California / L.A. Superior CourtC.D. Cal. / FederalN.D. Cal. / Federal

Northern District of California

Civil practice

Civil Local Rules · Effective May 1, 2026 · ADR Local Rules · Effective May 1, 2018Official PDF ↗

Civil deadlines

Selected requirements, their triggers, and exceptions. Periods shown—not calculated filing dates.

32 selected civil-practice deadlines. Open a source for the complete provision.
TaskTimingTrigger & conditionsSource
Filing & serviceFile after a qualifying ECF technical failureThe next court day

A filing deadline missed solely because of a qualifying ECF failure.

The rule requires more than one hour of ECF unavailability after noon and a declaration or affidavit documenting at least two failed attempts after noon, at least one hour apart, on each day of delay.

Source excerpt

Filings due on the day of a technical failure which were not filed solely due to such technical failure shall be due the next court day.

PDF p. 22
MotionsRequest a time change affecting the court calendarNo later than 14 days before

The scheduled hearing or proceeding.

A court order is required. Use a stipulation under Civil L.R. 6-2 or a motion under Civil L.R. 6-3.

Source excerpt

Any stipulated request or motion which affects a hearing or proceeding on the Court’s calendar must be filed no later than 14 days before the scheduled event.

PDF p. 28
MotionsOppose a motion to change timeNo later than 4 days after

Receipt of the motion.

Unless otherwise ordered. The opposition may not exceed five pages and must include the required declaration.

Source excerpt

a party who opposes a motion to enlarge or shorten time must file an opposition not to exceed 5 pages ... no later than 4 days after receiving the motion.

PDF p. 28
MotionsNotice an ordinary motion hearingNot less than 35 days after filing

Filing of the motion.

Unless the assigned judge, another local rule, or a trial or hearing permits otherwise. Rule 6(d) does not extend this filing-based period.

Source excerpt

all motions must be filed, served and noticed in writing on the motion calendar of the assigned Judge for hearing not less than 35 days after filing of the motion.

PDF p. 30
MotionsFile and serve an opposition or nonoppositionNot more than 14 days after

Filing of the motion.

Rule 6(d) does not extend this filing-based period. A statement of nonopposition is due within the same period.

Source excerpt

The opposition must be filed and served not more than 14 days after the motion was filed.

PDF p. 31
MotionsFile and serve a replyNot more than 7 days after

The opposition was due.

Rule 6(d) does not extend this filing-based period.

Source excerpt

The reply to an opposition must be filed and served not more than 7 days after the opposition was due.

PDF p. 31
MotionsObject to new evidence submitted with a replyNot more than 7 days after

Filing of the reply.

The objection may not exceed five pages and may not include further argument on the motion. Rule 6(d) does not extend the period.

Source excerpt

The Objection to Reply Evidence must be filed and served not more than 7 days after the reply was filed.

PDF p. 31
MotionsOppose or support a motion for administrative reliefNo later than 4 days after

Filing of the administrative motion.

The response may not exceed five pages and must be accompanied by a proposed order.

Source excerpt

Any opposition to or support for a Motion for Administrative Relief ... must be filed no later than 4 days after the motion has been filed.

PDF p. 34
Class actionsSupport or oppose a Notice of Pendency of Other Action or ProceedingNo later than 14 days after

Service of the notice.

The response must address Civil L.R. 3-13(b). The rule expressly covers overlapping class, collective, and PAGA actions.

Source excerpt

No later than 14 days after service of a Notice of Pendency of Other Action, any party may file with the Court a statement supporting or opposing the notice.

PDF p. 17
Case management & ADRRequest remote participation in a case management conferenceAt least 7 days before

The case management conference.

Unless the assigned judge’s standing order provides a different procedure.

Source excerpt

Requests to participate in the conference remotely ... must be filed and served at least 7 days before the conference or in accordance with the Standing Orders of the assigned Judge.

PDF p. 50
Case management & ADRFile the joint statement for a subsequent case management conferenceNo fewer than 7 days before

The subsequent case management conference.

Unless otherwise ordered; report progress or changes and the parties’ views on ADR.

Source excerpt

no fewer than 7 days before any subsequent case management conference, the parties must file a Joint Case Management Statement

PDF p. 50
Case management & ADRFile the ADR CertificationPresumptively 21 days before

The initial case management conference.

Use the date in the Order Setting Initial Case Management Conference and ADR Deadlines. The deadline adjusts if the conference date changes, unless otherwise ordered.

Source excerpt

no later than the date specified in the Order ... (presumptively 21 days before the date set for the initial case management conference), counsel and client must sign, serve and file an ADR Certification.

PDF p. 47
Case management & ADRMeet and confer to select an ADR processPresumptively 21 days before

The initial case management conference.

Applies in cases assigned to the ADR Multi-Option Program. The deadline adjusts with a changed conference date unless otherwise ordered.

Source excerpt

as soon as feasible after filing or removal and no later than the deadline to meet and confer (presumptively 21 days before the date set for the initial case management conference), counsel must meet and confer

PDF p. 11
Case management & ADRConduct the ENE sessionWithin 90 days after

Entry of the order referring the case to ENE.

Unless the referral order or another court order provides otherwise.

Source excerpt

Unless otherwise ordered, the ENE session must be held within 90 days after the entry of the order referring the case to ENE.

PDF p. 14
Case management & ADRConduct the mediationWithin 90 days after

Entry of the order referring the case to mediation.

Unless the referral order or another court order provides otherwise.

Source excerpt

Unless otherwise ordered, the Mediation must be held within 90 days after the entry of the order referring the case to Mediation.

PDF p. 21
Case management & ADRSubmit the mediation or ENE statementNo later than 7 days before

The first ADR session.

Submit directly to the neutral and serve all other parties; do not file the confidential statement. ADR L.R. 5-8 supplies the parallel ENE requirement.

Source excerpt

No later than 7 days before the first Mediation session, unless otherwise directed by the mediator, each party must submit directly to the mediator, and must serve on all other parties, a written Mediation Statement.

PDF p. 22
Case management & ADRRequest an extension of the ADR-session deadlineNo later than 14 days before

The scheduled ADR session.

Direct the motion or stipulation and proposed order to the assigned judge, with copies to the parties, neutral, and ADR Unit. ADR L.R. 5-5 supplies the parallel ENE requirement.

Source excerpt

Requests for extension of the deadline for conducting a Mediation must be made no later than 14 days before the session is to be held

PDF p. 22
Case management & ADRDisclose that final settlement authority rests with a board or committeeAt least 14 days before

The mediation or ENE session.

Identify the body or people holding final authority. ADR L.R. 5-10 supplies the parallel ENE requirement.

Source excerpt

If final authority to settle is vested only in a governing board, claims committee, or equivalent body and cannot be delegated, an entity must disclose ... this fact to all other parties and the mediator at least 14 days before the Mediation session

PDF p. 24
Case management & ADRRequest ADR participation relief or in-person attendanceAt least 14 days before

The ENE or mediation session.

Current sessions proceed by videoconference unless all participants agree otherwise. Submit a nontechnical-hardship request, or a request to compel in-person participation, by email to the ADR Magistrate Judge.

Source excerpt

Such requests must be presented to the ADR Magistrate Judge via email to adr_attendance@cand.uscourts.gov at least 14 days in advance of the scheduled session.

Court website
Class actionsFile and serve the PSLRA noticeNot later than 21 days after

Filing of the complaint.

Applies when the filing party seeks to serve as lead plaintiff in an action governed by the PSLRA.

Source excerpt

Not later than 21 days after filing the complaint ... the party filing that complaint and seeking to serve as lead plaintiff must serve and file a copy of any notice required by the Act.

PDF p. 52
Class actionsMove to serve as PSLRA lead plaintiffNot later than 60 days after

Publication of the required notice.

The motion must address the statutory presumption and whether it is claimed or rebutted.

Source excerpt

Not later than 60 days after publication of the notices ... any party seeking to serve as lead plaintiff must serve and file a motion to do so.

PDF p. 52
Class actionsGive class members time to opt out or objectAt least 35 days

The opt-out and objection process for the settlement and fee motion.

District procedural guidance for proposed class settlements; follow any specific order of the presiding judge.

Source excerpt

The parties should ensure that class members have at least thirty-five days to opt out or object to the settlement and the motion for attorney’s fees and costs.

Court website
Class actionsServe a preliminary-approval motion on counsel in overlapping representative casesWithin 1 day after

Filing of the preliminary-approval motion.

The guidance addresses pending trial- or appellate-court litigation, active or stayed, asserting representative claims that defendants believe the settlement may release.

Source excerpt

Within one day of filing of the preliminary approval motion, the defendants should serve a copy on counsel for any plaintiffs with pending litigation ... asserting claims on a representative ... basis that defendants believe may be released

Court website
Class actionsFile and post the post-distribution accountingWithin 21 days after

Settlement checks become stale—or all settlement funds are paid if no checks issue.

File the accounting and post it on the settlement website with the distribution metrics identified in the court’s guidance.

Source excerpt

Within 21 days after the settlement checks become stale (or, if no checks are issued, all funds have been paid ...), the parties should file a Post-Distribution Accounting (and post it on the settlement website)

Court website
DiscoveryFile a discovery-related motionNo more than 7 days after

The applicable fact, expert, or combined discovery cutoff.

Unless otherwise ordered. The definition includes preservation, spoliation, subpoena, protective-order, and discovery-sanctions motions.

Source excerpt

no discovery-related motions may be filed more than 7 days after the discovery cut-off.

PDF p. 59
Costs & feesFile and serve a bill of costsNo later than 14 days after

Entry of the judgment or order under which costs may be claimed.

A different statutory deadline controls when applicable. Failure to file within the rule’s period waives costs.

Source excerpt

No later than 14 days after entry of judgment or order under which costs may be claimed, a prevailing party claiming taxable costs must serve and file a bill of costs.

PDF p. 62
Costs & feesObject to a bill of costsWithin 14 days after

Service of the bill of costs.

State each specific objection and include the required meet-and-confer representation.

Source excerpt

Within 14 days after service by any party of its bill of costs, the party against whom costs are claimed must serve and file any specific objections

PDF p. 62
Costs & feesMove for attorney’s feesWithin 14 days after

Entry of judgment by the district court.

Unless otherwise ordered after a stipulation or motion to enlarge time. Filing an appeal does not extend the deadline; counsel must meet and confer first.

Source excerpt

Motions for awards of attorney’s fees by the Court must be served and filed within 14 days of entry of judgment by the District Court

PDF p. 63
SealingSupport sealing of another party’s designated materialWithin 7 days after

Filing of the motion to consider whether the material should be sealed.

The designating party must supply the statement or declaration required by Civil L.R. 79-5(c)(1). Failure may result in unsealing without further notice.

Source excerpt

Within 7 days of the motion’s filing, the Designating Party must file a statement and/or declaration as described in subsection (c)(1).

PDF p. 78
SealingRespond to a designating party’s sealing statementNo later than 4 days after

The designating party files its statement or declaration.

A response may not exceed five pages absent leave of court.

Source excerpt

If any party wishes to file a response, it must do so no later than 4 days after the Designating Party files its statement and/or declaration.

PDF p. 78
Hearings & trialRequest or object to remote public accessAt least 14 days before

The civil proceeding.

Absent good cause. Parties use an administrative motion under Civil L.R. 7-11; nonparties use the court’s form.

Source excerpt

Absent a showing of good cause, any objection or request must be submitted at least 14 days before the proceeding.

PDF p. 73
Hearings & trialMaintain custody of retained exhibitsUntil 14 days after

Expiration of the appeal period if no appeal—or issuance of the appellate mandate if an appeal was taken.

Unless otherwise directed by the court.

Source excerpt

the party that submitted an exhibit into evidence must maintain custody of that exhibit until ... 14 days after expiration of the time for filing a notice of appeal ... or ... 14 days after a mandate issues

PDF p. 77
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Sources checked Sep 1, 2026 · Reference, not docketing instructions. Check the assigned judge’s procedures.