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

Hon. Beth Labson Freeman

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) ↗

👤 Judge Freeman — standing order
Motion

Absent leave of Court, the page limits for the following types of motions and proceedings shall be 25 pages for the motion or opening brief, 25 pages for the opposition or response brief, and 15 pages for the reply brief: motions brought under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12, 23, 56, 59, or 65; motions for judgment on the pleadings; motions for certification of a collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act; motions brought under California's anti-SLAPP statute; social security appeals; and claim construction briefing. Parties shall comply with Civil Local Rule 7-2(b), requiring that within the 25-page limit the moving party shall include the notice of motion, a concise statement of relief requested, and points and authorities supporting the motion.

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 Freeman — standing order
Hearing days

Civil motions are heard by reservation only on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. Hearing dates may be reserved by contacting Judge Freeman's Courtroom Deputy Clerk, Tiffany Salinas-Harwell, at 408-535-5381 or BLFCRD@cand.uscourts.gov. When reserving a hearing date, the attorney or party must inform Ms. Salinas-Harwell of the number and type(s) of motions to be filed. Once a hearing date is reserved, the motion(s) shall be filed within 14 days thereafter. If no motion has been filed by the 15th day, the reservation will expire and the moving party must obtain a new reservation before filing the motion(s).

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) ↗

Remote appearances
👤 Judge Freeman — standing order

Case Management Conferences are heard on Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. via Zoom Webinar.

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 Freeman — deviations that burn people
  • Hearing reservation is mandatory -- no reservation, no hearing. Motion must be filed within 14 days or the reservation auto-expires on day 15.
  • When reserving, you must inform the courtroom deputy of the number and type(s) of motions -- vague reservations may be problematic.
  • Thursdays are dark for trial -- the trial schedule runs Monday/Wednesday/Friday (full day) and Tuesday (starting at 10 a.m.); do not plan trial sessions on Thursdays.
  • CMCs are Zoom only (Thursdays at 11:00 a.m.) -- do not appear in person for a CMC.
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment