Ex Parte Applications: Strict compliance with Local Rule 7-19 is required. Any opposition must be filed within 24 hours of the electronic filing of the application. The Court will notify parties if a hearing is desired. Please note that, absent an emergency, ex parte applications may not be used to obtain a ruling on a discovery dispute. The Court's procedures for discovery motions in civil cases are set forth below.

Communications with the Court: Inquiries regarding the status of a motion, stipulation, or proposed order should be directed to the Courtroom Deputy Clerk. Parties and counsel are not permitted to contact the Judge's clerks.

Discovery Motion Practice: No discovery motion may exceed 10 pages unless leave of Court is obtained in advance. The opposition may not exceed 10 pages unless leave of Court is obtained in advance. Any reply is limited to 5 pages. Copies of all filed documents, including declarations or any other attachment(s), must be emailed to the chambers email address.

Civil Motions. Civil motions are heard on Mondays or Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. Please check the Closed Motion Dates before filing a motion. Other than discovery motions, discussed below, it is not necessary to clear a civil motion date with the Court before filing the motion.

Under Seal Documents. Strict compliance with Local Rule 79-5.2 is required. Documents filed electronically under seal must be served in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5. Documents filed electronically under seal must be accompanied by either a Proof of Service in the form required by Local Rule 5-3.1.2 or a declaration explaining why service is not required. The submission of documents for in camera review is governed by Local Rule 79-6.

Court Appearances. Proceedings will be held in person unless the parties are otherwise notified by the Court. If any party requests a telephonic or Zoom appearance, such a request must be filed in writing no later than two weeks before the proceeding. The Court values the importance of training junior attorneys. If a written request for oral argument is filed before a hearing in a non-prisoner case, stating that an attorney six or fewer years out of law school will argue the motion, then the Court will hold the hearing. Otherwise, the Court may find it appropriate to take a motion under submission without oral argument.

Brief Pre-Discovery Motion Conference. First, as Local Civil Rule 37-1 requires, the parties must meet and confer in a good-faith effort to resolve any discovery dispute. Second, if the parties conclude that they have reached an impasse, within one business day of the last meet-and-confer, the movant must e-mail the Court at MBK_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov seeking a conference with the Court via Zoom. No discovery motion may be filed until the Court has conducted a pre-motion conference via Zoom unless the movant has obtained leave of Court sought by an ex parte application. The Court may strike any discovery motion filed in violation of this Rule and Procedure.

Discovery Motions: Discovery motions are to be scheduled before the Magistrate Judge unless otherwise ordered by the District Judge. The parties are directed to review the scheduling order issued by the District Judge for all provisions related to discovery, including the discovery cutoff date. Disputes brought to the Magistrate Judge's attention without sufficient time for decision within the District Judge's scheduling order will be stricken or denied. Discovery Motion Practice: The Court dispenses with the joint stipulation requirement under Local Civil Rule 37-2. Parties must file moving, opposing, and reply papers pursuant to Local Civil Rule 7.