Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge William H. Orrick -- United States District Court, Northern District of California
Courtroom 2, 17th Floor, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102
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Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. All civil motion hearings are conducted by Zoom by default — do not show up in person. In-person argument must be specifically requested in advance and granted by Judge Orrick.
- 2. Discovery meet-and-confer must be in person or by videoconference. Email, phone, and letter exchanges do not satisfy the requirement — even a phone call is insufficient.
- 3. No paper courtesy copies as a matter of course. Only exception: electronic media filed manually, or exhibits exceeding 100 pages for TRO/PI/MSJ.
- 4. One motion for summary judgment per party; leave required for any additional. Limit applies per party, not per issue.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | Civil Law and Motion is generally conducted on Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. No reservation required; check Judge Orrick's weekly calendar at cand.uscourts.gov to determine the next available date. [Judge Orrick Civil Standing Order (May 2023), § 3] |
| 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 courtesy copies unless: (1) courtesy copies of electronic media manually filed, or (2) exhibits supporting a TRO, preliminary injunction,... [Judge Orrick Civil Standing Order (May 2023), § 6] |
| Remote Appearances | All civil law and motion hearings conducted by Zoom by default. Appear as you would in-person (dress code applies). In-person argument requires prior request that is granted by Judge Orrick. |
| Discovery | Lead trial counsel must meet and confer in person or by videoconference (exchange of letters, emails, telephone calls, or faxes insufficient). If unresolved, file a joint letter brief of five pages or less. Court may refer to a magistrate judge or special master; if so, that judge handles all future discovery disputes in the case. [Judge Orrick Civil Standing Order (May 2023), § 4] |
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 is generally conducted on Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. No reservation required; check Judge Orrick's weekly calendar at cand.uscourts.gov to determine the next available date. [Judge Orrick Civil Standing Order (May 2023), § 3]
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 courtesy copies unless: (1) courtesy copies of electronic media manually filed, or (2) exhibits supporting a TRO, preliminary injunction, or summary judgment motion exceed 100 pages — provide in binders with tabs separating each exhibit. [Judge Orrick Civil Standing Order (May 2023), § 6]
Proposed Orders
Per Civ. L.R. 5-1(f): PDF filed on ECF; Word format emailed to whopo@cand.uscourts.gov (chambers address). [Judge Orrick Standing Order on Administrative Motions to Seal (Sept. 2022), § C.2]
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Before the Hearing
Oral Argument
All civil law and motion hearings conducted by Zoom videoconference unless an in-person argument is specifically requested and granted by Judge Orrick. Hearings may be vacated and determined on the papers. [Judge Orrick Civil Standing Order (May 2023), § 3]
Remote Appearances
All civil law and motion hearings conducted by Zoom by default. Appear as you would in-person (dress code applies). In-person argument requires prior request that is granted by Judge Orrick.
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Background Rules
Discovery Referral
Lead trial counsel must meet and confer in person or by videoconference (exchange of letters, emails, telephone calls, or faxes insufficient). If unresolved, file a joint letter brief of five pages or less. Court may refer to a magistrate judge or special master; if so, that judge handles all future discovery disputes in the case. [Judge Orrick Civil Standing Order (May 2023), § 4]
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
Civil Law and Motion: Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. via Zoom (check cand.uscourts.gov calendar). No hearing reservation required. Proposed orders: Word to whopo@cand.uscourts.gov. Civil Standing Order effective May 2023.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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