judge console · N.D. Cal.
N.D. Cal. · Judge Cisneros · Practice Guide

Hon. Lisa J. Cisneros

All local rules for N.D. Cal., integrated with this judge's published requirements.

Before You File
Ex parte applications
🏛 N.D. Cal. local rule

Permitted only if statute, Federal Rule, local rule, or standing order authorizes; cite authority in motion Civ. L.R. 7-10 ↗

Drafting the Motion
Length limits — motion, opposition, reply
🏛 N.D. Cal. local rule
Motion

25 pages maximum (motion must be in one document not exceeding 25 pages) Civ. L.R. 7-2(b) ↗

Opposition

25 pages maximum Civ. L.R. 7-4(b) ↗

Reply

15 pages maximum Civ. L.R. 7-4(b) ↗

Filing & Scheduling
Briefing schedule & hearing date
🏛 N.D. Cal. local rule
Notice period

35 days after filing (FRCP 6(d) mail-service extension expressly excluded) Civ. L.R. 7-2(a) ↗

Hearing days

Judge's individual law and motion calendar; no district-wide standard hearing day Civ. L.R. 7-2(a) ↗

👤 Judge Cisneros — standing order
Hearing days

Civil motions are heard on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m., except that when Judge Cisneros is on criminal duty, civil motions are heard on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. Motion hearings are in person unless otherwise ordered by the Court; any request for a remote hearing must be made by administrative motion or by stipulation and proposed order. Hybrid hearings, with some counsel in person and others appearing remotely, are disfavored. Parties should notice motions pursuant to the local rules. Parties need not reserve a hearing date but should confirm the Court's availability by viewing the calendar and scheduling notes available at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/lisa-j-cisneros/. Hearing dates may be reset as the Court's calendar requires or matters may be decided without a hearing.

Chambers / courtesy copies
👤 Judge Cisneros — standing order
Details

Chambers copies are required only for filings that necessitate action by the Court and exceed 50 pages inclusive of supporting declarations and exhibits. 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." Chambers copies 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. Chambers copies may be accompanied by a flash drive where appropriate. Chambers copies shall arrive at the Court within 48 hours after e-filing.

Proposed orders
🏛 N.D. Cal. local rule

PDF attached to motion; Word format emailed to assigned judge's chambers address Civ. L.R. 5-1(f) ↗

👤 Judge Cisneros — standing order

Proposed orders in civil cases shall be submitted in Word format (.doc or .docx) via email to ljcpo@cand.uscourts.gov on the day of filing. This email address is to be used only for civil proposed orders unless otherwise directed by the Court.

The Hearing
Oral argument
🏛 N.D. Cal. local rule

Court may decide without oral argument or by telephone at judge's discretion Civ. L.R. 7-1(b) ↗

👤 Judge Cisneros — standing order
Default practice

Motion hearings are in person unless otherwise ordered by the Court; any request for a remote hearing must be made by administrative motion or by stipulation and proposed order. Hybrid hearings, with some counsel in person and others appearing remotely, are disfavored.

Discovery
Discovery referral procedure
🏛 N.D. Cal. local rule

Magistrate judges authorized for all non-dispositive pretrial matters including discovery Civ. L.R. 72-1 ↗

👤 Judge Cisneros — standing order

All discovery disputes before the Court shall proceed as follows: when there is a discovery dispute, the parties must first make a good faith effort to resolve the dispute before seeking Court intervention. After attempting to address the issue(s) via letter, phone call, and/or email, any party or non-party may demand a formal meet and confer within two weeks' notice. Counsel for each party must meet and confer in person or by videoconference. A mere exchange of letters, e-mails, or telephone calls does not satisfy the meet and confer requirement. If disagreements remain, the parties shall file a joint letter no later than five business days after the formal meet and confer, unless otherwise directed by the Court. Lead trial counsel for both parties must sign the letter, which shall include an attestation that the parties met and conferred in person or by video regarding all issues prior to filing the letter.

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Cisneros — deviations that burn people
  • Chambers copies threshold is 50 pages inclusive of declarations and exhibits -- not the standard 'voluminous' standard used by other judges.
  • Hybrid hearings (some in person, some remote) are disfavored -- requests for remote appearance must go through administrative motion or stipulation.
  • Proposed orders must be submitted on the day of filing, not within a window after filing.
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment