Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge Vince Chhabria -- United States District Court, Northern District of California
warning
Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. Cross-motions for SJ follow a 4-brief sequential format, not the standard opening/opposition/reply structure -- a calendar trap if you plan briefing as a standard motion.
- 2. Joint discovery letters must be filed within 7 days after the applicable discovery deadline -- informal dispute resolution via letter, not a formal motion.
- 3. Request to reschedule a case management conference must be made at least 72 hours in advance; extension requests for case management deadlines require 72 hours notice as well.
- 4. Chhabria issues tentative rulings -- review the Hearings and Tentative Rulings section of the standing order for how to respond and whether to request argument.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | Scheduling governed by standing order calendar section. Parties should check the Court's scheduling information. Case management and status conferences are addressed in a dedicated scheduling section. |
| Motion Limit | Per Civ. L.R. 7-2(b): 25 pages maximum. (Standing order references a dedicated Briefs section and SJ section -- verify current order for any deviations; text extracted did not reflect a departure.) |
| Reply Limit | Per Civ. L.R. 7-4(b): 15 pages maximum. |
| Chambers Copies | Conditional Standing order includes a Filing and Courtesy Copies section. Verify current requirements against full PDF. |
| Remote Appearances | Not specified in extracted text. Check full standing order. |
| Discovery | Standing order includes a dedicated Discovery section. Joint discovery letters are due as soon as practicable but no later than 7 days after the applicable discovery deadline. Check full standing order for joint letter brief format requirements. [Judge Chhabria Civil Standing Order (updated 2026-04-03), Table of Key Deadlines] |
Procedural Briefing by Motion Type
N.D. Cal. · Standing Orders
Procedural Requirements
Key Traps
Compare to Other N.D. Cal. Judges
Procedural facts only. Judges shown to illustrate variance in this district.
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Before You File
Motion Days & Times
Scheduling governed by standing order calendar section. Parties should check the Court's scheduling information. Case management and status conferences are addressed in a dedicated scheduling section.
Notice Period
Per Civ. L.R. 7-2(a): 35 days after filing. FRCP 6(d) mail-service extension expressly excluded.
Motion Page / Word Limit
Per Civ. L.R. 7-2(b): 25 pages maximum. (Standing order references a dedicated Briefs section and SJ section -- verify current order for any deviations; text extracted did not reflect a departure.)
Opposition Limit
Per Civ. L.R. 7-4(b): 25 pages maximum.
Reply Limit
Per Civ. L.R. 7-4(b): 15 pages maximum.
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At Filing
Chambers Copies
Conditional
Standing order includes a Filing and Courtesy Copies section. Verify current requirements against full PDF.
Proposed Orders
Standing order includes a dedicated Proposed Orders section. Check full order for format and submission requirements (electronic vs. paper). [Judge Chhabria Civil Standing Order (updated 2026-04-03), Table of Contents]
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Before the Hearing
Oral Argument
Standing order includes a Hearings and Tentative Rulings section. Chhabria issues tentative rulings; parties should check the order for procedures on requesting argument after a tentative is issued. [Judge Chhabria Civil Standing Order (updated 2026-04-03), Table of Contents]
Remote Appearances
Not specified in extracted text. Check full standing order.
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Background Rules
Discovery Referral
Standing order includes a dedicated Discovery section. Joint discovery letters are due as soon as practicable but no later than 7 days after the applicable discovery deadline. Check full standing order for joint letter brief format requirements. [Judge Chhabria Civil Standing Order (updated 2026-04-03), Table of Key Deadlines]
Discovery Motion Process
Discovery disputes: joint discovery letters filed within 7 days after applicable discovery deadline. Full meet-and-confer requirements in discovery section.
Ex Parte Applications
Per Civ. L.R. 7-10: Permitted only if authorized by statute, Federal Rule, local rule, or standing order. Cite authority in motion. Emergency applications have a dedicated section in standing order.
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AI & Style Preferences
Additional Notes
Chhabria's standing order (updated April 3, 2026) is one of the most detailed in CA-ND, with dedicated sections for class actions (preliminary approval, notice, final approval), patent cases, social security, habeas, ERISA, and wage-and-hour. The cross-SJ 4-brief sequential format is the most significant procedural deviation. Full PDF review recommended before filing any dispositive motion or class action motion.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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