Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse -- United States District Court, Northern District of California
San Francisco Division
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Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. Friday motion calendar -- one of the few N.D. Cal. magistrates on Fridays (most are Thursday or Wednesday).
- 2. Multiple motions on same Friday may get separately assigned times posted only the day before -- check ECF the day before your hearing.
- 3. During criminal duty months, civil motion hearings may move to Friday afternoons -- check court calendar.
- 4. For Zoom case management conferences, audio-only appearance is prohibited without prior authorization -- video required.
- 5. Parties cannot specially set any matter without leave of the Court; Court will not schedule before 10:00 a.m.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | Motions heard Fridays at 10:00 a.m. (in Judge Tse's courtroom). If multiple motions set for same Friday, court may assign separate times -- check ECF or court calendar for any time assignments, sometimes posted only the day before. During criminal duty months, hearings may move to Friday afternoons. Case management and pretrial conferences heard Fridays at 2:00 p.m. (case management conferences held remotely on Zoom). [Judge Tse Civil Standing Order (last updated Nov. 15, 2024)] |
| 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 Paper courtesy copies should not be submitted unless the Court requests them. [Judge Tse Civil Standing Order (last updated Nov. 15, 2024)] |
| Remote Appearances | Motion hearings and pretrial conferences in person. Case management conferences on Zoom. Check ECF or court calendar to confirm location for any particular hearing. For Zoom proceedings, video appearance required -- audio-only prohibited without prior authorization. |
| Discovery | Standing order does not specify a separate discovery letter brief procedure in the excerpted text. Check court website at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges/tse-alex-g-agt/ for any separate discovery standing order. [Judge Tse court page] |
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
Motions heard Fridays at 10:00 a.m. (in Judge Tse's courtroom). If multiple motions set for same Friday, court may assign separate times -- check ECF or court calendar for any time assignments, sometimes posted only the day before. During criminal duty months, hearings may move to Friday afternoons. Case management and pretrial conferences heard Fridays at 2:00 p.m. (case management conferences held remotely on Zoom). [Judge Tse Civil Standing Order (last updated Nov. 15, 2024)]
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
Paper courtesy copies should not be submitted unless the Court requests them. [Judge Tse Civil Standing Order (last updated Nov. 15, 2024)]
Proposed Orders
Any stipulation or proposed order in a case subject to e-filing should be submitted by email to agtpo@cand.uscourts.gov (in addition to e-filing). Check court website for full email address. [Judge Tse Civil Standing Order (last updated Nov. 15, 2024)]
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Before the Hearing
Oral Argument
Motion hearings in judge's courtroom. Case management conferences by Zoom (link posted on ECF docket). For Zoom proceedings, counsel must appear by video -- audio-only prohibited without prior authorization. [Judge Tse Civil Standing Order (last updated Nov. 15, 2024)]
Remote Appearances
Motion hearings and pretrial conferences in person. Case management conferences on Zoom. Check ECF or court calendar to confirm location for any particular hearing. For Zoom proceedings, video appearance required -- audio-only prohibited without prior authorization.
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Background Rules
Discovery Referral
Standing order does not specify a separate discovery letter brief procedure in the excerpted text. Check court website at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges/tse-alex-g-agt/ for any separate discovery standing order. [Judge Tse court page]
Discovery Motion Process
Standard N.D. Cal. local rules apply. Check court website for any separate discovery standing order.
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
Calendar-first magistrate, San Francisco Division. Unique Friday calendar (10:00 a.m. motions; 2:00 p.m. CMCs). CMCs via Zoom; motions and pretrial conferences in person. No paper courtesy copies. Proposed orders to agtpo@cand.uscourts.gov. CRD Stephen Ybarra at (415) 522-3694 or agtcrd@cand.uscourts.gov.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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