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

Hon. Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr.

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 ↗

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 Gilliam — standing order
Hearing days

Civil motions are generally heard in person on Thursdays at 2:00 p.m.

Chambers / courtesy copies
👤 Judge Gilliam — standing order
Details

Paper courtesy copies shall not be submitted unless the Court requests them. The Court may at times order the parties to provide digital courtesy copies of motions filings, including supporting documents, on portable media (e.g., a CD or flash drive).

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 Gilliam — standing order

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

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 Gilliam — standing order
Default practice

The Court may find a matter suitable for disposition without oral argument and vacate the hearing on the matter. If, however, any party advises the Court in writing by no later than two days from the date of the order vacating the hearing that the argument for its side will be conducted by a lawyer who has been licensed to practice law for five or fewer years, then the Court will consider rescheduling the hearing in order to provide that opportunity.

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 Gilliam — standing order

As soon as a discovery-related matter arises, the Court may refer the case to a Magistrate Judge to handle all discovery disputes. After a Magistrate Judge has been assigned to a case for discovery, the parties in that case must handle any discovery matters according to the procedures set by that Judge.

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Gilliam — deviations that burn people
  • CMC is via Zoom (Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m.) but motion hearings are in person (Thursdays at 2:00 p.m.) in Oakland. Attorneys cannot appear remotely at motion hearings without good cause showing.
  • No paper courtesy copies as a matter of course. Do not send binders. Court may request digital copies on CD or flash drive.
  • Proposed orders in Word format must be emailed to HSGpo@cand.uscourts.gov on the SAME DAY the proposed order is e-filed — not the next day.
  • If a hearing is vacated, a party whose arguing attorney has 5 or fewer years of experience must notify the Court in writing within 2 days to preserve the opportunity to request rescheduling.
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment