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

Hon. Edward J. Davila

Verified 2026-06-26verify at the court's site ↗

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 ↗

👤 Judge Davila — standing order

Parties and counsel shall not engage in any ex parte communication with Judge Davila or his chambers staff by telephone, facsimile, e-mail or any other means unless such contact has been authorized in advance. Judge Davila does not review or respond to letters or letter briefs providing case information or seeking relief from the Court even if the letter is filed on the docket.

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) ↗

👤 Judge Davila — standing order
Motion

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.

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 Davila — standing order
Hearing days

Civil Motions are heard on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. by reservation only. Parties and counsel may reserve a hearing date by contacting Judge Davila's Courtroom Deputy, Chere Robinson, at ejdcrd@cand.uscourts.gov. Motions must be filed and noticed within 14 calendar days of reserving a hearing date with Judge Davila's Courtroom Deputy. Failure to timely file any motion will result in the expiration of the hearing reservation without further notice to the parties.

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) ↗

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) ↗

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 ↗

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Davila — deviations that burn people
  • Hearing reservation is mandatory -- no reservation, no hearing. Motions must be filed within 14 days of the reservation or the reservation expires automatically.
  • Absolute prohibition on letter briefs and letter communications to chambers: Davila does not read or respond to them even if docketed. All requests must be by motion or stipulation.
  • No ex parte communications of any kind without advance authorization -- not even scheduling inquiries via email.
  • Amended complaints must attach a red-line exhibit showing all changes from the prior complaint.
  • Footnotes must be 12-point minimum and double-spaced -- a common formatting trap when copying from standard templates.
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment