Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton -- United States District Court, Northern District of California
Courtroom 3, 3rd Floor, Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building, 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612
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Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. Footnotes smaller than 12-point font will be stricken; footnotes so numerous as to defeat page limits will also be stricken.
- 2. All briefs must separate sentences by 2 spaces after each sentence -- Judge Hamilton enforces this formatting rule.
- 3. 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.
- 4. 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.
- 5. Discovery disputes require videoconference meet and confer (not merely letters/emails/phone), then a 5-page Joint Letter to the court.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | Civil law and motion calendar on Wednesdays. Patent claim construction hearings also scheduled on Wednesdays. [Judge Hamilton's Civil Pretrial Instructions (May 2021)] |
| Motion Limit | Per Civ. L.R. 7-2(b): 25 pages maximum. |
| Reply Limit | Per Civ. L.R. 7-4(b): 15 pages maximum. |
| Chambers Copies | Conditional No chambers copy requirement specified in civil standing orders. Criminal standing order requires a courtesy copy of all briefs per Civil... |
| Remote Appearances | Not specifically addressed in civil standing order. |
| Discovery | Discovery motions referred to a Magistrate Judge. Caption all discovery documents with 'Discovery Matter' for proper routing. [Judge Hamilton's Civil Pretrial Instructions (May 2021)] |
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
Civil law and motion calendar on Wednesdays. Patent claim construction hearings also scheduled on Wednesdays. [Judge Hamilton's Civil Pretrial Instructions (May 2021)]
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.
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
No chambers copy requirement specified in civil standing orders. Criminal standing order requires a courtesy copy of all briefs per Civil L.R. 5-1(e).
Proposed Orders
Each party filing or opposing a motion must serve and file a proposed order setting forth the relief sought and a short statement of the rationale with citation of authority. Send Microsoft Word version to pjhpo@cand.uscourts.gov. [Judge Hamilton's Civil Pretrial Instructions (May 2021)]
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Before the Hearing
Oral Argument
Hearings held as scheduled. No tentative ruling system noted. Court determines order of call.
Remote Appearances
Not specifically addressed in civil standing order.
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Background Rules
Discovery Referral
Discovery motions referred to a Magistrate Judge. Caption all discovery documents with 'Discovery Matter' for proper routing. [Judge Hamilton's Civil Pretrial Instructions (May 2021)]
Discovery Motion Process
For discovery disputes: parties must confer face-to-face by videoconference if email/letter/phone is unsuccessful. Within 10 business days of videoconference, file a Joint Letter (max 5 pages) describing every issue in dispute with each party's final substantive position and proposed resolution.
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.
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AI & Style Preferences
Additional Notes
Senior District Judge, Oakland. Civil law and motion on Wednesdays. Discovery referred to magistrate. Proposed orders required with all motion and opposition papers -- a hard rule. Word version to pjhpo@cand.uscourts.gov. Page limits: local rules apply (25/25/15) except non-SJ motions are limited to 15pp by the standing order. Discovery disputes: videoconference M&C required before seeking court relief, then 5-page joint letter.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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