Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Chief Judge Richard Seeborg -- United States District Court, Northern District of California
Courtroom 3, 17th Floor, United States Courthouse, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA
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Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. Seeborg's published standing order is limited to initial case management -- no individual motion procedures are specified. Local rules govern motion practice in full.
- 2. No chambers copies required for electronically filed documents -- an explicit departure from default NDCA practice for some judges.
- 3. Sealing requests involving public health/safety information face a heightened 'most compelling reasons' standard beyond Civ. L.R. 79-5.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 3, 17th Floor, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco. Counsel need not reserve a hearing date in advance for civil motions. Noticed dates may be reset as the Court's calendar requires. [Chief Judge Seeborg Standing Order re: Initial Case Management (dated Feb. 15, 2022)] |
| 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 Expressly stated: parties do not need to submit chambers copies for electronically-filed documents. [Chief Judge Seeborg Standing Order re: Initial Case Management (dated Feb. 15, 2022)] |
| Remote Appearances | Not individually specified in standing order. Check case-specific orders. |
| Discovery | Not expressly stated in standing order. Governed by Civ. L.R. 72-1; check case-specific referral order for assigned magistrate. [Civ. L.R. 72-1] |
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
Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 3, 17th Floor, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco. Counsel need not reserve a hearing date in advance for civil motions. Noticed dates may be reset as the Court's calendar requires. [Chief Judge Seeborg Standing Order re: Initial Case Management (dated Feb. 15, 2022)]
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
Expressly stated: parties do not need to submit chambers copies for electronically-filed documents. [Chief Judge Seeborg Standing Order re: Initial Case Management (dated Feb. 15, 2022)]
Proposed Orders
Per Civ. L.R. 5-1(f): PDF attached to motion; Word format emailed to chambers. [Civ. L.R. 5-1(f)]
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Before the Hearing
Oral Argument
Per Civ. L.R. 7-1(b): Court may decide without oral argument at its discretion. Standing order does not add individual procedures beyond local rules. [Civ. L.R. 7-1(b)]
Remote Appearances
Not individually specified in standing order. Check case-specific orders.
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Background Rules
Discovery Referral
Not expressly stated in standing order. Governed by Civ. L.R. 72-1; check case-specific referral order for assigned magistrate. [Civ. L.R. 72-1]
Discovery Motion Process
Parties shall be familiar and comply with the Local Rules.
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
Chief Judge of the Northern District of California. Standing order dated February 15, 2022, covers initial case management only. Civil motion calendar: Thursdays 1:30 p.m., Courtroom 3, 17th Floor, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco. CMCs: Thursdays 10:00 a.m. Pretrial conferences: Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. Scheduling questions: (415) 522-2123. Local rules govern all individual motion procedures.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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