Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge Claudia Wilken -- United States District Court, Northern District of California
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Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. MSJ timing is governed by the case-dispositive motion hearing cut-off date, not the standard 35-day notice period. Plaintiff files 6 weeks before cut-off; defendant cross-motion within the opposition (25-page combined) filed 14 days after; reply (15 pages) filed 7 days after opposition.
- 2. Discovery disputes require a joint letter (8 pages max, 12 pages attachments) filed as a 'Discovery Letter Brief' -- not a traditional noticed motion. Must meet and confer first.
- 3. Check legal newspapers or the Court's website for unavailable dates before noticing a motion. 'Not reserving' a date does not mean any date is available.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. Parties need not reserve a hearing date for civil motions; however, parties must check the legal newspapers or the Court's website at www.cand.uscourts.gov for unavailable dates. [Judge Wilken Standing Order (last rev. July 20, 2020)] |
| Motion Limit | Per Civ. L.R. 7-2(b): 25 pages maximum. |
| Reply Limit | Per Civ. L.R. 7-4(b): 15 pages maximum. For MSJ reply (including opposition to cross-motion): up to 15 pages total. |
| Chambers Copies | Conditional Standing order does not require chambers copies. |
| Remote Appearances | Not individually specified in standing order. Check case-specific orders. |
| Discovery | Discovery disputes referred to a Magistrate Judge. After the parties have met and conferred, prepare a joint letter of not more than 8 pages explaining the dispute (up to 12 pages of attachments may be added). File the joint letter under 'Motions and Related Filings > Motions--General > Discovery Letter Brief.' The assigned Magistrate Judge will advise parties on how to proceed. After a Magistrate Judge has been assigned, all further discovery matters shall be filed pursuant to that Judge's procedures. [Judge Wilken Standing Order (last rev. July 20, 2020)] |
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
Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. Parties need not reserve a hearing date for civil motions; however, parties must check the legal newspapers or the Court's website at www.cand.uscourts.gov for unavailable dates. [Judge Wilken Standing Order (last rev. July 20, 2020)]
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. For MSJ cross-motion combined with opposition: up to 25 pages total.
Reply Limit
Per Civ. L.R. 7-4(b): 15 pages maximum. For MSJ reply (including opposition to cross-motion): up to 15 pages total.
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At Filing
Chambers Copies
Conditional
Standing order does not require chambers copies.
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.
Remote Appearances
Not individually specified in standing order. Check case-specific orders.
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Background Rules
Discovery Referral
Discovery disputes referred to a Magistrate Judge. After the parties have met and conferred, prepare a joint letter of not more than 8 pages explaining the dispute (up to 12 pages of attachments may be added). File the joint letter under 'Motions and Related Filings > Motions--General > Discovery Letter Brief.' The assigned Magistrate Judge will advise parties on how to proceed. After a Magistrate Judge has been assigned, all further discovery matters shall be filed pursuant to that Judge's procedures. [Judge Wilken Standing Order (last rev. July 20, 2020)]
Discovery Motion Process
Required before filing discovery joint letter brief. After meeting and conferring, file joint letter not more than 8 pages with up to 12 pages of attachments.
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. Motion hearings: Wednesdays 2:30 p.m. No date reservation required but must check for unavailable dates at cand.uscourts.gov. Discovery referred to Magistrate via joint letter brief (8 pp. + 12 pp. attachments). MSJ timing rules significantly depart from local rules. A further CMC is held on the case-dispositive motion hearing cut-off date regardless of whether dispositive motions are filed. Standing order last revised July 20, 2020.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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