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

Hon. Trina L. Thompson

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 Thompson — standing order

Counsel shall not attempt to contact Judge Thompson or her chambers staff by telephone, email, or any other ex parte means, but may contact her Courtroom Deputy, Robert McNamee, at (415) 522-2039 or TLTCRD@cand.uscourts.gov regarding scheduling or other appropriate matters.

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 Thompson — standing order
Hearing days

Civil motions are generally heard on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. Counsel need not reserve motion hearing dates but should check Judge Thompson's scheduling notes on the Court's website to determine the next available law and motion calendar date.

Chambers / courtesy copies
👤 Judge Thompson — standing order
Details

Paper courtesy copies of motion filings, including supporting documents, shall be submitted to the Court. This courtesy does not apply to pleadings or administrative motions. Visual or audio exhibits shall be submitted to the Court as digital courtesy copies on portable media (e.g., a flash drive) and online location designation by the Clerk's Office. See Civ. L.R. 5-1(g)(4).

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 Thompson — standing order

Proposed orders shall be submitted in Word format by email to the Courtroom Deputy at TLTPO@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 Thompson — 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.

Remote appearances
👤 Judge Thompson — standing order

Unless specially set, all initial and further case management conferences will be conducted through Zoom videoconference. Prior to the case management conference, the Courtroom Deputy will publish a notice on the case docket explaining how the conference will be conducted and provide access information for counsel.

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 Thompson — standing order

Discovery disputes should be brought to the Court's attention as early as possible. If the parties cannot resolve their discovery dispute after a good faith effort, they shall prepare and file a joint letter of no longer than five pages stating the nature and status of their dispute. 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 Thompson — deviations that burn people
  • Do not contact Judge Thompson or chambers staff by telephone, email, or any other ex parte means. All scheduling questions go to CRD Robert McNamee at TLTCRD@cand.uscourts.gov.
  • Court may vacate hearing and decide on the papers -- monitor the docket. Young-lawyer rule: file written notice within two days of the vacatur order to trigger a possible rehearing.
  • CMC joint statements must not incorporate prior case management statements by reference -- must be a standalone document.
  • As of the Sept. 3, 2026 standing order revision, PAPER COURTESY COPIES ARE NOW REQUIRED for motion filings (not pleadings/admin motions) -- a reversal from the prior version, which required none. Missing them is now a compliance failure.
  • Discovery disputes now have a dedicated procedure that did not previously exist: 5-page joint letter after meet and confer, then possible referral to a Magistrate Judge who controls all further discovery matters.
  • Only one summary judgment motion per party absent leave of Court; do NOT file separate statements of undisputed facts.
  • Proposed orders go specifically to TLTPO@cand.uscourts.gov (not the CRD scheduling address) in Word format, same day as e-filing.
  • Unpublished-case citations: Westlaw citation preferred; if unavailable, include case number, court, and exact publication date.
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment
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