroom Deputy, Robert McNamee. The quality, condition, and labeling of the binders should be such that the Court can easily transport and review the binders’ contents. Whenever possible, the spine of a binder should not be wider than three inches.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

The specified exhibits must be submitted to the Clerk’s office on a flash drive.

7 Days Before Trial Submit a flash drive to the Clerk’s office containing the exhibits identified in Section (h) of the parties’ joint pretrial statement and proposed order (and not already excluded by the Court in limine) (¶ 7)

Judge Trina L. Thompson

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Format
PDF

Settlement conference statements must be submitted in text-searchable PDF format.

No later than seven days prior to the conference, the parties must send the following statements in text-searchable PDF format to svkcrd@cand.uscourts.gov.

Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Format
DOCX

The Court may require a reorganized complete set after resolving disputes, and parties must provide clean MS Word sets upon request.

(F) The parties may be required to re-organize and re-submit a complete set of instructions once the Court has resolved all disputes. Clean sets of all jury instructions (without the parties’ arguments and authorities) must be provided to the Court in electronic format (MS Word) upon request.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

For partially disputed instructions, use black font for undisputed language and a different color font for each party’s preferred language.

(E) With respect to competing instructions: (1) Where there is a partial dispute, the parties shall submit language using a BLACK font where there is no dispute, and shall each choose a different color font to easily identify each party’s respective preferred language.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

After the substantive instructions, include a single page with “STOP” bolded and centered.

(F) After the substantive instructions, the parties shall include a single page with the word “STOP” bolded and in the center of the page. It is at this juncture during trial that the parties will make their closing arguments to the jury.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Printed documents provided to the Court must use portrait orientation, not landscape.

*When printing and providing these documents to the Court, please use the “portrait” orientation only. (Do not use “landscape” orientation.)*

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

SurveyMonkey questionnaires should not use questions with sub-parts or questions formatted to collect information in tables.

**Formats of questions not supported in SurveyMonkey:** questions with sub-parts and questions formatted to collect information in tables (like listing the occupations you have had for the last 10 years, prior jury service, or a table of family member information; please look at the standard questionnaire to see how questions in these categories have been asked).

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Each questionnaire question should be on one line, with answers on separate lines below it.

The question should be on one line, and the answers should be listed on separate lines below the question.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Leave a blank line between questionnaire questions.

There should be a blank line between questions.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Chambers copies must be three-hole punched in the left margin for a three-ring binder and must not be stapled.

All chambers’ copies must be 3-hole punched in the left margin in a manner suitable for placement in a 3-ring binder. They shall not be stapled.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Chambers copies must have tabs between exhibits and pages of each individual document must be fastened or attached to distinguish separate documents.

Chambers copies must include tabs between exhibits and must fasten or attach pages of individual documents together so as to distinguish between separate documents.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Case management statements must follow the format specified in the CAND CMC Order available on the Court’s website.

The format shall follow the Standing Order for All Judges of the Northern District of California re: Contents of Joint Case Management Statement (“CAND CMC Order”) found on the Court’s website at cand.uscourts.gov/ygr.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Where feasible, parties must use a land line rather than a mobile phone for telephonic appearances.

Where feasible, parties must make telephonic appearances using a land line, rather than a mobile phone.

Judge Jon S Tigar

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Footnotes should be used sparingly, must be at least 12-point type, and excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Footnotes are often unnecessary and must be employed sparingly. When used, they must appear in no less than 12-point type. Excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Judge Jon S Tigar

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs whenever possible, but this requirement is waived for self-represented litigants without a lawyer.

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs whenever possible. This requirement is waived for self-represented litigants who are proceeding without a lawyer.

Judge Jon S Tigar

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Mark proposed deletions from model jury instructions with strikethrough and proposed additions with underlining.

Any language a party proposes to be removed from a model instruction must be designated with a strikethrough and language proposed to be added to a model instruction must be underlined.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Each exhibit must be pre-marked with a trial exhibit sticker rather than a deposition label, and defendant’s exhibit numbering must follow plaintiff’s.

Each exhibit shall be pre-marked with a trial exhibit sticker (“Trial Exhibit No.__”), not deposition exhibit label, and defendant’s exhibit numbers shall be sequenced to begin after plaintiff’s exhibit numbers.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Proposed deletions from model jury instructions must be struck through, and proposed additions must be underlined.

Any language a party proposes to be removed from a model instruction must be designated with a strikethrough and language proposed to be added to a model instruction must be underlined.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026INFO

Civil cases

Questionnaires should mainly use simple answers in checkbox, multiple-choice, comment or text-box, or multiline drop-down formats.

**Accepted answer formats:** answers with check boxes (like for witness lists), multiple choice answers, comment or text boxes, and multi-line answers with a drop-down menu. The question/answer format should mainly be very simple.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

The moving separate statement must be organized in the form of a chart as shown in Attachment A.

Judge Eumi K. Lee

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

The responsive separate statement must be organized in the form of a chart as shown in Attachment A.

Judge Eumi K. Lee

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Each exhibit shall be a separate file, with each file named so that the exhibits appear sequentially when sorted by file name.

Summary: Each trial exhibit must be uploaded as a separate file named so that exhibits appear sequentially when sorted by file name.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Exhibits shall be sequentially numbered (not lettered). Blocks of numbers should be assigned to fit the needs of the case (e.g., the government has 1 to 100, Defendant A has 101 to 200, Defendant B has 201 to 300, etc.).

Summary: Exhibits must be sequentially numbered (not lettered), with blocks of numbers assigned per party to fit the needs of the case.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Different versions of the same document (e.g., versions of a document with and without additional handwriting), however, must be treated as different exhibits and marked with different numbers. Do not have witnesses write or draw on an exhibit that has already been admitted in evidence. Mark the exhibit with a new number, have the witness write on the new exhibit, and then move to admit the new exhibit into evidence once all the markings have been made.

Summary: Different versions of the same document must be marked as separate exhibits, and witnesses must write on newly marked exhibits rather than on exhibits already admitted.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

If a party files an amended pleading, they shall concurrently file a redlined or highlighted version comparing the amended pleading to the prior operative pleading.

Summary: A party filing an amended pleading must concurrently file a redlined or highlighted version comparing it to the prior operative pleading.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

All briefs must use Times New Roman font (size 12), including in footnotes, and must be double spaced.

Summary: All briefs must be double spaced in Times New Roman size 12 font, including in footnotes.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Required
Always ?

Parties shall not include substantive arguments in footnotes, and footnotes shall not be overly lengthy or used to exceed page limits. The Court may strike any filing that includes footnotes that do not comply with these requirements.

Summary: Substantive arguments may not be placed in footnotes, footnotes must not be overly lengthy or used to evade page limits, and the Court may strike any noncompliant filing.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format
DOCX ?

In addition to being filed, the proposed findings and conclusions must be emailed to the Court (rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov) in Word compatible format.

Summary: The emailed proposed findings and conclusions must be submitted in Word compatible format.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

The proposed supplemental jury instructions, Joint Pretrial Conference Statement, jury instructions, involved individuals list, and verdict form(s) shall be submitted in Word format via e-mail to rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov when they are filed.

Summary: These pretrial submissions must be in Word format.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Exhibits shall be sequentially numbered (not lettered). If possible, parties shall use the same number to mark an exhibit for trial as that used in depositions. Blocks of numbers should be assigned to fit the needs of the case (e.g., Plaintiff has 1 to 100, Defendant A has 101 to 200, Defendant B has 201 to 300, etc.).

Summary: Trial exhibits must be sequentially numbered (not lettered), should match deposition exhibit numbers where possible, with blocks of numbers assigned per party.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Do not have witnesses write or draw on an exhibit that has already been admitted in evidence. Bring extra copies and mark the exhibit with a new number, have the witness write

Summary: Witnesses must not write or draw on admitted exhibits; instead, bring extra copies and mark a new exhibit with a new number for witness notations.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Exhibit notebooks for the jury will not be permitted without prior permission from the Court.

Summary: Exhibit notebooks for the jury are prohibited unless the Court grants prior permission.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

In addition to being filed, the designations chart must be emailed to the Court (rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov) in Word format, with a blank column in the table added for the Court's ruling.

Summary: The designations chart must be in Word format and include a blank column in the table for the Court's ruling.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

In addition to being filed, the proposed findings must be emailed to the Court (rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov) in Word format.

Summary: Proposed findings emailed to the Court must be in Word format.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

No exhibits may be submitted with the letter other than an excerpt of the specific discovery request or response that is the subject of the letter.

Summary: Joint discovery letters may not include exhibits other than an excerpt of the specific discovery request or response at issue.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

All briefs must use Times New Roman font (size 12), including in footnotes, and must be double spaced.

Summary: All briefs must use Times New Roman size 12 font (including footnotes) and be double spaced.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format
DOCX ?

In addition to being filed, the proposed findings and conclusions must be emailed to the Court (rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov) in Word compatible format.

Summary: The emailed copy of proposed findings and conclusions must be in Word compatible format.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?
Format
PDF

Each PDF document should be text-searchable whenever practicable. This requirement is waived for litigants proceeding pro se.

Summary: PDF filings should be text-searchable whenever practicable, with a waiver of this requirement for pro se litigants.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

Proposed orders shall be submitted in Word format by email to the Courtroom Deputy at TLTPO@cand.uscourts.gov on the same day the proposed order is e-filed.

Summary: Proposed orders must be in Word format.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

(Or any other substantively similar format that permits the Court to compare terms side by side.)

Summary: The claim construction chart may use any substantively similar format as long as it permits the Court to compare disputed terms side by side.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Exhibits shall be identified with tags in the format shown here:

Summary: Exhibits must be identified with tags following the format shown in the standing order (the format image is not included in the excerpt).

Judge Trina L. Thompson

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Exhibits to motions or declarations shall be side-tabbed and numbered or lettered.

Summary: Exhibits to motions or declarations must be side-tabbed and numbered or lettered.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Format
PDF

Proposed orders should be filed in PDF format on ECF and sent in Microsoft Word format to eklpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Proposed orders (in sealing motions) must be filed in PDF format on ECF and also sent in Microsoft Word format to eklpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Judge Eumi K. Lee

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

authorities or evidence shall be in the body of the brief. Excessive footnotes will be disregarded. In general, no more than five (5) footnotes per brief should be necessary.

Summary: Briefs must keep authorities and evidence in the body rather than footnotes, should contain no more than five footnotes, and excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Judge Eumi K. Lee

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Format
PDF

Each proposed order should be filed in PDF format on ECF.

Summary: Proposed orders should be filed in PDF format on ECF.

Judge Eumi K. Lee

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

The Court's signature block should not appear on a standalone page.

Summary: In proposed orders, the Court's signature block should not appear on a standalone page.

Judge Eumi K. Lee

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Criminal cases

The uploaded documents should contain the ECF version of each attachment, with its ECF header.

Summary: Documents uploaded to the Box.com pretrial binder must be the ECF versions of each attachment, including the ECF header.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Criminal cases

Format
PDF

The name of each PDF file should include the type of document, a brief description of the document, and the docket number.

Summary: Each uploaded PDF file must be named to include the document type, a brief description of the document, and the docket number.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Criminal cases

A single exhibit should be marked only once. If the government has marked an exhibit, the defendant should not re-mark the same document with another number.

Summary: Each exhibit should be marked only once, and a party should not re-mark a document already marked by another party with a different number.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Lengthy PowerPoint presentations will generally not be permitted during argument on motions, as they circumvent the page limits imposed on briefing.

Summary: Lengthy PowerPoint presentations are generally not permitted during motion argument because they circumvent the page limits imposed on briefing.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Required
Always ?
Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs whenever possible.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Format
DOCX ?

All proposed orders should be sent in Microsoft Word compatible format to rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: All proposed orders must be in Microsoft Word compatible format.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Format
DOCX ?

The proposed notices, claims forms, and other documents associated with preliminary approval should be sent in Microsoft Word compatible format to rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Proposed notices, claims forms, and other preliminary approval documents must be submitted in Microsoft Word compatible format.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law shall be brief, written in plain English, and free of pejorative language.

Summary: Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law must be brief, written in plain English, and free of pejorative language.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

The parties shall file these questions on the docket and submit a Microsoft Word compatible version to rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: The emailed version of the proposed supplemental juror questions must be in a Microsoft Word compatible format.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Any modifications to a form instruction must be plainly identified by highlighting or tracked changes.

Summary: Any modification to a form jury instruction must be plainly identified using highlighting or tracked changes.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Format
PDF

The uploaded documents should contain the ECF version of each attachment, with its ECF header. The name of each PDF file should include the type of document, a brief description of the document, and the docket number. For example, a news release (docket number 61-2) filed as the first exhibit to a declaration (docket number 61-1), would be, "[61-2] Decl Doe Ex 1 - News Release."

Summary: Uploaded pretrial documents must contain the ECF version of each attachment with its ECF header, and each PDF file must be named with the document type, a brief description, and the docket number.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

The parties shall jointly file, and send in Word format to rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov, a list of people involved in the case.

Summary: The involved individuals list must be submitted in Word format.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Each exhibit should be uploaded as a separate file, with each file named so that the exhibits appear sequentially when sorted by file name.

Summary: Each exhibit uploaded to chambers' Box.com storage must be a separate file named so exhibits sort sequentially by file name.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

A single exhibit should be marked only once. If the plaintiff has marked an exhibit, the defendant should not re-mark the same document with another number. Different versions of the same document (e.g., versions of a document with and without additional handwriting), however, must be treated as different exhibits and marked with different numbers.

Summary: Each exhibit should be marked only once (no re-marking by other parties), but different versions of the same document must be marked with different exhibit numbers.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Lengthy PowerPoint presentations will generally not be permitted during argument on motions, as they circumvent the page limits imposed on briefing. However, counsel may use demonstratives in responding to the Court's questions, as long as they are provided to opposing counsel at least two hours before the hearing. Any such demonstratives will not be part of the record, so counsel should state verbally for the court reporter the relevant portion of the record being highlighted on the demonstrative

Summary: Lengthy PowerPoint presentations are generally not permitted at motion argument; demonstratives may be used only in responding to the Court's questions if provided to opposing counsel at least two hours before the hearing, and are not part of the record.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Required
Always ?
Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs whenever possible.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

example, a news release (docket number 61-2) filed as the first exhibit to a declaration (docket number 61-1), would be, "[61-2] Decl Doe Ex 1 - News Release."

Summary: PDF files uploaded to Box.com must be named using the document's docket number(s), e.g., "[61-2] Decl Doe Ex 1 - News Release" (naming convention sentence continues from prior page).

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Format
DOCX ?

All proposed orders should be sent in Microsoft Word compatible format to rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: All proposed orders must be sent in Microsoft Word compatible format to rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Parties shall not include substantive arguments in footnotes, and footnotes shall not be overly lengthy or used to exceed page limits. The Court may strike any filing that includes footnotes that do not comply with these requirements.

Summary: Footnotes may not contain substantive arguments or be used to circumvent page limits, and the Court may strike non-compliant filings.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Format
DOCX ?

The proposed notices, claims forms, and other documents associated with preliminary approval should be sent in Microsoft Word compatible format to rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Proposed notices, claims forms, and other preliminary approval documents should be in Microsoft Word compatible format.

Judge Rita F. Lin

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Criminal cases

Any modifications to a form instruction must be plainly identified to the Court. Any language a party proposes to be removed from a model instruction must be designated with a strikethrough and language proposed to be added to a model instruction must be underlined.

Summary: Modifications to model jury instructions must be plainly identified, with removed language shown in strikethrough and added language underlined.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Criminal cases

Format
DOCX ?

Counsel shall e-mail a copy of their proposed jury instructions in Word format to

Summary: Counsel must e-mail a copy of their proposed jury instructions in Word format (recipient address continues beyond this excerpt).

Judge Trina L. Thompson

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Format
DOCX ?

Proposed orders submitted by an e-filing party shall be submitted in Microsoft Word to askpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Proposed orders must be submitted in Microsoft Word format.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

The party propounding discovery shall provide courtesy copies of all requests for written discovery (i.e., interrogatories, document requests, requests for admission) to the responding party in an electronic format (e.g., Microsoft Word or other word processing application) that easily permits the responding party to copy the requests for purposes of responding to them.

Summary: Propounding parties must provide courtesy copies of written discovery requests to the responding party in an electronic, copyable format such as Microsoft Word.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

The parties shall provide a labeled tab to identify the document(s) being added to the binder.

Summary: The parties must provide a labeled tab identifying each document added to the binder.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
WORD_PERFECT ?

In addition to the copy in the binder, parties shall send an electronic copy in Word format to ygrpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Parties must email an electronic Word-format copy of the proposed findings in addition to including a copy in the binder.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

All chambers’ copies must be 3-hole punched in the left margin in a manner suitable for placement in a 3-ring binder. They shall not be stapled.

Summary: Chambers copies must be 3-hole punched, not stapled.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Chambers copies must include tabs between exhibits and must fasten or attach pages of individual documents together so as to distinguish between separate documents. Do not use bottom tabs as they do not work well in binders.

Summary: Chambers copies must include tabs between exhibits and fasten individual documents.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Incorporation by reference is a narrow exception applicable to certain pleadings. Parties shall never... creates substantial administrative burdens and may be construed as circumventing limits on pagination.

Summary: Incorporation by reference is prohibited as it creates administrative burdens and may circumvent pagination limits.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

It is imperative that counsel know what their filings will look like on ECF once submitted to the Court. Accordingly, counsel shall familiarize themselves with this District's guidance on e-filing available online at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/cases-e-filing/cm-ecf/. This applies even if counsel will be relying extensively on staff to finish filings.

Summary: Counsel must familiarize themselves with NDCA e-filing guidance, even when using staff.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

summary judgment motions and oppositions (including the brief, separate statement, declarations, exhibits, and other supporting documents) are required to be provided by the filing party in a 3-ring binder or binders with tabs separating documents. This requirement does not apply to habeas corpus petitions or summary judgment motions in ERISA or Social Security cases.

Summary: Summary judgment motion and opposition materials must be submitted in 3-ring binders with tabs separating documents; exemption applies to habeas, ERISA, and Social Security summary judgment cases.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Any party moving for summary judgment or opposing summary judgment is required to submit a separate statement as set forth herein. Pro se plaintiffs, however, are not required to submit a separate statement. 1. Supporting Separate Statement: Parties moving for summary judgment must include a separate, short and concise statement of the material facts as to which the moving party contends there is no genuine issue to be tried (“Supporting Separate Statement”). The Supporting Separate Statement must: (1) identify the issue or claim number(s) to which the fact relates; and (2) list each asserted material fact and the record evidence with specific pincites (e.g., deposition, declaration, discovery response). The Supporting Separate Statement must follow this format: Opposing Party’s Moving Party’s Undisputed Material Facts Issue No. Response and and Supporting Evidence Supporting Evidence Issue 1 Fact 1. Doe Co. and Acme Co. entered into a (Doe cannot written contract for sale of widgets. establish Roe Declaration at 2:17-21 and Exh. A [contract]. breach of contract) Issue 1 Fact 2. Widgets were received by Doe’s headquarters on December 1, 2010. Roe Declaration at 3:14-19 and Exh. B [signed invoice].

Summary: Parties filing or opposing summary judgment motions must submit a separate statement in the required format, except pro se plaintiffs are exempt.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

parties shall provide particular citations to the record. Moreover, parties shall underline, highlight, or otherwise specify lines of the documents and transcripts upon which they rely in support of or opposition to a motion.

Summary: Parties must cite to the record and underline/highlight specific lines relied upon.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

This shall be in chart form with a column identifying the document(s), a column describing the action to be taken (seal, portions to redact, unseal), and a column for the Court’s order.

Summary: Proposed orders on sealing requests must be formatted as a chart with columns for document identifier, requested action (seal/redact/unseal), and court ruling.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Footnotes shall be used sparingly, should never be less than 12-point font, and must include a single paragraph space in between individual footnotes.

Summary: Footnotes must be at least 12-point font and include a single paragraph space between footnotes.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

The Court may strike burdensome and/or illegible filings and direct them to be refiled consistent with the District"s guidance.

Summary: The Court may strike burdensome or illegible filings and require refiling per District guidance.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs whenever possible.

Summary: Electronic filings must be text-searchable PDFs when possible.

Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

All written text, including footnotes and quotations, shall be no less than 12-point type and shall be double-spaced.

Summary: All written text must be 12-point type and double-spaced.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Footnotes shall be no less than 12-point type and shall be double-spaced.

Summary: Footnotes must be 12-point type and double-spaced.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Footnotes shall not be used to cite to legal authorities or evidence. All citations to legal authorities or evidence shall be in the body of the brief.

Summary: Citations to legal authorities or evidence must be in the body of the brief, not in footnotes.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

All exhibits shall be pre-marked for identification with numbers (not letters) by means of exhibit tags affixed to the back of the last page of each exhibit. Sample tags are attached hereto.

Summary: Exhibits must be pre-marked with numbers on tags affixed to back of last page.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

All written text, including footnotes and quotations, shall be no less than 12-point type and shall be double-spaced.

Summary: All written text must be 12-point type and double-spaced.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

Footnotes shall be no less than 12-point type and shall be double-spaced.

Summary: Footnotes must be 12-point type and double-spaced.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

All written text, including footnotes and quotations, shall be no less than 12-point type and shall be double-spaced.

Summary: All written text must be at least 12-point type and double-spaced

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

The cited portions of depositions and other lengthy documents shall be highlighted in yellow for ease of reference. Highlighting in colors other than yellow will result in the document being stricken.

Summary: Cited portions of depositions and lengthy documents must be highlighted in yellow; other colors will result in document being stricken

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

Each administrative motion filed pursuant to Civil Local Rule 79-5(c) and declaration filed pursuant to Civil Local Rule 79-5(f)(3) shall be submitted in Word format by email to BLFpo@cand.uscourts.gov on the same day of filing.

Summary: Sealing motions and declarations must be submitted in Word format by email on the same day of filing.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Deposition transcripts submitted to the Court must be in single-page format. Transcripts in 4-in-1 format, in which 4 pages of the deposition transcript are reduced to fit on a single document page, will be disregarded.

Summary: Deposition transcripts must be in single-page format; 4-in-1 format will be disregarded.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

All written text, including footnotes and quotations, shall be no less than 12-point type and shall be double-spaced.

Summary: All written text must be at least 12-point type and double-spaced.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Footnotes shall be no less than 12-point type and shall be double-spaced.

Summary: Footnotes must be at least 12-point type and double-spaced.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

All exhibits shall be clearly delineated with labels along the right side.

Summary: Exhibits must have labels along the right side.

Judge Eumi K. Lee

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

The chambers copy should be placed in one or more binders. Each document should be tabbed with labels along the right side.

Summary: Social Security chambers copies require binders with tabbed documents.

Judge Eumi K. Lee

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

If the filing includes exhibits over two-inches thick, the parties shall place the copies in a binder. Binders should not exceed three inches.

Summary: Exhibits over 2 inches thick require binder (max 3 inches).

Judge Eumi K. Lee

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

The moving separate statement must be organized in the form of a chart as shown in Attachment A.

Summary: Moving separate statement must be organized in chart format as shown in Attachment A.

Judge Eumi K. Lee

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

The responsive separate statement must be organized in the form of a chart as shown in Attachment A.

Summary: Responsive separate statement must be organized in chart format as shown in Attachment A.

Judge Eumi K. Lee

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Chambers copies should be double-sided and should bear the ECF filing “stamp” (case number, docket number, date, and ECF page number) along the top of the page.

Summary: Chambers copies must be double-sided with ECF stamp.

Judge Eumi K. Lee

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

All courtesy copies must be double-sided, three-hole punched at the left margin, and marked with the ECF stamp (case number, document number, date, and page number) on the top of each page.

Summary: Courtesy copies must be double-sided, three-hole punched, and marked with ECF stamp on each page.

Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Trial will be conducted from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays. Counsel must arrive by 8:00 a.m. each day, or earlier if directed by the Court, to discuss any matters that need to be heard outside the presence of the jury.

Summary: Trial hours are 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; counsel must arrive by 8:00 a.m.

Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

The parties must provide two sets of all trial exhibits -- double-sided and three-hole-punched in three-ring binders, with each exhibit tagged and separated by a label divider identifying the exhibit number. These sets must be delivered to the Court on the morning of the first day of trial.

Summary: Parties must deliver two sets of trial exhibits, double-sided, three-hole-punched, in three-ring binders, with tagged and labeled dividers, on the morning of the first day of trial.

Judge James Donato

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

All chambers copies must be double-sided, three-hole punched at the left margin and marked with the ECF stamp (case number, document number, date and page number). These printed copies should be marked “Chambers Copy -- Do Not File” and placed in an envelope clearly labeled with the judge’s name and case number.

Summary: Chambers copies must be double-sided, three-hole punched, ECF stamped, and marked 'Chambers Copy -- Do Not File'

Judge James Donato

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs whenever possible. This requirement is waived for self-represented litigants who are proceeding without a lawyer.

Summary: Electronic filings must be text-searchable PDFs; waived for pro se litigants.

Judge Jon S Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Each exhibit must be labeled in the lower-right-hand corner with the exhibit number in a prominent, bold typeface.

Summary: Exhibit numbers must be labeled in lower-right corner in bold

Judge Jon S Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

Parties must submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law in Word format via email to jstpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Proposed findings must be submitted in Word format via email

Judge Jon S Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

parties must make telephonic appearances using a land line, rather than a mobile phone.

Summary: Telephonic appearances must use land line, not mobile phone.

Judge Jon S Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs whenever possible. This requirement is waived for self-represented litigants who are proceeding without a lawyer.

Summary: Electronic filings must be text-searchable PDFs unless self-represented.

Judge Jon S Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs whenever possible. This requirement is waived for self-represented litigants who are proceeding without a lawyer.

Summary: Electronic filings must be text-searchable PDFs unless filed by pro se litigants.

Judge Jon S. Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Each exhibit must be labeled in the lower-right-hand corner with the exhibit number in a prominent, bold typeface.

Summary: Exhibit numbers must be labeled in lower-right corner in bold typeface.

Judge Jon S. Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

The parties must mark their exhibits using non-overlapping ranges of numbers, leaving enough unused numbers that additional exhibits can be marked during trial. For example, the parties might agree that the government will use numbers 001–199 and the defendant will use numbers 200–399.

Summary: Parties must use non-overlapping exhibit number ranges with room for additional exhibits.

Judge Jon S. Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Each exhibit must be labeled in the lower-right-hand corner with the exhibit number in a prominent, bold typeface. The parties must mark their exhibits using non-overlapping ranges of numbers, leaving enough unused numbers that additional exhibits can be marked during trial. For example, the parties might agree that the plaintiff will use numbers 001–199 and the defendant will use numbers 200–399.

Summary: Exhibits must be labeled with exhibit number in bold prominent typeface in lower-right corner, using non-overlapping number ranges with spare numbers for trial additions.

Judge Jon S. Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Unless otherwise ordered, at least seven calendar days prior to the commencement of the trial, the parties must deliver one set of all pre-marked exhibits in clearly labeled three-ring binders to the Clerk’s office, marked for the attention of the courtroom deputy. The quality, condition, and labeling of the binders should be such that the Court can easily transport and review the binders’ contents. Whenever possible, the spine of a binder should not be wider than three inches.

Summary: Parties must deliver one set of pre-marked exhibits in clearly labeled three-ring binders to Clerk’s office 7 calendar days before trial, with binder spine ≤3 inches where possible.

Judge Jon S. Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

Parties must submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law in Word format via email to jstpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Proposed findings must be submitted in Word format via email to jstpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Judge Jon S. Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Each exhibit must be labeled in the lower-right-hand corner with the exhibit number in a prominent, bold typeface. The parties must mark their exhibits using non-overlapping ranges of numbers, leaving enough unused numbers that additional exhibits can be marked during trial. For example, the parties might agree that the plaintiff will use numbers 001–199 and the defendant will use numbers 200–399.

Summary: Exhibits must be pre-marked with numbers in lower-right corner in bold typeface, using non-overlapping ranges.

Judge Jon S. Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
PDF

Each exhibit must be bookmarked, and sealed material or material sought to be filed under seal must be highlighted. Where possible, the PDF must bear the ECF stamp (case number, document number, date, and page number) at the top of each page.

Summary: Sealed PDFs must have bookmarked exhibits, highlighted sealed material, and ECF stamps on each page where possible.

Judge Jon S. Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?
Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs whenever possible. This requirement is waived for self-represented litigants who are proceeding without a lawyer.

Summary: E-filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs; requirement waived for self-represented litigants.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Format
DOCX ?

Electronic copies of proposed orders must be sent in Word format to nwpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Electronic copies of proposed orders must be sent in Word format to specified email.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Each exhibit must be labeled in the lower-right-hand corner with the exhibit number in a prominent, bold typeface. The parties must mark their exhibits using non-overlapping ranges of numbers, leaving enough unused numbers that additional exhibits can be marked during trial. For example, the parties might agree that the government will use numbers 001–199 and the defendant will use numbers 200–399.

Summary: Exhibits must be pre-marked with the exhibit number in prominent bold typeface in the lower-right corner, using non-overlapping number ranges with sufficient unused numbers for additional trial exhibits.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs whenever possible. This requirement is waived for self-represented litigants who are proceeding without a lawyer.

Summary: Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs; waived for self-represented litigants.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?
Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs whenever possible. This requirement is waived for self-represented litigants who are proceeding without a lawyer.

Summary: Electronic filings must be text-searchable PDFs (waived for pro se litigants).

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Each exhibit must be labeled in the lower-right-hand corner with the exhibit number in a prominent, bold typeface.

Summary: Exhibits must be labeled with exhibit number in lower-right corner in bold typeface.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?
Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs whenever possible. This requirement is waived for self-represented litigants who are proceeding without a lawyer.

Summary: Electronic filings must be text-searchable PDFs unless self-represented.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Each exhibit must be clearly pre-marked in the lower-right-hand corner with the exhibit number in a prominent, bold typeface. The parties must mark their exhibits using non-overlapping ranges of numbers, not letters, leaving enough unused numbers that additional exhibits can be marked during trial. For example, the parties might agree that the plaintiff will use numbers 001–199 and the defendant will use numbers 300–499. A single exhibit should be marked only once. If plaintiff has marked an exhibit, then the defendant should not re-mark it. Different versions of the same document, e.g., a copy with additional handwriting, must be treated as different exhibits. All exhibits shall be marked and referred to as "Trial Exhibit No. ___," not as "Plaintiff's Exhibit" or "Defendant's Exhibit."

Summary: Exhibits must be pre-marked with numbers in lower-right corner, using non-overlapping ranges.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

The courtesy copies must be in a clearly labeled, single, three-ring binder, with each MIL in a separate tab, immediately followed by the separately tabbed opposition.

Summary: MILs and oppositions must be in tabbed three-ring binder with separate tabs for each document.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Use absolute dates (e.g., Jan. 1, 2024) rather than relative ones (e.g., 60 days after an order).

Summary: Proposed schedules must use absolute dates, not relative dates.

Judge P. Casey Pitts

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?
Format
PDF

File each motion, supporting declaration, and exhibit on ECF as a separate searchable PDF with a clear name and description.

Summary: File each motion, declaration, and exhibit as separate searchable PDF with clear name.

Judge P. Casey Pitts

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

The parties must use the Ninth Circuit Model Jury Instructions whenever possible. Proposed deviations from the model instructions, no matter how minor, must be clearly identified by redlined or highlighted copy and supported by authority.

Summary: Must use Ninth Circuit Model Jury Instructions with redlines/highlights for deviations

Judge P. Casey Pitts

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Exhibits shall be numbered (not lettered) sequentially, with each exhibit identified as "Trial Exhibit No. [number]."

Summary: Trial exhibits must be numbered sequentially, not lettered.

Judge P. Casey Pitts

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

All filing deadlines are at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) unless otherwise ordered.

Summary: All filing deadlines are at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time unless otherwise ordered.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?
Format
DOCX ?

All proposed orders should be sent in Microsoft Word compatible format to rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Proposed orders must be sent in Microsoft Word compatible format to specified email.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

All briefs must use Times New Roman font (size 12) and must be double spaced.

Summary: All briefs must use Times New Roman 12pt font and be double spaced.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

The final brief for any motion should be filed at least 14 days prior to the hearing on the motion.

Summary: Final briefs must be filed at least 14 days before the motion hearing.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Format
PDF

Instead of requiring paper binders of courtesy copies from the parties, Judge Lin uses an electronic binder to organize pretrial filings. Counsel shall contact Judge Lin’s Courtroom Deputy 21 days prior to the final pretrial conference to request a secure Box.com link to upload documents for the electronic binder. Counsel’s email should identify the case number and the trial date. All pretrial filings shall be uploaded to that link. The uploaded documents should contain the ECF version of each attachment, with its ECF header. The name of each PDF file should include the type of document, a brief description of the document, and the docket number.

Summary: Electronic binder via Box.com required for pretrial filings; request link 21 days before pretrial conference.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Format
BOX.COM_UPLOAD ?

No later than 5 days before trial, each side shall upload the exhibits electronically to Judge Lin’s chambers’ Box.com storage. Each exhibit shall be a separate file, with each file named so that the exhibits appear sequentially when sorted by file name.

Summary: Exhibits must be uploaded to Box.com 5 days before trial, each as separate sequentially-named files.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Exhibits shall be sequentially numbered (not lettered). Blocks of numbers should be assigned to fit the needs of the case (e.g., the government has 1 to 100, Defendant A has 101 to 200, Defendant B has 201 to 300, etc.).

Summary: Exhibits must be sequentially numbered, not lettered, with blocks assigned per party.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

A single exhibit should be marked only once. If the government has marked an exhibit, the defendant should not re-mark the same document with another number.

Summary: An exhibit should only be marked once; parties should not re-mark the same document.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Different versions of the same document (e.g., versions of a document with and without additional handwriting), however, must be treated as different exhibits and marked with different numbers.

Summary: Different versions of the same document must be treated as separate exhibits with different numbers.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Do not have witnesses write or draw on an exhibit that has already been admitted in evidence. Mark the exhibit with a new number, have the witness write on the new exhibit, and then move to admit the new exhibit into evidence once all the markings have been made.

Summary: Witnesses cannot write on admitted exhibits; use new numbered exhibits for markings.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

No exhibits may be submitted with the letter other than an excerpt of the specific discovery request or response that is the subject of the letter.

Summary: Only excerpts of the specific discovery request or response may be submitted as exhibits with joint discovery dispute letters.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

All exhibits to motions should be separately filed on ECF. For example, if the motion is Docket No. 30, and the declaration with 10 exhibits is Docket No. 31, Exhibit A would be filed as Docket No. 31-1, Exhibit B would be filed as Docket No. 31-2, and so on.

Summary: Exhibits to motions must be separately filed on ECF with sequential docket numbering (parent docket number-exhibit number).

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Required
Always ?
Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs whenever possible.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format
DOCX ?

All proposed orders should be sent in Microsoft Word compatible format to rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Proposed orders must be sent in Microsoft Word format to rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

All briefs must use Times New Roman font (size 12), including in footnotes, and must be double spaced.

Summary: All briefs must use Times New Roman size 12 font, double spaced, including footnotes.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Parties shall not include substantive arguments in footnotes, and footnotes shall not be overly lengthy or used to exceed page limits. The Court may strike any filing that includes footnotes that do not comply with these requirements.

Summary: Footnotes cannot contain substantive arguments, be overly lengthy, or be used to exceed page limits; non-compliant filings may be struck.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

All expert reports shall number each paragraph to facilitate any motion practice challenging the specifics of any opinions and shall include a table of contents. At the beginning of the report, the expert shall list and number each opinion to be proffered in the report and, if applicable, provide an executive opinion of each.

Summary: Expert reports must number each paragraph, list and number all opinions, and provide executive summary if applicable.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format
DOCX ?

The proposed notices, claims forms, and other documents associated with preliminary approval should be sent in Microsoft Word compatible format to rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Preliminary approval documents must be in Microsoft Word format sent to the specified chambers email.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Proposed notices must be written in plain language without unnecessary acronyms.

Summary: Proposed notices must use plain language and avoid unnecessary acronyms.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Parties should also ensure that the issues in the Federal Judicial Center’s Notice Checklist, are covered.

Summary: Proposed notices must cover all issues in the Federal Judicial Center’s Notice Checklist.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format
DOCX ?

In addition to being filed, the proposed findings and conclusions must be emailed to the Court (rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov) in Word compatible format.

Summary: Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law must be in Word-compatible format.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

The chart should be organized in the following format: Statement The Speaker(s), False and Reasons Facts Giving Rise No. Date(s), and Misleading Statements Were to a Strong Medium Statements False and Inference of Misleading When Scienter Made 1 When: [date] [Direct quotation [Summarize [Summarize of the alleged false arguments on arguments on release] statements.] specific references specific references Speakers: [e.g., to paragraphs in to paragraphs in CEO] the complaint.] the complaint.] (Compl. ¶ __ )

Summary: Securities allegations chart must follow the specified table format with required columns and row content.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

All exhibits to motions should be separately filed on ECF. For example, if the motion is Docket No. 30, and the declaration with 10 exhibits is Docket No. 31, Exhibit A would be filed as Docket No. 31-1, Exhibit B would be Docket No. 31-2, and so on.

Summary: Exhibits to motions must be separately filed on ECF with sequential numbering.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
PDF

All pretrial filings shall be uploaded to that link. The uploaded documents should contain the ECF version of each attachment, with its ECF header. The name of each PDF file should include the type of document, a brief description of the document, and the docket number.

Summary: Upload all pretrial filings to Box.com with ECF headers and specific naming convention.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

The proposed supplemental jury instructions, Joint Pretrial Conference Statement, jury instructions, involved individuals list, and verdict form(s) shall be submitted in Word format via e-mail to rflpo@cand.uscourts.gov when they are filed.

Summary: Pretrial documents must be submitted in Word format via email to specified address.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Exhibits shall be sequentially numbered (not lettered). If possible, parties shall use the same number to mark an exhibit for trial as that used in depositions. Blocks of numbers should be assigned to fit the needs of the case (e.g., Plaintiff has 1 to 100, Defendant A has 101 to 200, Defendant B has 201 to 300, etc.).

Summary: Exhibits must be sequentially numbered, not lettered, with blocks assigned to parties.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

A single exhibit should be marked only once. If the plaintiff has marked an exhibit, the defendant should not re-mark the same document with another number. Different versions of the same document (e.g., versions of a document with and without additional handwriting), however, must be treated as different exhibits and marked with different numbers.

Summary: Single exhibit marked only once; different versions get different numbers.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Do not have witnesses write or draw on an exhibit that has already been admitted in evidence. Bring extra copies and mark the exhibit with a new number, have the witness write...

Summary: Witnesses cannot write on admitted exhibits; use new copies with new numbers.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
WORD_PERFECT ?

The parties shall also submit the joint proposed final pretrial order in Word format via email to Courtroom Deputy, Robert McNamee, at TLTPO@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: The parties must email the joint proposed final pretrial order in Word format to the Courtroom Deputy at the specified address.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Claim Language (Disputed Terms in Bold)

Machine summary

In the claim construction chart, disputed claim terms must be presented in bold.

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

14 Days Before Email Word versions of the proposed joint pretrial statement and proposed order, proposed jury instructions, voir dire questions, verdict form(s), and statement of the case to TLTPO@cand.uscourts.gov. (¶ 5)

Machine summary

Email the specified proposed documents in Word format 14 days before the pretrial conference.

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

13 Days Before Submit two binders to the Clerk’s office containing the joint pretrial statement and proposed order, any proposed jury instructions, voir dire questions, verdict forms, statement of the case, and trial briefs, as well as all motions in limine, oppositions, and/or statements of non- opposition (¶ 6)

Machine summary

The listed pretrial documents must be submitted in two binders to the Clerk’s office.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

Proposed orders shall be submitted in Word format by email to the Courtroom Deputy at TLTPO@cand.uscourts.gov on the same day the proposed order is e-filed.

Summary: Proposed orders must be in Word (DOCX) format.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

The name of each uploaded PDF file should adhere to the naming convention described above and should include the docket number of the docket number 60-2 should be uploaded with the file name “[60-2] Decl Doe Ex 1 - News Release.”

Summary: Uploaded PDF attachments must follow the required naming convention, including the docket number and document description.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

The flash drive should be labeled with the name and number of the case. The flash drive should contain the ECF version of each attachment, with its ECF header. The name of each PDF file on the flash drive should include the type of document, a brief description of the document, and the docket number. Each PDF document must be text-searchable. This requirement is waived for people proceeding pro se.

Summary: Flash drives delivered to chambers must be labeled with the case name and number; PDF attachments must be text-searchable, include the ECF header, and follow proper file naming, except for pro se litigants.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

All briefs must use Times New Roman font (size 12) and must be double spaced.

Summary: All briefs must use Times New Roman size 12 font and double spacing.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

If the proposed notices are not carefully written and in plain English, the Court will reject the motion for preliminary approval.

Summary: Proposed notices must be carefully written and in plain English, or the motion for preliminary approval will be rejected.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?
Format
PDF

When filing motions on ECF, each motion, supporting declaration, and attachment to a declaration (such as an exhibit) should be filed as a separate PDF. That is, a declaration must be filed separately from the motion, and each exhibit to a declaration must be filed separately from the declaration and from the other exhibits.

Summary: Motions and declarations must be filed as separate PDFs on ECF.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

These page limits include summaries of argument and exclude the title page, table of contents, table of authorities, and exhibits. All briefs must use Times New Roman font (size 12) and must be double spaced.

Summary: Briefs must use Times New Roman 12pt, double-spaced, with specific exclusions from page count.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

The parties shall jointly file, and send in Word format to vcpo@cand.uscourts.gov, a list of people involved in the case.

Summary: The Involved Individuals List must be sent in Word format.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

Word Versions of Pretrial Filings

Summary: Pretrial filings must be submitted in Word (DOCX) format.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

The proposed supplemental jury questions, Joint Pretrial Conference Statement, jury instructions, involved individuals list, and verdict form(s) shall be submitted in Microsoft Word format via e-mail to vcpo@cand.uscourts.gov when they are filed.

Summary: Specified pretrial documents must be in Microsoft Word format.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

To avoid any party claiming “ownership” of an exhibit, all exhibits shall be marked and referred to as “Trial Exhibit No. _____,” not as “Plaintiff’s Exhibit” or “Defendant’s Exhibit.”

Summary: All exhibits must be marked and referred to as 'Trial Exhibit No. _____' rather than party-specific names.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

No later than 5 days before trial, the parties shall upload official copies of all exhibits to an online location designated by the Clerk’s Office, with each exhibit as a separate file, and with each file named so that the exhibits appear sequentially when sorted by file name.

Summary: All trial exhibits must be uploaded as separate files named sequentially to sort in order.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Exhibits shall be sequentially numbered (not lettered). If possible, parties shall use the same number to mark an exhibit for trial as that used in depositions. Blocks of numbers should be assigned to fit the needs of the case (e.g., Plaintiff has 1 to 100, Defendant A has 101 to 200, Defendant B has 201 to 300, etc.).

Summary: Exhibits must be sequentially numbered without letters, using deposition numbers if possible and party-specific blocks.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

exhibit, the defendant should not re-mark the same document with another number. Different versions of the same document (e.g., versions of a document with and without additional handwriting), however, must be treated as different exhibits and marked with different numbers.

Summary: Defendants should not re-mark the same document with a new number; different document versions are separate exhibits.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Exhibit tags shall be placed on or near the lower right-hand corner of each exhibit, unless the exhibit is a photograph, in which case the tag shall be placed on the back. If an exhibit is a multipage document and there is no room on the front of the first page then the exhibit sticker must be placed on the back of the last page of the document in the lower left corner.

Summary: Exhibit tags must be placed in specified locations based on exhibit type and page count.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Publication must be by poster blow-up, transmission via courtroom technology, or such other method as is allowed in the circumstances. It is permissible to highlight, circle, or underscore in the enlargements as long as it is clear that it was not on the original.

Summary: Exhibits must be published via poster blow-up, courtroom technology transmission, or other allowed method, and highlighting/circling/underscoring enlargements is permitted if clearly not on the original.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

The parties shall provide the materials on a thumb drive and shall also submit one hard-copy set. The hard-copy set shall be organized and formatted in a manner that allows the Court to review the transcripts and identify the corresponding objections and responses without the need to reference a separate spreadsheet.

Summary: Deposition/discovery designation materials must be submitted on a thumb drive and as one hard-copy set organized to match objections/responses without a separate spreadsheet.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

During trial, counsel may wish to use laser-disk/computer graphics, poster blow-ups, or models. Such equipment must be provided by the parties. Equipment should be shared by all counsel to the maximum extent possible. For electronic equipment, parties should be prepared to maintain the equipment or have a technician handy at all times. The parties shall tape extension cords to the carpet for safety.

Summary: Parties must provide their own evidence presentation equipment, share equipment where possible, maintain electronic equipment or have technician support, and tape extension cords to the carpet for safety.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

all factual findings must be supported by citations to all pertinent portions of the record. If the citation is to witness testimony and a rough or final transcript is not yet available, the citation can simply be to the date of the testimony. The parties should hyperlink the citations in the proposed findings of fact to the exhibits and trial transcripts. Proposed findings shall be brief, written in plain English, and free of pejorative language.

Summary: Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law must include record citations, be brief, in plain English, free of pejorative language, and have hyperlinked citations where possible.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format
DOCX ?

The proposed notices, claims forms, and other documents associated with preliminary approval should be sent in Microsoft Word format to vcpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Preliminary approval documents must be sent in Word format to specified email.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

No later than 5 days before trial, each side shall upload to an online location designated by the Clerk’s Office a copy of all exhibits, with each exhibit as a separate file, and with each file named so that the exhibits appear sequentially when sorted by file name.

Summary: Each trial exhibit must be a separate file, named sequentially to sort correctly.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Exhibits shall be sequentially numbered (not lettered). Blocks of numbers should be assigned to fit the needs of the case (e.g., the government has 1 to 100, Defendant A has 101 to 200, Defendant B has 201 to 300, etc.).

Summary: Exhibits must be sequentially numbered (not lettered), with blocks assigned per party.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

A single exhibit should be marked only once. If the government has marked an exhibit, the defendant should not re-mark the same document with another number. Different versions of the same document (e.g., versions of a document with and without additional handwriting), however, must be treated as different exhibits and marked with different numbers.

Summary: Exhibits must be marked only once; different versions of the same document are separate exhibits.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

To avoid any party claiming “ownership” of an exhibit, all exhibits shall be marked and referred to as “Trial Exhibit No. ,” not as “Government’s Exhibit” or “Defendant’s Exhibit”.

Summary: Exhibits must be marked as 'Trial Exhibit No. [number]', not party-specific names.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Exhibit tags shall be placed on or near the lower right-hand corner of the first page of each exhibit. If the exhibit is a photograph, or the exhibit does not have enough room to accommodate the tag on the front page, the tag shall be placed on the back of the last page of the document in the lower left-hand corner.

Summary: Exhibit tags must be placed on the lower right corner of the first page, or the back of the last page if the exhibit is a photograph or has insufficient front-page space.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Each motion should be clearly identified as “___________'s Motion in Limine No. __ Re: ____________.”

Summary: Motions in limine must be clearly identified with party name and topic.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

The judge’s copy of the exhibits shall be provided in three-ring binders, with each exhibit tagged, three-hole-punched, and separated with a label divider identifying the exhibit number. A spine label on each binder should indicate the numbers of the exhibits contained therein.

Summary: Judge's exhibit copy requires three-ring binders with tagged, three-hole-punched exhibits and labeled dividers.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
THUMB_DRIVE

The official copy shall be submitted on a thumb drive and should contain each exhibit as a separate file, with each file named so that the exhibits appear sequentially when sorted by file name.

Summary: Official exhibit copy requires thumb drive with each exhibit as separate sequentially-named file.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Counsel should fill in the exhibit and case numbers, but leave the other spaces (“Date Entered” and “By”) blank.

Summary: Exhibit tags require counsel to fill exhibit and case numbers only, leaving date and by fields blank.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

The judge’s copy of the exhibits shall be provided in three-ring binders, with each exhibit tagged, three-hole-punched, and separated with a label divider identifying the exhibit number.

Summary: Judge's copy of exhibits must be in three-ring binders with tagged, punched, and labeled dividers.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Format
THUMB_DRIVE

The official copy shall be submitted on a thumb drive and should contain each exhibit as a separate file, with each file named so that the exhibits appear sequentially when sorted by file name.

Summary: Official copy must be on thumb drive with sequentially named exhibit files.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Exhibits shall be sequentially numbered (not lettered). Blocks of numbers should be assigned to fit the needs of the case (e.g., the government has 1 to 100, Defendant A has 101 to 200, Defendant B has 201 to 300, etc.).

Summary: Exhibits must be sequentially numbered, not lettered, with blocks assigned per party.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

A single exhibit should be marked only once. If the government has marked an exhibit, the defendant should not re-mark the same document with another number.

Summary: Each exhibit should be marked only once, not re-marked by opposing party.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

Exhibit tags shall be placed on or near the lower right-hand corner of the first page of each exhibit. If the exhibit is a photograph, or the exhibit does not have enough room to accommodate the tag on the front page, the tag shall be placed on the back of the last page of the document in the lower left-hand corner.

Summary: Exhibit tags: lower right corner of first page, or lower left corner of back of last page for photos.

Judge Vince Chhabria

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format
DOCX ?

Proposed orders submitted by an e-filing party shall be submitted in Microsoft Word to askpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: E-filing parties must submit proposed orders in Microsoft Word format to askpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
OCR

Filing Exhibits on ECF. When exhibits are included with a motion, opposition brief, or reply brief, the exhibits should be filed separately on ECF. For example, if a motion is Docket No. 30, and a declaration with 10 exhibits is Docket No. 31, Exhibit A should be filed as Docket No. 31-1, Exhibit B should be filed as Docket No. 31-2, and so on. All exhibits should be filed in a searchable OCR format when possible.

Summary: Exhibits must be filed separately on ECF in searchable OCR format.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format
DOCX ?

Proposed orders submitted by an e-filing party shall be submitted in Microsoft Word to askpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: E-filing parties must submit proposed orders in Microsoft Word format to askpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

When exhibits are included with a motion, opposition brief, or reply brief, the exhibits should be filed separately on ECF. For example, if a motion is Docket No. 30, and a declaration with 10 exhibits is Docket No. 31, Exhibit A should be filed as Docket No. 31-1, Exhibit B should be filed as Docket No. 31-2, and so on.

Summary: Exhibits must be filed separately on ECF with sequential numbering.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

the parties shall prepare a joint statement of not more than five pages (12-point or greater font) stating the following:

Summary: Discovery joint statements must use at least 12-point font.

Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
PDF

The Settlement Conference Statement and Confidential Settlement Letter shall be in separate .pdf files, and each file shall include its respective exhibits, if any, which must be bookmarked.

Summary: Settlement Conference Statement and Confidential Letter must be separate PDF files with bookmarked exhibits.

Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

All ECF filings shall comply with the following requirements. (a) All citations to legal authority or exhibits must include pincites.

Summary: ECF filings must include pincites for all legal authority and exhibits.

Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

(b) All chambers copies of e-filed documents shall bear the ECF filing “stamp” (case number, docket number, date, and ECF page number) along the top of each page.

Summary: Chambers copies must include ECF filing stamp with case number, docket number, date, and page number.

Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

(d) All exhibits must be clearly marked and individually tabbed.

Summary: All exhibits must be clearly marked and individually tabbed.

Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

(e) E-filed documents must be cited in all other documents as follows: Dkt. No.__ at ___.

Summary: E-filed documents must be cited as “Dkt. No.__ at ___” in all other documents.

Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

For filings that are no more than 100 pages, chambers copies must be stapled or attached with brads; binder clips, paperclips, or similar fastenings are not adequate. If the filing is more than 100 pages, the chambers copies must be three-hole punched along the left side of the page and placed in a 3-ring binder.

Summary: Chambers copies: ≤100 pages stapled/brads; >100 pages three-hole punched in 3-ring binder.

Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

All exhibits must be clearly marked and individually tabbed.

Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

E-filed documents must be cited in all other documents as follows: Dkt. No.__ at ___.

Summary: E-filed documents must be cited as Dkt. No.__ at ___.

Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

All chambers’ copies of e-filed documents shall bear the ECF filing “stamp” (case number, docket number, date, and ECF page number) along the top of the page.

Summary: Chambers copies must include ECF filing stamp with case number, docket number, date, and page number.

Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
PAPER ?

Settlement statements must be lodged no later than seven days before the settlement conference (fourteen days for cases with four or more separately represented parties) in hard copy, three-hole punched and double-sided, at 450 Golden Gate Avenue, 16th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102, in a sealed envelope addressed to Judge Beeler and marked “Settlement Documents (Not For Filing).” Submissions under twenty pages may be emailed to lbsettlement@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Settlement statements must be lodged 7 days before conference (14 days for 4+ parties) in hard copy or emailed if under 20 pages.

Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Required
Always ?
Format
PDF

In addition to paper copies, hyperlinked electronic copies should be submitted if feasible when the supporting documents are lengthy. Any pinpoint citations in the briefs must link to the specific page in the supporting exhibit. PDF briefs and bookmarked exhibits must be emailed to lbpo@cand.uscourts.gov. If the file is too large to email, please lodge a thumb drive or share access to a cloud-based hosting platform that allows court employees to download files.

Summary: Electronic copies with hyperlinks and bookmarks required for lengthy documents, emailed to specific chambers address.

Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

If filings are voluminous, then the parties must lodge chambers copies that are double-side printed and three-hole punched. They must be the electronically filed copies with the PACER/ECF-generated header (case number, docket number, date, and ECF page number). Exhibits must be tabbed and have a table of contents. If the copies are more than two inches thick, then the parties must submit them in a binder. If the case involves sealed filings, then the redacted and unredacted copies must be submitted in order (e.g., redacted motion/unredacted motion (behind a tab labeled “motion”) or redacted Ex. 1/unredacted Ex. 1 (behind a tab labeled “1” or “Ex. 1”)). The binder order must be (1) motions and proposed orders (redacted/unredacted), (2) sealing motions and proposed orders with supporting declarations only; and (3) exhibits (redacted/unredacted with numbered tabs that correspond to the exhibit number).

Summary: Voluminous filings require double-sided, three-hole punched chambers copies with specific binding and tabbing requirements.

Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?
Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs and compatible with text-to-speech readers, such as Adobe Acrobat, whenever possible.

Summary: Electronic filings must be text-searchable PDFs compatible with text-to-speech readers.

Magistrate Judge Lisa J. Cisneros

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Margins
top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in ?
Format
PDF

Joint letters must be filed in ECF under the Civil Events category of Motions and Related Filings > Motions: General > Discovery Letter Brief. Joint letters shall be in text-searchable PDF format and shall not exceed five pages (12-point font or greater; margins no less than one inch) without leave of the Court.

Summary: Joint letters must be filed in ECF under specific category, in text-searchable PDF, max 5 pages, 12pt font, 1-inch margins.

Magistrate Judge Lisa J. Cisneros

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs and compatible with text-to-speech readers, such as Adobe Acrobat, whenever possible.

Summary: Electronic filings must be text-searchable PDFs compatible with screen readers

Magistrate Judge Lisa J. Cisneros

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
PDF

Each party shall prepare a Settlement Conference Statement which must be submitted in .pdf format to RMIsettlement@cand.uscourts.gov no later than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the conference.

Summary: Settlement Conference Statement must be submitted in PDF format.

Magistrate Judge Robert M. Illman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

Proposed orders should be emailed in MS Word format to rmipo@cand.uscourts.gov. This address is to be used only for proposed orders unless otherwise directed.

Summary: Proposed orders must be emailed in MS Word format; email address is restricted to proposed orders only.

Magistrate Judge Robert M. Illman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

The cover page of any exhibit submitted in connection with briefing on a motion must include the exhibit number and the title or brief description of the exhibit (e.g., “Ex. 1 – 1/1/2023 email from Joe Smith to Nancy Jones”).

Summary: Exhibit cover pages must include exhibit number and title/description.

Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
PDF

The joint statement must not exceed 10 pages, exclusive of the caption page, double-spaced with 12-point font and in text-searchable PDF format.

Summary: Joint statements must be in text-searchable PDF format with double-spacing and 12-point font.

Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?
Margins
top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in ?

A bench binder containing a copy of each side’s exhibits must be provided to the Court on the first day of trial. Each exhibit must be separated with a label divider. Please use 1-1/2-inch binders with locking rings. (Heavier binders are too hard to handle.)

Summary: Provide bench binder with exhibits on first day of trial using 1-1/2-inch binders with locking rings.

Senior Judge Charles R. Breyer

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Exhibits must be labeled in the lower right-hand corner with the exhibit number in a prominent, bold typeface.

Summary: Exhibit labels must be in lower right-hand corner in prominent, bold typeface.

Senior Judge Charles R. Breyer

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

All chambers copies should be three-hole punched along the left side of the page, and should bear the ECF filing “stamp” (case number, docket number, date, and ECF page number) along the top of the page. All exhibits shall be clearly delineated with tabs along the right side (e.g., “1”, “2”, “3”). If the filing includes exhibits over three inches thick, the parties shall place the chambers copy in a binder. The Court prefers double-sided printing for voluminous chambers copies of exhibits, if possible.

Summary: Chambers copies must be 3-hole punched, stamped with ECF info, tabbed exhibits, and may require binding for thick exhibits.

Senior Judge Charles R. Breyer

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

The joint proposed final pretrial order and the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law shall be submitted by email at crbpo@cand.uscourts.gov, on a thumb drive in Word format, as well as in hard copies. All hard-copy submissions should be three-hole punched on the left, so the chambers’ copy can be put in binders.

Summary: Joint proposed final pretrial order and proposed findings must be submitted by email, thumb drive, and hard copies (three-hole punched).

Senior Judge Charles R. Breyer

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

To designate deposition testimony, photocopy the cover page, the page on which the witness is sworn, and each page from which any testimony is proffered, crossing out any portions of such pages not proffered, as well as objections or colloquy (unless needed to understand the question). Please make sure any corrections are interlineated and that references to exhibit numbers conform to the trial numbers.

Summary: Deposition designation requires specific photocopying and formatting.

Senior Judge Charles R. Breyer

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

All substantive motions, oppositions and replies must comply with the General Requirements described in Civil Local Rule 3-4 and the page limitations described in Civil Local Rules 7-2 and 7-3 unless permission has been obtained from the Court in advance of filing. Footnotes shall be in no less than 12-point type and shall be double-spaced.

Summary: Substantive motions must comply with Local Rules 3-4, 7-2, 7-3; footnotes 12pt, double-spaced.

Senior Judge Edward J. Davila

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Exhibits are not to be filed but rather shall be submitted to chambers. Exhibits must be premarked. In addition, one set of exhibits must be tagged. Exhibits shall be three-hole punched and shall be submitted in binders.

Summary: Exhibits must be premarked, tagged, three-hole punched, and submitted in binders to chambers (not filed).

Senior Judge Edward M. Chen

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Format
DOCX ?

The joint proposed final pretrial order, the jury instructions, proposed voir dire, the statement of the case, objections to exhibits, and any proposed special verdict forms, shall be submitted to chambers in Microsoft Word format via email to jswpo@cand.uscourts.gov, as well as in hard copies.

Summary: Pretrial submissions must be in Microsoft Word format and emailed to chambers, with hard copies also required.

Senior Judge Jeffrey S. White

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

All written text, including footnotes and quotations, must conform with the requirements of Civil Local Rule 3-4(c)(2).

Summary: Written text must conform to Civil Local Rule 3-4(c)(2) requirements.

Senior Judge Jeffrey S. White

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Exhibits must be labeled in the lower right-hand corner with the exhibit number in a prominent, bold typeface.

Senior Judge Jeffrey S. White

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Use numbers only, not letters, for exhibits, preferably the same numbers as were used in depositions. ... all exhibits shall be marked and referred to as 'Trial Exhibit No. ,' not as 'Plaintiff's Exhibit' or 'Defendant's Exhibit.'

Summary: Exhibits must be numbered with numbers only and referred to as 'Trial Exhibit No.' rather than party-specific names.

Senior Judge Jeffrey S. White

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

The proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, the joint proposed final pretrial order, and objections to exhibits required by paragraph 2(e) of this Order, shall be submitted to chambers in Microsoft Word via email to jswpo@cand.uscourts.gov, as well as in hard copies. All hard-copy submissions should be submitted in a binder to the Clerk’s office in an envelope clearly marked with the case number and “JSW chambers copies.”

Summary: Proposed findings, joint pretrial order, and exhibit objections must be submitted via email (Word) to chambers and hard copy in binder to Clerk's office with marking.

Senior Judge Jeffrey S. White

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Required
Always ?

Format: Courtesy copies shall be submitted in single‐sided format. Any attached exhibits shall be separated by tabbed dividers.

Summary: Courtesy copies must be single-sided with tabbed dividers for exhibits

Senior Judge Maxine M. Chesney

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Footnotes in briefs appearing in smaller than the 12-point font required for the text, will be stricken, see Civil L. R. 3-4(c)(2), as will footnotes that are so numerous as to be clearly designed to defeat the page limits found at Civil L. R. 7-2 - 7-4. Any brief must separate sentences by 2 spaces after each sentence.

Summary: Footnotes must be 12-point font or larger and not used to circumvent page limits; sentences must be separated by 2 spaces.

Senior Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Exchange exhibits which shall be premarked with an exhibit sticker tabbed and in binders. Plaintiff shall use numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) and defendant shall use numbers preceded by a letter (A-1, A-2, A-3, etc.). Additional parties shall also use a letter preceding numbers (B-1, B-2, B-3, or C-1, C-2, C-3, etc.).

Summary: Exhibits must be premarked, tabbed, and in binders with specific numbering.

Senior Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format
WORD_PERFECT ?

Electronic copies of proposed orders must be sent in Word format to whopo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Electronic copies of proposed orders must be sent in Word format to the specified email address.

Senior Judge William H. Orrick

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Voluminous exhibits shall be reduced by elimination of irrelevant portions or through the use of summaries. Each item shall be pre-marked with a trial exhibit sticker (“Trial Exhibit No.__”) label; defendant’s exhibit numbers shall be sequenced to begin after plaintiff’s exhibit numbers. If there are numerous exhibits, they should be provided in three-ring binders with marked tab dividers.

Summary: Voluminous exhibits must be reduced or summarized; each must be pre-marked with trial exhibit stickers in numbered sequence; numerous exhibits should be in three-ring binders with tabs.

Senior Judge William H. Orrick

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Blocks of numbers shall be assigned to fit the needs of the case (e.g., Plaintiff has 1-100, Defendant has 101-200). The parties shall not mark duplicate exhibits (e.g., plaintiff and defendant shall not mark the same exhibit; only one copy of the exhibit shall be marked).

Summary: Exhibit numbers must be assigned in blocks per party; duplicate exhibits must not be marked.

Senior Judge William H. Orrick

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Margins
top 0 in, bottom 0 in, left 0 in, right 0 in ?

Footnotes shall be used sparingly, should never be less than 12-point font, and must include a single paragraph space in between individual footnotes.

Summary: Footnotes must be at least 12-point font with single paragraph spacing between them.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Furthermore, pincites to the record shall be as particular as possible for citations to the record.

Summary: Record citations must be as particular as possible.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

String citations without any analysis or descriptive parentheticals will be disregarded.

Summary: String citations without analysis or parentheticals will be disregarded.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

These names shall be as descriptive as possible to help the Court identify pertinent documents on the docket. Parties are on notice that the Court may strike burdensome and/or illegible filings and direct them to be refiled consistent with the District's guidance.

Summary: Document names must be descriptive; burdensome/illegible filings may be struck.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Footnotes shall be used sparingly, should never be less than 12-point font, and must include a single paragraph space in between individual footnotes.

Summary: Footnotes should be used sparingly, must be at least 12-point, and must have a single paragraph space between them.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

All chambers copies must be 3-hole punched in the left margin in a manner suitable for placement in a 3-ring binder.

Summary: Chambers copies must be 3-hole punched in the left margin for a 3-ring binder.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

Chambers copies must include tabs between exhibits and must fasten or attach pages of individual documents together so as to distinguish between separate documents. Please do not use bottom tabs as they do not work well in binders.

Summary: Chambers copies must have tabs between exhibits and pages of individual documents must be fastened together; bottom tabs are prohibited.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Chambers copies submitted without meeting the above requirements may be rejected, and the party may be required to re-submit.

Summary: Non-compliant chambers copies may be rejected and require re-submission.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Use of footnotes in court filings shall be limited to providing brief points of clarification or cross-references. Argument in footnotes will not be considered by the Court.

Summary: Footnotes limited to clarification/cross-references; argument in footnotes disregarded.

Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

The Court may strike any filing that includes excessive or improper footnotes.

Summary: Court may strike filings with excessive or improper footnotes.

Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

String citations without any analysis or descriptive parentheticals contained in any court filing will be disregarded.

Summary: String citations without analysis or parentheticals will be disregarded.

Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Parties may not incorporate by reference prior arguments submitted in the case. This practice creates substantial administrative burdens and may be construed as circumventing page limits.

Summary: Incorporating prior arguments by reference is prohibited.

Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

The Court may strike any filing that improperly incorporates material by reference.

Summary: Court may strike filings that improperly incorporate material by reference.

Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Footnotes shall be no less than 12-point type and shall be double-spaced. Footnotes shall not be used to cite to legal authorities or evidence. All citations to legal authorities or evidence shall be in the body of the brief. Excessive footnotes will be disregarded. In general, no more than 5 footnotes per brief should be necessary.

Summary: Footnotes must be 12-point, double-spaced, not used for citations, and limited to 5 per brief

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Date and signature lines for the Court shall appear immediately following the signature lines of the parties.

Summary: The Court's date and signature lines must appear immediately after the parties' signature lines in the Joint Pretrial Statement and Order.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

All exhibits shall be pre-marked for identification with numbers (not letters) by means of exhibit tags affixed to the back of the last page of each exhibit.

Summary: All trial exhibits must be pre-marked with numbers using exhibit tags affixed to the back of the last page.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

Parties shall deliver to Chambers copies of Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law on a thumb drive in Word format, with a label including the name of the case, the case number and a description of the submission

Summary: Proposed findings must be delivered to Chambers on a thumb drive in Word format with a label.

Judge Charles R Breyer

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Each motion should be presented in a separate memo and numbered, as in, for example, "Plaintiff's Motion in Limine No. 1 to Exclude... ". Please be sure to three-hole punch the chambers copies so they can go into a trial notebook.

Summary: Each motion in limine must be in a separate numbered memo; chambers copies must be three-hole punched.

Judge Charles R Breyer

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

All hard-copy submissions should be three-hole punched on the left, so the chambers' copy can be put in binders.

Summary: All hard-copy submissions must be three-hole punched on the left.

Judge Charles R Breyer

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Briefs or Memoranda of Points and Authorities in support of, or in opposition to, any motions filed in an action must be typed on 28-line, double-spaced pleading paper and, except for summary judgment motions, may not exceed 15 pages in length, exclusive of title pages, indexes of cases, table of contents, exhibits, affidavits and summaries of argument, if required.

Summary: Briefs must be typed on 28-line, double-spaced pleading paper.

Judge Charles R Breyer

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

These should be filed in Microsoft Word format on a CD and via e-mail to crbpo@cand.uscourts.gov, and in hard copies (three-hole punched on the left).

Summary: Proposed jury instructions must be filed in Microsoft Word format on CD, via email, and as hard copies three-hole punched on the left.

Judge Charles R Breyer

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Use numbers only, not letters, for exhibits, preferably the same numbers as were used in depositions. Blocks of numbers should be assigned to fit the need of the case (e.g., Plaintiff has 1 to 100, Defendant A has 101 to 200, Defendant B has 201 to 300, etc.). A single exhibit should be marked only once. If the plaintiff has marked an exhibit, then the defendant should not re-mark it. Different versions of the same document, e.g., a copy with additional handwriting, must be treated as different exhibits. To avoid any party claiming “ownership” of an exhibit, all exhibits shall be marked and referred to as “Trial Exhibit No. ,” not as “Plaintiff’s Exhibit” or “Defendant’s Exhibit.” If an exhibit number differs from that used in a deposition transcript, however, then the latter must be conformed to the new trial number if and when the deposition testimony is read to the jury (so as to avoid confusion over exhibit numbers). The jury should always hear any given exhibit referred to by its unique number. You cannot have competing versions of the same exhibit numbers.

Summary: Exhibits must be numbered using numbers only, assigned in blocks, marked once, and referred to as 'Trial Exhibit No.' not party-specific.

Judge Charles R Breyer

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Exhibits must be labeled in the lower right-hand corner with the exhibit number in a prominent, bold typeface.

Summary: Exhibits must be labeled in lower right-hand corner with bold exhibit number.

Judge Charles R Breyer

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Use numbers only, not letters, for exhibits, preferably the same numbers as were used in depositions. Blocks of numbers should be assigned to fit the need of the case (e.g., Plaintiff has 1 to 100, Defendant A has 101 to 200, Defendant B has 201 to 300, etc.). A single exhibit should be marked only once. If the plaintiff has marked an exhibit, then the defendant should not re-mark it. Different versions of the same document, e.g., a copy with additional handwriting, must be treated as different exhibits. To avoid any party claiming “ownership” of an exhibit, all exhibits shall be marked and referred to as “Trial Exhibit No. ____,” not as “Plaintiff’s Exhibit” or “Defendant’s Exhibit.” If an exhibit number differs from that used in a deposition transcript, however, then the latter must be conformed to the new trial number if and when the deposition testimony is read (so as to avoid confusion over exhibit numbers).

Summary: Exhibits must use numbers only, be marked only once, referred to as 'Trial Exhibit No.' not party-specific, and conform deposition numbers to trial numbers.

Judge Edward M Chen

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Exhibits must be premarked. In addition, one set of exhibits must be tagged. Exhibits shall be three-hole punched and shall be submitted in binders.

Summary: Exhibits must be premarked, one set tagged, three-hole punched, and submitted in binders.

Judge Edward M Chen

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Required
Always ?

For hard copies, (1) all documents must be three-hole punched on the left-hand side; and (2) exhibits to declarations must be tabbed.

Summary: Hard copies must be three-hole punched on the left and exhibits tabbed.

Judge Edward M Chen

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Format
PDF

If electronically filed, declarations containing exhibits must be bookmarked (i.e., if the declaration makes reference to an exhibit, the declaration must contain a hyperlink to the corresponding exhibit; declarations and exhibits to be filed as a single PDF.).

Summary: Electronically filed declarations with exhibits must be bookmarked with hyperlinks and filed as a single PDF.

Judge Edward M Chen

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

All declarations shall be filed as separate documents. This includes motions and declarations e-filed with the Court. Supporting declarations must be filed as separate documents.

Summary: Declarations must be filed as separate documents from motions.

Judge Edward M Chen

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Tabs must be used for exhibits attached to declarations, including chambers copies.

Summary: Exhibits attached to declarations must be tabbed, including chambers copies.

Judge Edward M Chen

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Proposed notices must be written in plain language without unnecessary acronyms.

Summary: Class action notices must use plain language without unnecessary acronyms.

Judge Eumi K. Lee

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Demonstrative exhibits and visual aids that are duplicative of the arguments made in the parties’ claim construction briefs are strongly discouraged.

Summary: Duplicative visual aids discouraged for claim construction.

Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?
Format
PDF

Each PDF document should be text-searchable whenever practicable. This requirement is waived for litigants proceeding pro se.

Summary: PDF documents must be text-searchable unless filing pro se.

Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

The parties must e-mail a Microsoft Word version of the proposed jury instructions and verdict form to jdpo@cand.uscourts.gov by noon the day after the pretrial filings due date.

Summary: Proposed jury instructions and verdict form must be in Microsoft Word format.

Judge James Donato

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

A Microsoft Word version of the proposed voir dire questions should be e-mailed to jdpo@cand.uscourts.gov by noon the day after the pretrial filings due date.

Summary: Proposed voir dire questions must be in Microsoft Word format.

Judge James Donato

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Each exhibit shall be tagged in the following form: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA TRIAL EXHIBIT 100 CASE NO. _____________________ DATE ENTERED_________________ BY __________________________ DEPUTY CLERK The tag should be placed on or near the lower right-hand corner or, if a photograph, on the back. Counsel should fill in the case number but leave the last two spaces blank.

Summary: Each exhibit must be tagged with a specific form, placed on the lower right-hand corner or back of photograph, with case number filled in leaving last two spaces blank.

Judge James Donato

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Footnotes are often unnecessary and must be employed sparingly. When used, they must appear in no less than 12-point type. Excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Summary: Footnotes must be at least 12-point type and used sparingly.

Judge Jon S Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Each exhibit must be labeled in the lower-right-hand corner with the exhibit number in a prominent, bold typeface. The parties must mark their exhibits using non-overlapping ranges of numbers, leaving enough unused numbers that additional exhibits can be marked during trial.

Summary: Exhibits must be labeled in lower-right corner with bold number and use non-overlapping number ranges.

Judge Jon S Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

The quality, condition, and labeling of the binders should be such that the Court can easily transport and review the binders' contents. Whenever possible, the spine of a binder should not be wider than three inches.

Summary: Exhibit binders must be clearly labeled and spine should not exceed three inches.

Judge Jon S Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

The quality, condition, and labeling of the binders should be such that the Court can easily transport and review the binders' contents. Whenever possible, the spine of a binder should not be wider than three inches.

Summary: Binders must be transportable and spine no wider than 3 inches

Judge Jon S Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Footnotes are often unnecessary and must be employed sparingly. When used, they must appear in no less than 12-point type. Excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Summary: Footnotes must be at least 12-point type and used sparingly.

Judge Jon S Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

The quality, condition, and labeling of binders, when used, should be such that the Court can easily identify, review, and transport the binders’ contents. Whenever possible, the spine of a

Summary: Binders must be high quality, clearly labeled, and easily transportable.

Judge Jon S Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

Electronic copies of proposed orders must be sent in Word format to jstpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Electronic copies of proposed orders must be in Word format.

Judge Jon S Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

Footnotes are often unnecessary and must be employed sparingly. When used, they must appear in no less than 12-point type. Excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Summary: Footnotes must be at least 12-point type and used sparingly.

Judge Jon S. Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

The quality, condition, and labeling of binders, when used, should be such that the Court can easily identify, review, and transport the binders’ contents. Whenever possible, the spine of a binder should not exceed three inches in width, even if that limitation results in the use of more than one binder.

Summary: Binders must be easily identifiable and not exceed 3 inches in spine width.

Judge Jon S. Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Criminal cases

The quality, condition, and labeling of the binders should be such that the Court can easily transport and review the binders’ contents. Whenever possible, the spine of a binder should not be wider than three inches.

Summary: Binders must be easily transportable and spines should not exceed 3 inches.

Judge Jon S. Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Footnotes are often unnecessary and must be employed sparingly. When used, they must appear in no less than 12-point type. Excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Summary: Footnotes must be used sparingly and formatted in no less than 12-point type; excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Judge Jon S. Tigar

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

Footnotes are often unnecessary and must be employed sparingly. When used, they must appear in no less than 12-point type. Excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Summary: Footnotes must be in no less than 12-point type and used sparingly; excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Footnotes are often unnecessary and must be employed sparingly. When used, they must appear in no less than 12-point type.

Summary: Footnotes must be in at least 12-point type and used sparingly.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

Footnotes are often unnecessary and must be employed sparingly. When used, they must appear in no less than 12-point type. Excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Summary: Footnotes must be at least 12-point type and used sparingly.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Criminal cases

The quality, condition, and labeling of the binders should be such that the Court can easily transport and review the binders’ contents. Whenever possible, the spine of a binder should not be wider than three inches.

Summary: Binders must be easily transportable and spine should not exceed 3 inches.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Footnotes are often unnecessary and must be employed sparingly. When used, they must appear in no less than 12-point type. Excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Summary: Footnotes must be used sparingly and appear in no less than 12-point type; excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Footnotes are often unnecessary and must be employed sparingly. When used, they must appear in no less than 12-point type. Excessive footnotes will be disregarded.

Summary: Footnotes must be at least 12-point type and used sparingly.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Exhibits shall be three-hole punched, and contained in clearly labeled three-ring binders, with exhibits separated by numbered tabs that correspond to the exhibit number. The quality, condition, and labeling of the binders should make it easy for the Court to transport and review the binders' contents. The spine of each binder should not be wider than three inches.

Summary: Exhibits must be in three-ring binders with numbered tabs, spine not wider than 3 inches.

Judge Noël Wise

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

All citations in the final Statement must reference the docket and include the correct page number as shown in the blue ECF header at the top of the document. All citations should follow this format: [Exhibit Name and pin cite], Dkt. No. [X], at [ECF page number].

Summary: Citations in final separate statement must reference docket number and ECF page number in specified format.

Judge P. Casey Pitts

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Lengthy PowerPoint presentations will generally not be permitted during argument on motions, as they circumvent the page limits imposed on briefing. However, counsel may use

Summary: PowerPoint presentations generally not permitted during motion arguments.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Lengthy PowerPoint presentations will generally not be permitted during argument on motions, as they circumvent the page limits imposed on briefing. However, counsel may use demonstratives in responding to the Court’s questions, as long as they are provided to opposing counsel at least two hours before the hearing. Any such demonstratives will not be part of the record, so counsel should state verbally for the court reporter the relevant portion of the record being highlighted on the demonstrative (e.g., “page 5342 of the administrative record” or “page 12, line 5 of the Jones deposition”).

Summary: PowerPoint presentations generally prohibited during motion arguments; demonstratives allowed with 2-hour notice to opposing counsel.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

The uploaded documents should contain the ECF version of each attachment, with its ECF header.

Summary: Uploaded documents must include the ECF version with ECF header.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

The name of each PDF file should include the type of document, a brief description of the document, and the docket number.

Summary: PDF file names must include document type, description, and docket number.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Any modifications to a form instruction must be plainly identified by highlighting or tracked changes.

Summary: Modifications to form jury instructions must be highlighted or tracked.

Judge Rita F. Lin

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Criminal cases

Required
Always ?
Format
PDF

Electronically filed documents must be text-searchable PDFs whenever possible. This requirement is waived for self-represented litigants who are proceeding without a lawyer.

Summary: Electronic filings must be text-searchable PDFs, except for pro se litigants

Judge Trina L. Thompson

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Civil cases

The quality, condition, and labeling of the binders should be such that the Court can easily transport and review the binders’ contents. Whenever possible, the spine of a binder should not be wider than three inches.

Summary: Exhibit binders should be labeled and in a condition that facilitates transport and review, and their spines should be no wider than three inches whenever possible.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Each PDF document should be text-searchable whenever practicable. This requirement is waived for litigants proceeding pro se.

Summary: All PDF documents must be text-searchable when practicable; pro se litigants are exempt.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Exhibits must be labeled in the lower right-hand corner with the exhibit number in a prominent, bold typeface.

Summary: Exhibit tags must be in the lower right-hand corner with a prominent, bold typeface.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

The Settlement Conference Statement shall be submitted on pleading paper and may not exceed 20 pages (excluding supporting exhibits). Please three-hole punch the document at the left side.

Summary: Settlement Conference Statement must be on pleading paper and three-hole punched on the left side.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Format
PDF

Each party shall also submit their Settlement Conference Statement in .pdf format and email their statement to asksettlement@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Settlement Conference Statement must be submitted in PDF format and emailed to asksettlement@cand.uscourts.gov.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

Any stipulation or proposed order in a case subject to e-filing should, in addition to being e-filed, be submitted by email to agtpo@cand.uscourts.gov as a Word document on the same day the document is e-filed.

Summary: The emailed stipulation or proposed order must be in Word format.

Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

All exhibits should be filed in a searchable OCR format when possible.

Summary: Exhibits should be filed in searchable OCR format when possible.

Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

The parties are encouraged to provide the Court with deposition testimony, video footage, and other evidence referred to in the statements that are subject to dispute or believed to be dispositive. In the interest of judicial economy, the parties shall provide citations to the deposition testimony in their statements, and attach only the relevant pages of the transcript. Video must be available for streaming on the cloud without registration or download, and the submitting party shall provide time stamps for the portions they wish the Court to view, along with a short explanation of what the video (or video clip) shows.

Summary: Exhibits limited to relevant pages and streaming video with timestamps.

Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Please 2-hole punch the documents at the top.

Summary: Settlement Conference documents must be 2-hole punched at top

Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore

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Civil cases

The chambers copies of these materials must be submitted in a binder, labeled on the front and spine with the case name and 'Pretrial Submissions,' with labeled tabs separating the filings by topic to reflect the organization in this section.

Summary: Chambers copies of pretrial submissions must be in a binder labeled with case name and 'Pretrial Submissions,' with labeled tabs by topic.

Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler

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Civil cases

First, the parties must lodge a joint, single set of all trial exhibits marked 'Original Exhibits,' either as a thumb drive or in three-ring binders. If binders, then each exhibit must be tagged and separated by a label divider identifying the exhibit number. The binder spines must identify the exhibits in a particular binder. A thumb drive must reflect a comparable organization.

Summary: Trial exhibits must be lodged as a joint set marked 'Original Exhibits' on thumb drive or three-ring binders with labeled dividers and spine identification.

Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler

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Civil cases

The chambers copies of these materials must be submitted in binders, labeled on the front and spine with the case name and a description of the contents, and have labeled tabs separating the filings to reflect the organization in this section.

Summary: Chambers copies of exhibits and designations must be in binders labeled with case name and contents description, with labeled tabs.

Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

The videos must omit dead time, objections, and colloquy not necessary to understand the answers.

Summary: Video depositions must omit dead time, objections, and unnecessary colloquy.

Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Chambers copies must bear the PACER/ECF header (with case number, docket number, date, and page number) and be clearly marked with the judge’s initials (LJC) and the designation “Chambers Copy.”

Summary: Chambers copies must include PACER/ECF header and judge's initials.

Magistrate Judge Lisa J. Cisneros

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Filings must be bound at the top or side; voluminous filings (those over two inches in thickness) should be placed in binders. Exhibits must be tabbed.

Summary: Filings must be bound; exhibits must be tabbed; thick filings need binders.

Magistrate Judge Lisa J. Cisneros

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

All pleadings should be punched with three holes on the side.

Summary: All pleadings must be three-hole punched.

Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

All exhibits shall be clearly separated by tabs.

Summary: Exhibits must be separated by tabs.

Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Required
Always ?

Chambers copies must be marked “Chambers Copy” and submitted to the Clerk’s Office in an envelope clearly marked “Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim,” and include the case number on the envelope.

Summary: Chambers copies must be marked “Chambers Copy” and submitted in envelope marked “Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim” with case number.

Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

If parties submit excerpts of deposition transcripts in support of or opposition to a motion for summary judgment, they shall highlight the relevant portions for ease of reference.

Summary: Deposition excerpts must be highlighted for ease of reference.

Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

All chambers copies should bear the ECF filing “stamp” (case number, docket number, date, and ECF page number) along the top of the page.

Summary: Chambers copies must include ECF filing stamp with case number, docket number, date, and ECF page number.

Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

All stipulations and proposed orders are to be emailed in Word format to svkcerd@cand.uscourts.gov on the same day as the documents are e-filed.

Summary: Stipulations and proposed orders must be in Word format.

Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen

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Civil cases

For all other motions in limine, each side may file not more than 5 motions in limine set forth in a single document that does not exceed 15 pages double-spaced in 12-point font.

Summary: Motions in limine must be double-spaced in 12-point font.

Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Format
PDF

All items must be in text-searchable PDF format.

Summary: All items in the Joint Pretrial Statement must be in text-searchable PDF format.

Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Each party's responses to motions in limine must be contained in a single document that does not exceed 15 pages double-spaced in 12-point font.

Summary: Responses to motions in limine must be double-spaced in 12-point font.

Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen

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Civil cases

The chart must be in landscape orientation, must be organized in numerical order by exhibit number, and must include columns containing the following information for each exhibit: 1. An exhibit number. 2. A brief description of each exhibit's contents and purpose. 3. The identity of each sponsoring witness.

Summary: Exhibit list must be in landscape orientation, numerically ordered, with specific columns.

Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen

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Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Use of footnotes in Court filings is to be limited to providing brief points of clarification or cross-references. Argument in footnotes will not be considered by the Court. The form of footnotes must comply with Civil Local Rule 3-4(c)(2). The Court may strike any filing that includes excessive or improper footnotes.

Summary: Footnotes limited to clarification/cross-references; argument in footnotes not considered; must comply with Local Rule 3-4(c)(2); excessive/ improper footnotes may be stricken.

Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen

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Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Use of footnotes in Court filings is to be limited to providing brief points of clarification or cross-references. Argument in footnotes will not be considered by the Court.

Summary: Footnotes are limited to clarification or cross-references; argument in footnotes will not be considered.

Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen

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The paper exhibits should be exhibit-numbered, tabbed and placed in 3-ring binders.

Summary: Paper trial exhibits must be numbered, tabbed, and in 3-ring binders.

Magistrate Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi

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Chambers copies must be double-sided and 3-hole punched along the left margin of the paper.

Summary: Chambers copies must be double-sided and 3-hole punched.

Magistrate Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Whenever possible, the spine of a binder containing chambers copies should not exceed three inches in width, even if this limitation results in the use of multiple binders. Documents should be printed on both sides of each sheet of paper.

Summary: Chambers copy binders should not exceed 3 inches; print double-sided.

Senior Judge Edward J. Davila

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Tabs must be used for exhibits attached to declarations, including chambers copies.

Summary: Exhibits attached to declarations must be tabbed, including chambers copies.

Senior Judge Edward M. Chen

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Format
PDF

If electronically filed, declarations containing exhibits must be bookmarked (i.e., if the declaration makes reference to an exhibit, the declaration must contain a hyperlink to the corresponding exhibit; declarations and exhibits to be filed as a single PDF.).

Summary: Electronically filed declarations with exhibits must be bookmarked with hyperlinks and filed as a single PDF.

Senior Judge Edward M. Chen

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For hard copies, (1) all documents must be three-hole punched on the left-hand side; and (2) exhibits to declarations must be tabbed.

Summary: Hard copies must be three-hole punched on the left and exhibits tabbed.

Senior Judge Edward M. Chen

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Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Use numbers only, not letters, for exhibits, preferably the same numbers as were used in depositions. Blocks of numbers should be assigned to fit the need of the case (e.g., Plaintiff has 1 to 100, Defendant A has 101 to 200, Defendant B has 201 to 300, etc.). A single exhibit should be marked only once. If the plaintiff has marked an exhibit, then the defendant should not re-mark it. Different versions of the same document, e.g., a copy with additional handwriting, must be treated as different exhibits. To avoid any party claiming 'ownership' of an exhibit, all exhibits shall be marked and referred to as 'Trial Exhibit No. ____,' not as 'Plaintiff's Exhibit' or 'Defendant's Exhibit.' If an exhibit number differs from that used in a deposition transcript, however, then the latter must be conformed to the new trial number if and when the deposition testimony is read (so as to avoid confusion over exhibit numbers).

Summary: Exhibits must be numbered (not lettered), assigned in blocks per party, marked only once, and referred to as 'Trial Exhibit No. ____'. Deposition exhibit numbers must be conformed to trial numbers.

Senior Judge Edward M. Chen

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Format
DOCX ?

shall be submitted to chambers in Microsoft Word format via email to jswpo@cand.uscourts.gov

Summary: Pretrial documents must be in Microsoft Word format.

Senior Judge Jeffrey S. White

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Exhibit notebooks for the jury will not be permitted.

Summary: Exhibit notebooks for the jury are prohibited.

Senior Judge Jeffrey S. White

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Criminal cases

All chambers copies must be securely bound at the top or on the side, either with staples, “ACCO” fasteners, or velo-binding, or shall be submitted in binders. Binder clips, paper clips, and rubber bands will not satisfy this requirement. If a particular motion, declaration or other submission is more than two inches thick, the parties should submit the chambers copies of the document in multiple volumes that do not exceed two inches. When a declaration or other document includes exhibits, parties shall submit chambers copies of the documents which include tabs that separate each exhibit.

Summary: Chambers copies must be securely bound (staples, ACCO fasteners, velo-binding, or binders); volumes over two inches must be split; exhibits must be tabbed.

Senior Judge Jeffrey S. White

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Or any other substantively similar format that permits the court to compare terms side by side

Summary: Claim construction statement must use a format that allows side-by-side comparison of proposed constructions and supporting evidence.

Senior Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton

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Civil cases

Submitting chambers copies of the reply documents in a binder is optional.

Summary: Submitting chambers copies of reply documents in a binder is optional.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

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Civil cases

In motions involving voluminous citations to evidence or records, parties are encouraged to submit chambers copies of their briefing in an electronic format with hyperlinks to the evidence, on flash drives or other removable media. Parties may request to submit such electronic copies in lieu of paper chambers copies.

Summary: For motions with voluminous evidence citations, parties are encouraged to submit electronic chambers copies with hyperlinks on removable media, and may request to submit electronically instead of paper.

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

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Civil cases

Pincites to any materials in the record shall be as particular as possible.

Summary: Pinpoint citations must be as specific as possible.

Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín

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Civil cases

If they so choose, litigants and lawyers may indicate their pronouns (e.g., she/her, he/him, they/their) and honorifics (e.g., Mr., Ms., Mx., Dr.) by adding the information in the name block or signature line of the pleadings.

Summary: Pronouns and honorifics may be optionally included in name blocks/signature lines.

Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín

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Required
Always ?

Counsel will be allowed a brief (15 minutes) follow-up voir dire after the Court's questioning.

Summary: Counsel allowed 15 minutes for follow-up voir dire after court's questioning.

Judge Edward M Chen

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Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

If they so choose, litigants and lawyers may indicate their pronouns (e.g., she/her, he/him, they/their) and honorifics (e.g., Mr., Ms., Mx., Dr.) by adding the information in the name block or signature line of the pleadings, by filing a letter on the public docket, or by informing the Court at the start of a hearing.

Summary: Litigants may optionally indicate pronouns and honorifics in pleadings, letters, or at hearings.

Judge Eumi K. Lee

Machine summary. Not checked yet.INFO?

Civil cases

Required
Always ?

If either party cites to an unpublished case, the Court generally prefers Westlaw citations. If the Westlaw citation cannot be provided, the party should include the case number, court name, and exact date of publication in the citation.

Summary: Westlaw citations preferred for unpublished cases; otherwise include case number, court name, and date.

Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr.

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Criminal cases

Each item shall be premarked; generally, the Government shall use numbers 1–100 and the Defendant shall use 101–200 – modified to meet the needs of the case.

Summary: Exhibits must be premarked with specific numbering ranges for Government and Defendant.

Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr.

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Criminal cases

Any language a party proposes to be removed from a model instruction must be designated with a strikethrough and language proposed to be added to a model instruction must be underlined.

Summary: Modifications to model jury instructions must use strikethrough for deletions and underline for additions.

Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.INFO?

Criminal cases

Format
DOCX ?

Counsel shall e-mail a copy of their proposed jury instructions in Word format to HSGpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Proposed jury instructions must be e-mailed in Word format.

Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr.

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Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Each notebook will be a 1-inch three-ring black binder with a plastic slip pocket on the cover. Each binder should have a title page inserted in the slip pocket with the name and case number of the action in large print. Inside the binder, the parties will provide 50 pages of lined notepaper clipped into the rings. The parties should consider including a glossary.

Summary: Jury notebooks must be 1-inch three-ring black binder with plastic slip pocket, title page with case name and number, 50 pages of lined notepaper, and consider including a glossary.

Judge James Donato

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Civil cases

For voluminous filings, chambers would appreciate the use of binder clips rather than staples, or submission in three-ring binders. For documents with multiple attachments (e.g., declarations with exhibits, requests for judicial notice and so on), please use side tabs that clearly separate each attached document.

Summary: For voluminous filings, use binder clips or three-ring binders; use side tabs for multiple attachments

Judge James Donato

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Civil cases

The Court prefers Westlaw citations for unpublished opinions that are not included in the Federal Supplement, Federal Rules Decisions, or the Federal Appendix.

Summary: Westlaw citations preferred for unpublished opinions not in Federal Supplement/FRD/Federal Appendix.

Judge Jon S Tigar

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Criminal cases

Format
DOCX ?

Proposed orders should be sent in Microsoft Word format to nwpo@cand.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Proposed orders should be submitted in Microsoft Word format to specified email.

Judge Noël Wise

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Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

The Court prefers Westlaw citations for unpublished opinions that are not included in the Federal Supplement, Federal Rules Decisions, or the Federal Appendix.

Summary: Westlaw citations preferred for unpublished opinions not in Federal Supplement, Federal Rules Decisions, or Federal Appendix.

Judge Noël Wise

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Criminal cases

The quality, condition, and labeling of binders, when used, should be such that the Court can easily identify, review, and transport the binders' contents. Whenever possible, the spine of a binder should not exceed three inches in width, even if that limitation results in the use of more than one binder.

Summary: Binders for courtesy copies should allow easy identification and transport; spine should not exceed three inches in width.

Judge Noël Wise

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Civil cases

The Court prefers Westlaw citations for unpublished opinions that are not included in the Federal Supplement, Federal Rules Decisions, or the Federal Appendix.

Summary: The Court prefers Westlaw citations for unpublished opinions not in Federal Supplement, Federal Rules Decisions, or Federal Appendix.

Judge Noël Wise

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Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Footnotes must be in at least 12-point type and should be used sparingly.

Summary: Footnotes must be at least 12-point type and used sparingly.

Judge P. Casey Pitts

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Civil cases

Each exhibit shall be premarked for identification.

Summary: Each exhibit must be premarked for identification.

Judge Richard Seeborg

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Civil cases

Required
Always ?

All filing deadlines are at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) unless otherwise ordered.

Summary: All filing deadlines are at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time unless otherwise specified.

Judge Rita F. Lin

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Civil cases

If either party cites to an unpublished case, the Court generally prefers Westlaw citations. If the Westlaw citation cannot be provided, the party should include the case number, court name, and exact date of publication in the citation.

Summary: Westlaw citations preferred for unpublished cases; if unavailable, include case number, court name, and exact date.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

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Civil cases

Format
PDF

Each electronic PDF filing should be text-searchable whenever practicable. This requirement is waived for litigants proceeding pro se.

Summary: Electronic PDF filings should be text-searchable when practicable; waived for pro se litigants.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

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Civil cases

Required
Always ?

If either party cites to an unpublished case, the Court generally prefers Westlaw citations. If the Westlaw citation cannot be provided, the party should include the case number, court name, and exact date of publication in the citation.

Summary: Unpublished cases should use Westlaw citations; if unavailable, include case number, court name, and publication date.

Judge Trina L. Thompson

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Civil cases

Briefs, declarations, and other filings need not be on pleading paper with line numbers. The Court prefers blank paper (although pleading paper will be accepted).

Summary: Filings are not required to be on pleading paper with line numbers; blank paper is preferred but pleading paper is accepted.

Judge Vince Chhabria

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Criminal cases

Motions and other filings need not be on pleading paper with line numbers. The Court prefers blank paper (although pleading paper will be accepted).

Summary: Filings are not required to be on pleading paper; blank paper is preferred but pleading paper is acceptable.

Judge Vince Chhabria

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Criminal cases

Publication may be by poster blow-up, use of the courtroom electronic evidence presentation system, or such other method as is allowed in the circumstances. It is permissible to highlight, circle, or underscore in the enlargements as long as it is clear that the alterations are not on the original.

Summary: Exhibits may be published via poster blow-up, electronic evidence system, or other allowed method; highlighting, circling, or underscoring enlargements is permitted if alterations are not made to the original.

Judge Vince Chhabria

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Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Publication must be by poster blow-up, transmission via courtroom technology, or such other method as is allowed in the circumstances. It is permissible to highlight, circle, or underscore in the enlargements as long as it is clear that it was not on the original.

Summary: Exhibits must be published via poster blow-up, courtroom tech, or approved method; highlighting enlargements allowed if original is clear.

Judge Vince Chhabria

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Criminal cases

Motions and other filings need not be on pleading paper with line numbers. The Court prefers blank paper (although pleading paper will be accepted).

Summary: Pleading paper with line numbers not required; blank paper preferred.

Judge Vince Chhabria

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Criminal cases

Required
Always ?

Judge Chhabria prefers but does not require that the exhibit tags be in a color that will stand out (yet still allow for photocopying).

Summary: Exhibit tags should be in a color that stands out but allows photocopying.

Judge Vince Chhabria

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Format
PDF ?

All exhibits should be filed in a searchable OCR format when possible.

Summary: Exhibits should be filed in searchable OCR format when possible.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

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Format
OTHER ?

All exhibits should be filed in a searchable OCR format when possible.

Summary: Exhibits should be filed in searchable OCR format when possible.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

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Civil cases

All exhibits should be filed in a searchable OCR format when possible.

Summary: Exhibits should be filed in searchable OCR format when possible.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

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Civil cases

Required
Always ?

The Court requests that all hard-copy submissions be three-hole-punched.

Summary: All hard-copy submissions should be three-hole-punched.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

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Civil cases

Publication must be by poster blow-up, overhead projection, or such other method as is allowed in the circumstances.

Summary: Exhibit publication to the jury must be by poster blow-up, overhead projection, or another allowed method.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

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Civil cases

It is permissible to highlight, circle or underscore in the enlargements as long as it is clear that such markings were not on the original.

Summary: Highlighting, circling, or underscoring on exhibit enlargements is permitted if it is clear the markings were not on the original.

Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan

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Civil cases

Format
PDF ?

All exhibits should be filed in a searchable OCR format when possible.

Summary: Exhibits should be filed in searchable OCR format when possible

Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse

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Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Settlement conferences routinely last 3 or more hours, and the parties and their representatives should be prepared to work until 4:00 p.m. if necessary.

Summary: Settlement conferences typically last 3+ hours, may extend to 4:00 PM.

Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore

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Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Exhibit numbers should be assigned by block to each party to fit the needs of the case. (E.g., Plaintiff has Exhibits 1 through 100, and Defendant has Exhibits 101 through 200.) Exhibits should be labeled as “Trial Exhibit No. __,” not “Plaintiff’s Exhibit” or “Defendant’s Exhibit,” to avoid any implication of “ownership” to the jury.

Summary: Assign exhibit numbers by block per party; label as "Trial Exhibit No. __" not party-specific.

Magistrate Judge Lisa J. Cisneros

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Civil cases

Margins
top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1.5 in, right 1 in ?
Format
PAPER ?

Pro se litigants who are representing themselves may file documents manually, unless they have applied for and been given permission to become an ECF user pursuant to Civil L.R. 5-1(b). To manually file documents, litigants should bring an original and three copies to the Clerk’s Office on the second floor of the San Jose Federal Courthouse.

Summary: Pro se litigants may file manually with original plus three copies unless ECF permission granted.

Magistrate Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi

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Required
Always ?

The hearing will proceed term-by-term with the patentee arguing first on odd-numbered terms.

Summary: Patentee argues first on odd-numbered claim construction terms.

Senior Judge Edward J. Davila

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Civil cases

Publication must be by sharing electronic exhibits to the Courtroom monitors, poster blow-up, or such other method as the Court allows.

Summary: Exhibits must be published to the jury via electronic monitors, poster blow-ups, or other court-approved methods.

Senior Judge Jeffrey S. White

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Civil cases

Required
Always ?

Pretrial conferences will be held in person in San Francisco, Courtroom 1, 17th Floor.

Summary: Pretrial conferences are held in person in San Francisco, Courtroom 1, 17th Floor.

Senior Judge Susan Illston
Common questions about Northern District of California document format requirements

What formatting rules apply to filings in Northern District of California?

Judge Jon S Tigar's formatting rule includes file format docx and send electronic copies to jstpo@cand.uscourts.gov.. Electronic copies of proposed orders must be sent to the listed address in Word format.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 6, section L. Briefing and Filing Guidelines — 5.iii. Proposed Orders

Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers' formatting rule includes present the information in chart format and organize it by party.. The witness information must be presented in chart format and organized by party.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 3, section 3. TRIAL READINESS FILINGS AND BINDER and PROPOSED ORDER THEREON

Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen's formatting rule includes file format PDF and pdf must be text-searchable.. Settlement conference statements must be submitted in text-searchable PDF format.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 1, section SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENT

227 more rules answer this question in the list above.