Judge Stanley A. Boone
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- Not Required
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Page & Word Limits9 rules
Moving and opposition briefs limited to 25 pages; reply briefs limited to 10 pages.
- Brief
- Up to 25 pages
- Reply brief
- Up to 10 pages
Exception
More pages with leave of court
Court's wording
Unless prior leave of Court is obtained before the filing date, all moving and opposition briefs or legal memorandum in civil cases shall not exceed twenty-five (25) pages. Reply briefs filed by moving parties shall not exceed ten (10) pages.
Letter briefs which exceed the page limitations set forth herein will be disregarded by the Court after the page limit is exceeded.
Briefs that exceed the page limitations or are sought to be filed without leave may not be considered.
The parties shall file a joint letter brief, not to exceed four pages, at least 24 hours before the scheduled informal conference, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.
- Joint letter brief
- Up to 4 pages
Joint letter brief limited to 4 pages, due 24 hours before informal video conference.
- Letter brief
- Up to 4 pages
Court's wording
The parties shall file a joint letter brief, not to exceed four pages, at least 24 hours (excluding holidays or weekends) before the scheduled informal video conference, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.
Individual letter briefs limited to 2 pages if permitted by court.
- Individual letter brief
- Up to 2 pages
Court's wording
Individual letter briefs will not be permitted, except in rare circumstances and only upon leave of the court. If permitted, individual letter briefs are limited to two pages and must include, in addition information detailed above, a description as to why a joint letter brief was unattainable.
Even if multiple discovery disputes are raised at the informal conference, the four-page limitation shall apply, unless prior leave of Court is obtained.
- Page limit
- Up to 4 pages
Exception
More pages with leave of court
Even if multiple discovery disputes are raised at the informal conference, the four-page limitation shall apply, unless prior leave of court is obtained.
- Page limit
- Up to 4 pages
Exception
More pages with leave of court
Individual letter briefs are generally not permitted; if allowed by court, limited to 2 pages and must explain why joint brief was not possible.
Court's wording
Individual letter briefs will not be permitted, except in rare circumstances and only upon leave of the court. If permitted, individual letter briefs are limited to two pages and must include, in addition to the information detailed above, a description as to why a joint letter brief was unattainable.
Document Format Requirements4 rules
As required by Local Rule 137(b), counsel shall submit all proposed orders, stipulations, etc., in Microsoft Word® format, to chambers at saborders@caed.uscourts.gov.
- File type
- Word
- Proposed order
- Stipulation
Each party must prepare at least three (3) complete, legible and identical sets of exhibits in binders. The number of binders will vary based upon number of opposing parties’ counsel. Within the binders, the pre-marked exhibits must be separately tabbed and assembled in sequential order. The binders shall be delivered as follows: a. Two (2) binder sets shall be delivered to Courtroom Deputy Jan Nguyen (one for use by the Court and one for use by any witness at the witness stand); and b. One (1) binder set shall be provided for each opposing counsel’s use.
- Margins
- Top 1 inch; Bottom 1 inch; Right 1 inch
Formatting
- •Separately tabbed
- •Assembled in sequential order
- •Three complete sets
The letter brief must be at least 12-point font. Letter briefs which exceed the page limitations set forth herein will be disregarded by the Court after the page limit is exceeded.
- Font size
- At least 12 points
- Letter brief
The letter brief must be at least 12-point font.
- Font size
- At least 12 points
- Letter brief
Document Filing Requirements21 rules
Sanctions for failing to meet and confer in good faith, participate in joint letter brief, timely file, or appear at informal conference.
Court's wording
the Court will impose sanctions against any party who, after agreeing to participate in the informal discovery process, fails to meet and confer in good faith, fails to participate in drafting the joint letter brief in good faith, fails to timely file the letter brief, and/or fails to appear at the informal video-conference hearing.
Confidential Settlement Conference Statements are MANDATORY from each party and must be submitted to Judge Boone's chambers at least seven (7) days prior to the Settlement Conference.
- Document
- Settlement conference statement
Must include
- •Confidential
Failure to timely submit a letter brief will result in the informal conference being vacated and sanctions against any responsible parties.
The Request to Seal, a proposed sealing order (in word), and all documents covered by the request shall be emailed to saborders@caed.uscourts.gov.
Any motion will be removed from calendar if the Joint Statement is not timely filed.
Witnesses not on Final Trial Witness List may only be called for impeachment/rebuttal, stipulation, motion in limine ruling, or manifest injustice.
Court's wording
The parties may not call any witness that is not on their Final Trial Witness List unless (1) it is solely for impeachment or rebuttal purposes, (2) the parties stipulate, (3) additional witnesses are required in light of the Court’s ruling on a motion in limine, or (4) it is necessary to prevent “manifest injustice.”
One (1) week prior to trial, the parties must file their Exhibit List and submit their pre-marked exhibits in binders.
Proposed exhibits must be exchanged 4 weeks before trial; exhibit conference must occur 3 weeks before trial.
Court's wording
Four (4) weeks prior to trial, the parties shall exchange their proposed exhibits. No later than three (3) weeks before trial, the parties’ counsel shall meet and conduct an exhibit conference to pre-mark and examine trial exhibits and to prepare exhibit lists
One (1) week prior to trial, the parties shall file their joint proposed jury instructions with the Court. However, prior to that filing, three (3) weeks before trial, the parties shall serve their proposed jury instructions on each another.
- Document
- Jury instructions
Must include
- •Joint proposed instructions
Each party may file up to 10 disputed jury instructions one week before trial.
Court's wording
If any party proposes additional jury instructions that are not agreed upon by all parties, such proposed jury instructions shall be filed with the Court no later than one (1) week before trial. Each party may file up to ten (10) proposed jury instructions and identify such as jury instructions upon which all parties could not agree. Unless prior leave is granted, the Court will not consider additional proposed jury instructions beyond the first ten (10).
One (1) week before trial, the parties shall file their proposed voir dire questions, if any.
Modified jury instructions must highlight changes in italics/underlining and cite legal authority.
Court's wording
If any party proposes a jury instruction that departs from the language used in the Ninth Circuit Model Jury Instructions, CACI, BAJI or other source of jury instructions, that party shall, by italics or underlining, highlight the differences in language and must cite the legal authority supporting the modification.
Proposed jury instructions must include party designation, sequential numbering, title, text, and legal authority citation.
Court's wording
Proposed jury instructions shall (1) indicate the party submitting the instruction (i.e., joint/agreed-on, Plaintiff’s or Defendants’), (2) be numbered sequentially, (3) include a brief title for the instruction describing the subject matter, (4) include the text of the instruction, and (5) cite the legal authority supporting the instruction.
No later than the Thursday before trial, the parties shall file and serve written objections to any disputed jury instructions proposed by another party.
One (1) week before trial, the parties shall file their trial briefs. The form and content of the trial brief must comply with Local Rule 285.
Failure to timely submit a letter brief will result in the informal video conference being vacated and sanctions against any responsible parties.
Letter briefs must be filed in ECF and emailed to saborders@caed.uscourts.gov.
Court's wording
The letter brief shall be both filed with the Court (in ECF under “Civil Events”; “Other Filings”; “Other Documents”; “Informal Discovery Dispute Letter Brief”) and emailed to saborders@caed.uscourts.gov before the applicable deadline.
All parties must be cc’d on the e-mail with the letter brief attached.
Pursuant to Local Rule 131(c), the documents should include the attorneys' electronic signatures (i.e., /s/First/Last Name), as well as the date the document was signed.
The joint letter brief shall describe the parties' "meet and confer efforts" and provide a synopsis (without exhibits or attachments) of the discovery dispute.
Parties must physically talk (in person or via video) before a discovery hearing.
Court's wording
the Court requires, in addition to any written correspondence the parties may engage in (letters and/or email), that the parties physically talk to each other before the hearing about the discovery dispute. This requirement can be accomplished in person, or through videoconferencing.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Notice of Request to Seal must be filed electronically.
Pursuant to Local Rule 141, a Notice of Request to Seal Document(s) shall be filed electronically.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Request to Seal Documents
Notice of Submission of Confidential Settlement Statement must be electronically filed.
The Notice of Submission of Confidential Settlement Statement shall be electronically filed with the Court pursuant to Local Rule 270 (d) (Fed. R. Civ. P. 16).
Civil cases
Page 2 | Settlement Conferences
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Joint Scheduling Conference Report must be filed 5 court days before the Scheduling Conference.
A Joint Scheduling Conference Report, carefully prepared and executed by all counsel, shall be electronically filed in full compliance with the requirements set forth in the Order Setting Mandatory Scheduling Conference, five (5) court days, excluding weekends and court holiday, prior to the Scheduling Conference.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Scheduling Conferences
Joint Statement re Discovery Disagreement must be filed 14 days before the hearing.
Local Rule 251(a) (Fed. R. Civ. P. 37) requires the parties to file a Joint Statement re Discovery Disagreement ("Joint Statement") at least fourteen (14) days before the scheduled hearing.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Discovery Hearings
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Courtesy copies are not required; electronic filing is sufficient.
Judge Boone DOES NOT require "Courtesy Copies" be submitted to his chambers. The CM/ECF electronic filing is sufficient.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Civil Law and Motion Calendar
Filing Bundling Requirements
One (1) week before trial, the parties shall prepare a joint neutral statement of the case for use during jury voir dire and in the initial instructions given to the jury prior to opening statements. The joint neutral statement of the case shall briefly describe the case, including the relevant claims and defenses.
One (1) week before trial, the parties shall prepare a joint neutral statement of the case for use during jury voir dire and in the initial instructions given to the jury prior to opening statements. The joint neutral statement of the case shall briefly describe the case, including the relevant claims and defenses.
Civil cases
Proposed verdict forms must be exchanged 3 weeks before trial, conference held, and joint form filed 1 week before trial.
The parties shall serve their proposed verdict form on one another no later than three (3) weeks before trial and shall conduct a conference to address their proposed verdict forms. At the conference, the parties shall reach an agreement on the verdict form for use at trial. The parties shall file the joint proposed verdict form, no later than one (1) week before trial.
Civil cases
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Motions in limine must be filed 3 weeks before hearing, opposition due 2 weeks after, hearing 2-3 weeks before trial.
The motion in limine hearing will generally be set two to three (3) weeks before the trial. The motion itself will usually be filed three (3) weeks before the motion hearing with opposition due two (2) weeks thereafter. Generally, the briefing schedule will not provide for reply briefing.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Motions in Limine
Chambers Communication Rules
Letter brief must be filed with court and emailed to saborders@caed.uscourts.gov, with all parties cc'd.
The letter brief shall be both filed with the court and emailed to saborders@caed.uscourts.gov before the applicable deadline. All parties must be cc'd on the e-mail with the letter brief attached.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Informal Videoconferences re Discovery Disputes
Request to Seal, proposed sealing order (Word), and documents must be emailed to saborders@caed.uscourts.gov.
The Request to Seal, a proposed sealing order (in word), and all documents covered by the request shall be emailed to saborders@caed.uscourts.gov.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Request to Seal Documents
Approved sealed documents must be emailed to ApprovedSealed@caed.uscourts.gov.
If the request is approved and notice of electronic filing of the sealing order is received, all documents covered by the order must be emailed to ApprovedSealed@caed.uscourts.gov for filing under seal.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Request to Seal Documents
Proposed jury instructions must be emailed in Word format to saborders@caed.uscourts.gov one week before trial.
In addition to being filed, the proposed jury instructions must also be e-mailed in Word® format to saborders@caed.uscourts.gov no later than one (1) week before trial.
Civil cases
Joint verdict forms must be emailed to saborders@caed.uscourts.gov 1 week before trial.
The joint proposed verdict form shall also be e-mailed as a Word® attachment to saborders@caed.uscourts.gov no later than one (1) week before trial. Joint proposed verdict forms will not be used unless they are so e-mailed to the Court.
Civil cases
Confidential Settlement Statements must be emailed to saborders@caed.uscourts.gov.
Confidential Settlement Statements are to be submitted by email to saborders@caed.uscourts.gov.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Settlement Conferences
Parties must contact Courtroom Deputy Jan Nguyen via email to arrange video conferences in the courtroom.
To participate in a video conference, the parties must contact Judge Boone’s Courtroom Deputy, Jan Nguyen, at JNguyen@caed.uscourts.gov or (559) 499-5672.
Page 2 | Other Available Services