Judge Claudia Wilken
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Page & Word Limits9 rules
Summary judgment motions have specific timing and page limits: plaintiffs file 6 weeks before cut-off, defendants file cross-motion within 25-page opposition 14 days after, reply 15 pages 7 days after opposition.
- Reply
- Up to 15 pages in total
Court's wording
If Plaintiffs wish to file a motion for summary judgment, they shall do so six (6) weeks before the cut-off date. If Defendants wish to file a cross motion as well as an opposition to the motion, any cross-motion shall be contained within the opposition to the motion, which may contain up to twenty-five (25) pages in total, and shall be filed fourteen (14) days after the filing of the motion. The reply to the motion shall include the opposition to any cross-motion, may contain up to fifteen (15) pages in total, and shall be filed seven (7) days after the filing of the opposition.
All motions in limine shall be contained within one document, limited to twenty-five (25) pages pursuant to Civil L.R. 7-2(b), with each motion listed as a subheading.
- Motion in limine
- Up to 25 pages
Defendants' cross-motion must be in opposition (max 25 pages) filed 14 days after motion.
Court's wording
If Defendants wish to file a cross motion as well as an opposition to the motion, any cross-motion shall be contained within the opposition to the motion, which may contain up to twenty-five (25) pages in total, and shall be filed fourteen (14) days after the filing of the motion.
After the parties have met and conferred, the parties shall prepare a joint letter of not more than eight (8) pages explaining the dispute. Up to twelve (12) pages of attachments may be added.
- Page limit
- Up to 8 pages
- Discovery letter brief
The reply to the motion shall include the opposition to any cross-motion, may contain up to fifteen (15) pages in total, and shall be filed seven (7) days after the filing of the opposition.
- Reply
- Up to 15 pages in total
A reply to any cross-motion may contain up to fifteen (15) pages, and shall be filed seven (7) days after the filing of the opposition.
- Reply to cross-motion
- Up to 15 pages
All motions in limine shall be contained within one document, limited to twenty-five (25) pages pursuant to Civil L.R. 7-2(b), with each motion listed as a
- Motions in limine
- Up to 25 pages
contained within one document, limited to twenty-five (25) pages, with corresponding subheadings, and filed seven (7) days thereafter.
- Page limit
- Up to 25 pages
Up to twelve (12) pages of attachments may be added.
- Attachment
- Up to 12 pages
Document Filing Requirements21 rules
Discovery disputes require joint letter (max 8 pages) with up to 12 pages of attachments, filed under specific ECF category.
- Document
- Discovery letter brief
Must include
- •Joint letter
- •Explaining the dispute
Court's wording
the parties shall prepare a joint letter of not more than eight (8) pages explaining the dispute. Up to twelve (12) pages of attachments may be added. The joint letter must be electronically filed under the Civil Events category of “Motions and Related Filings > Motions--General > Discovery Letter Brief.”
14-day deadline to file joint pretrial conference statement.
Court's wording
Not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the pretrial conference, counsel shall submit the following: (a) Pretrial Conference Statement. The parties shall file a joint pretrial conference statement containing the following information:
Exchange papers 28 days before pretrial conference without filing.
Court's wording
Not less than twenty-eight (28) days prior to the pretrial conference, counsel shall exchange (but not file or lodge) the papers described in Civil L.R. 16-10(b)(7),(8),(9), and (10), and their motions in limine.
No party shall be permitted to offer any exhibit in its case-in-chief that is not disclosed in its exhibit list without leave of the Court for good cause shown.
No party shall be permitted to call any witness in its case-in-chief who is not disclosed in its pretrial statement without leave of Court for good cause shown.
Argument and authority for and against each disputed instruction shall be included as part of the joint submission, on separate pages
The instructions shall be ordered in a logical sequence, together with a table of contents.
- Document
- Jury instructions
Must include
- •Table of contents
Proposed jury instructions must be emailed to cwpo@cand.uscourts.gov in WordPerfect or Word format with specific subject line.
Court's wording
The parties shall email to cwpo@cand.uscourts.gov a copy of their proposed jury instructions in WordPerfect or Word format. The subject of the email should include the case name, the case number and a description of the document.
The Court requests that the parties hyperlink each proposed Finding of Fact to any supporting evidence.
Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law must be emailed to cwpo@cand.uscourts.gov in WordPerfect or Word format with specific subject line.
Court's wording
The parties shall email to cwpo@cand.uscourts.gov a copy of their proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law in WordPerfect or Word format. The subject of the email should include the name of the case, the case number and a description of the document.
If Plaintiffs wish to file a motion for summary judgment, they shall do so six (6) weeks before the cut-off date.
If Plaintiffs do not file a motion for summary judgment, Defendants may file one five (5) weeks before the case-dispositive motion hearing cut-off date and the schedule in Local Rule 7-3 shall apply.
A Further Case Management Conference will be held on the case-dispositive motion hearing cut-off date, whether or not dispositive motions are filed.
Civil motions heard Wednesdays at 2:30 PM; check website for unavailable dates.
Court's wording
Civil motion calendar is conducted on 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.
Exchange papers 28 days before pretrial conference without filing.
Court's wording
Not less than twenty-eight (28) days prior to the pretrial conference, counsel shall exchange (but not file or lodge) the papers described in Civil L.R. 16-10(b)(7),(8),(9), and (10), and their motions in limine.
Joint pretrial conference statement required 14 days before pretrial conference.
Court's wording
Not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the pretrial conference, counsel shall submit the following: (a) Pretrial Conference Statement. The parties shall file a joint pretrial conference statement containing the following information:
No party shall be permitted to offer any exhibit in its case-in-chief that is not disclosed in its exhibit list without leave of the Court for good cause shown.
No party shall be permitted to call any witness in its case-in-chief who is not disclosed in its pretrial statement without leave of Court for good cause shown.
Proposed jury instructions must be emailed to cwpo@cand.uscourts.gov in WordPerfect or Word format with specific subject line.
Court's wording
The parties shall email to cwpo@cand.uscourts.gov a copy of their proposed jury instructions in WordPerfect or Word format. The subject of the email should include the case name, the case number and a description of the document.
The Court requests that the parties hyperlink each proposed Finding of Fact to any supporting evidence.
Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law must be emailed to cwpo@cand.uscourts.gov in WordPerfect or Word format with specific subject line.
Court's wording
The parties shall email to cwpo@cand.uscourts.gov a copy of their proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law in WordPerfect or Word format. The subject of the email should include the name of the case, the case number and a description of the document.
Filing & Service rules
Filing Bundling Requirements
Case-dispositive motions must be bundled and heard together on cut-off date.
Absent permission from the Court, all case-dispositive motions in a case will be briefed and heard together, on the case-dispositive motion hearing cut-off date, or on an earlier available date agreed to by the parties.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Motions for Summary Judgment
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
21-day meet and confer on joint pretrial statement and settlement.
At least twenty-one (21) days before the final pretrial conference, lead counsel who will try the case shall meet and confer with respect to: (a) Preparation and content of the joint pretrial conference statement; (b) Resolution of any differences between the parties regarding the preparation and content of the joint pretrial conference statement and the preparation and exchange of pretrial materials to be served and lodged pursuant to this Order for Pretrial Preparation. To the extent such differences are not resolved, the parties will present the issues in the pretrial conference statement so that the judge may rule on the matter during the pretrial conference; and (c) Settlement of the action.
Civil cases
Page 3 | PRETRIAL CONFERENCE
Lead counsel must meet and confer 21 days before final pretrial conference on joint statement, differences, and settlement.
At least twenty-one (21) days before the final pretrial conference, lead counsel who will try the case shall meet and confer with respect to: (a) Preparation and content of the joint pretrial conference statement; (b) Resolution of any differences between the parties regarding the preparation and content of the joint pretrial conference statement and the preparation and exchange of pretrial materials to be served and lodged pursuant to this Order for Pretrial Preparation. To the extent such differences are not resolved, the parties will present the issues in the pretrial conference statement so that the judge may rule on the matter during the pretrial conference; and (c) Settlement of the action.
Civil cases
Page 1 | I. PRETRIAL CONFERENCE
If no plaintiff summary judgment motion, defendants may file 5 weeks before cut-off following Local Rule 7-3 schedule.
If Plaintiffs do not file a motion for summary judgment, Defendants may file one five (5) weeks before the case-dispositive motion hearing cut-off date and the schedule in Local Rule 7-3 shall apply.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Motions for Summary Judgment
Chambers Communication Rules
Civil motions heard Tuesdays at 2:30 PM; no need to reserve but check website for unavailable dates.
Civil motion calendar is conducted on Tuesdays 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.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Civil motion calendar