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

Hon. Phyllis J. Hamilton

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 Hamilton — standing order
Hearing days

All dispositive motions are heard no later than 120 days before trial, unless leave of court is obtained for another deadline.

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 Hamilton — standing order

Each party filing or opposing a motion shall also serve and file a proposed order which sets forth the relief or action sought and a short statement of the rationale of decision, including citation of authority that the party requests the court to adopt.

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 ↗

👤 Judge Hamilton — standing order

Discovery motions will be referred to a Magistrate Judge for resolution. The words 'Discovery Matter' shall appear in the caption of all documents relating to discovery to insure proper routing.

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Hamilton — deviations that burn people
  • Footnotes smaller than 12-point font will be stricken; footnotes so numerous as to defeat page limits will also be stricken.
  • All briefs must separate sentences by 2 spaces after each sentence -- Judge Hamilton enforces this formatting rule.
  • Only one summary judgment motion per side absent leave of court; seek leave via administrative relief motion under Civ. L.R. 7-11 or by requesting a CMC.
  • Separate statements of undisputed facts in support of or opposition to summary judgment motions shall NOT be filed -- joint statement only if all parties agree facts are undisputed.
  • Discovery disputes require videoconference meet and confer (not merely letters/emails/phone), then a 5-page Joint Letter to the court.
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment