Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge Noel Wise -- United States District Court, Northern District of California
Courtroom 3, 5th Floor, United States District Court, 280 South First Street, San Jose, CA
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Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. RESERVATION REQUIRED BEFORE FILING: Any motion filed without a reserved hearing date will be stricken from the docket -- and the party must obtain a new reservation before refiling. This is one of the strictest pre-filing requirements in the district.
- 2. After reservation confirmation email, motion must be filed within 3 business days (excludes weekends and court holidays) or the reservation expires without further notice.
- 3. Two-motion cap per party per hearing without leave of Court. Parties wishing to exceed this limit must file a motion and demonstrate good cause.
- 4. All filing deadlines are 5:00 p.m. (not midnight) unless otherwise ordered.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. by reservation only. Parties must review scheduling notes at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges/wise-noel-nw/ and meet and confer to identify mutually agreeable dates. Then jointly contact CRD Allie Warren at nwcrd@cand.uscourts.gov or (408) 535-5332 to reserve a date -- inform CRD of the number and type(s) of motions to be filed. Limit: no more than two motions per party per hearing without leave of Court. No motion filed without a reserved hearing date -- any such motion will be stricken from the docket. [Judge Wise Civil Standing Order (updated June 9, 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 Standing order does not require chambers copies. |
| Remote Appearances | Case management conferences held on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. If a matter is set for hearing, court may elect to hold a CMC in conjunction with that hearing. Remote hearing policy not individually specified beyond CMC; check case-specific orders. |
| Discovery | Not expressly stated in standing order beyond preliminary sections. 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
Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. by reservation only. Parties must review scheduling notes at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges/wise-noel-nw/ and meet and confer to identify mutually agreeable dates. Then jointly contact CRD Allie Warren at nwcrd@cand.uscourts.gov or (408) 535-5332 to reserve a date -- inform CRD of the number and type(s) of motions to be filed. Limit: no more than two motions per party per hearing without leave of Court. No motion filed without a reserved hearing date -- any such motion will be stricken from the docket. [Judge Wise Civil Standing Order (updated June 9, 2026)]
Notice Period
Per Civ. L.R. 7-2(a): 35 days after filing. FRCP 6(d) mail-service extension expressly excluded. All filing deadlines are at 5:00 p.m. unless otherwise ordered. Motion must be filed no later than three business days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and court holidays) following the reservation confirmation email.
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
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. CRD: Allie Warren at nwcrd@cand.uscourts.gov, (408) 535-5332. [Civ. L.R. 5-1(f)]
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Before the Hearing
Oral Argument
Court may determine a matter suitable for disposition without oral argument and vacate the hearing. Motions not listed (motions for leave to appear pro hac vice, motions to enlarge/shorten time per Civ. L.R. 6-1, and motions for administrative relief per Civ. L.R. 7-11) do not receive hearings. [Judge Wise Civil Standing Order (updated June 9, 2026)]
Remote Appearances
Case management conferences held on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. If a matter is set for hearing, court may elect to hold a CMC in conjunction with that hearing. Remote hearing policy not individually specified beyond CMC; check case-specific orders.
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Background Rules
Discovery Referral
Not expressly stated in standing order beyond preliminary sections. Governed by Civ. L.R. 72-1; check case-specific referral order for assigned magistrate. [Civ. L.R. 72-1]
Discovery Motion Process
Before reserving a hearing date, parties must meet and confer to identify mutually agreeable dates, then jointly contact the CRD. Standard Civ. L.R. 7-3 meet-and-confer also applies.
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. [Judge Wise Civil Standing Order (updated June 9, 2026)]
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AI & Style Preferences
Additional Notes
Active district judge in San Jose. Motions: Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. by reservation only, Courtroom 3, 5th Floor, 280 South First Street. CMCs: Tuesdays 9:00 a.m. Pretrial hearings: Wednesdays 2:00 p.m. Trials: Mondays 9:00 a.m. CRD: Allie Warren, nwcrd@cand.uscourts.gov, (408) 535-5332. Standing order updated June 9, 2026. Check scheduling notes at cand.uscourts.gov/judges/wise-noel-nw/.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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