Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge Ajay S. Krishnan -- United States District Court, Northern District of California
Courtroom 4, 3rd Floor, United States District Court, 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, California
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Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. Proposed orders NOT required for most Civil L.R. 7-2 motions -- only required for motions seeking injunctive relief. Do not file proposed orders with routine motions.
- 2. No chambers copies for motion papers -- but pretrial filings require hard-copy courtesy copies (three-hole-punched) by noon the day after filing per the Pretrial Standing Order.
- 3. Zoom for law and motion hearings: must request at least 3 business days before and show good cause -- not a routine accommodation.
- 4. Discovery disputes: no formal noticed motions under Civ. L.R. 7-2 absent leave of court -- must follow joint letter procedure.
- 5. Junior attorney notification: if a party intends to have a lawyer with fewer than 7 years experience and fewer than 5 federal motions argued present argument, notify askcrd@cand.uscourts.gov at least one week before the hearing.
- 6. Parties and lawyers shall arrive at least 10 minutes before any in-person or virtual hearing to state appearances to the Courtroom Deputy.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | Civil motions (other than discovery motions) heard on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 4. Check court schedule before noticing: https://apps.cand.uscourts.gov/CEO/cfd.aspx?71CD. Scheduling questions: Kim Means at (510) 637-1296 or askcrd@cand.uscourts.gov. [Judge Krishnan's Civil Standing Order (Apr. 2026)] |
| 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 Parties do not need to file chambers copies of motion papers. For pretrial filings, courtesy copies (three-hole-punched) required by noon... [Judge Krishnan's Civil Standing Order (Apr. 2026)] |
| Remote Appearances | Law and motion hearings in person. Zoom for law and motion requires good cause and 3 business days advance request. CMC by Zoom webinar by default; parties seeking in-person CMC must request it at least 7 days in advance. Settlement conferences typically in person at Oakland Federal Courthouse. |
| Discovery | Judge Krishnan presides over discovery disputes as the assigned magistrate. Discovery disputes: parties must meet and confer in person or by videoconference/telephone (letters/emails/messages do not suffice). If unresolved, file a joint statement of at most 5 single-spaced pages (12-point font or greater, 2.5 pages per side) describing each unresolved issue and each party's final proposed compromise. Each party may submit supporting declarations and documentation of up to 15 pages. If parties cannot file a joint statement, each may file up to 2 pages. File under ECF: Motions and Related Filings > Motions: General > Discovery Letter Brief. Court will advise regarding need for more briefing, a hearing, or a conference. [Judge Krishnan's Civil Standing Order (Apr. 2026)] |
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 motions (other than discovery motions) heard on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 4. Check court schedule before noticing: https://apps.cand.uscourts.gov/CEO/cfd.aspx?71CD. Scheduling questions: Kim Means at (510) 637-1296 or askcrd@cand.uscourts.gov. [Judge Krishnan's Civil Standing Order (Apr. 2026)]
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
Parties do not need to file chambers copies of motion papers. For pretrial filings, courtesy copies (three-hole-punched) required by noon the day after filing per the Pretrial Standing Order. [Judge Krishnan's Civil Standing Order (Apr. 2026)]
Proposed Orders
Proposed orders submitted by an e-filing party shall be submitted in Microsoft Word to askpo@cand.uscourts.gov. Proposed orders are NOT required for motions filed pursuant to Civil L.R. 7-2, EXCEPT for motions seeking injunctive relief. [Judge Krishnan's Civil Standing Order (Apr. 2026)]
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Before the Hearing
Oral Argument
All law and motion hearings except discovery disputes in person. Zoom requests must be made at least 3 business days before the hearing and granted only on a showing of good cause. CMC by Zoom webinar by default (instructions by Clerk's Notice). Parties requesting in-person CMC must state reasons in joint CMC statement or separate submission at least 7 days before conference. [Judge Krishnan's Civil Standing Order (Apr. 2026)]
Remote Appearances
Law and motion hearings in person. Zoom for law and motion requires good cause and 3 business days advance request. CMC by Zoom webinar by default; parties seeking in-person CMC must request it at least 7 days in advance. Settlement conferences typically in person at Oakland Federal Courthouse.
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Background Rules
Discovery Referral
Judge Krishnan presides over discovery disputes as the assigned magistrate. Discovery disputes: parties must meet and confer in person or by videoconference/telephone (letters/emails/messages do not suffice). If unresolved, file a joint statement of at most 5 single-spaced pages (12-point font or greater, 2.5 pages per side) describing each unresolved issue and each party's final proposed compromise. Each party may submit supporting declarations and documentation of up to 15 pages. If parties cannot file a joint statement, each may file up to 2 pages. File under ECF: Motions and Related Filings > Motions: General > Discovery Letter Brief. Court will advise regarding need for more briefing, a hearing, or a conference. [Judge Krishnan's Civil Standing Order (Apr. 2026)]
Discovery Motion Process
Discovery M&C must be in person or by videoconference or telephone. A mere exchange of letters, emails, or messages does not satisfy the requirement. File joint statement within a reasonable time after M&C. Joint statement is 5 single-spaced pages maximum (2.5 per side).
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
Magistrate Judge, Oakland Division, Courtroom 4, 3rd Floor. Civil motions Wednesdays 1:30pm in person. CMC by Zoom by default. No chambers copies for motion papers. Proposed orders to askpo@cand.uscourts.gov (only required for injunctive relief motions). Discovery: 5 single-spaced page joint statement (2.5 per side); M&C must be in person/video/phone. One SJ motion per party. Updated April 2026.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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