IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
EUREKA DIVISION
GENERAL STANDING ORDER OF JUDGE ROBERT M. ILLMAN
(effective Sep. 19, 2022)
1. Compliance with Federal Rules, General Orders, Local Rules and Standing
Orders: All parties shall consult and comply with all applicable Federal Rules, as well as the
General Orders and Local Rules of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California,
except as expressly modified herein. Failure to comply with any applicable rule or order may be
deemed sufficient grounds for monetary sanctions, dismissal, entry of default judgment, or other
appropriate sanctions.
2. Consent/Declination to Proceed Before a Magistrate Judge: In civil cases that
are assigned to Judge Illman for all purposes, each party should file a consent to the assignment
of a United States Magistrate Judge for all purposes, or a request for reassignment to a district
judge, as soon as possible. If a party files a dispositive motion (such as a motion to dismiss or a
motion for remand), the moving party must file the consent/declination simultaneously with the
motion. The consent/declination form is available at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/mj_consent-
declination_form_10-2020/
3. Location: Judge Illman primarily presides over matters at the courthouse at 3140
Boeing Avenue in McKinleyville, California, but regularly allows the parties to appear by video
or teleconference for most hearings. Judge Illman also schedules certain matters in San Francisco
at the convenience of the parties.
4. Discovery Disputes: All parties with a discovery dispute in a case pending
before, or referred to, Judge Illman shall comply with the following:
(a) In lieu of filing formal discovery motions, lead trial counsel for the parties shall
meet and confer in a good faith effort to resolve the matter. Within five (5) business days of the
meet and confer session, the parties shall file a detailed joint letter. It shall not exceed five (5)
pages, excluding the cover page, without prior leave of court. This joint letter shall include a
description of every issue in dispute, and a detailed summary of each party’s final position on
each issue. The joint letter may not be accompanied by exhibits or affidavits other than exact
copies of interrogatories, requests for production of documents and/or responses, privilege logs,
and relevant deposition testimony. On receipt of the joint letter, the court will determine what
further proceedings are necessary.
(b) In the event that counsel are unable to meet and confer as directed above, or a
moving party is unable to obtain the opposing party’s portion of a joint letter after the meet and
confer session, the moving party shall file a written request for a telephonic conference for the
purpose of enforcing the court’s meet and confer requirement, or for the court to fashion an
alternative procedure. The written request shall include a declaration which explains any attempt
to meet and confer and/or obtain the joint letter, as well as the reasons for the inability to comply
with the standing order. The moving party may attach exhibits to the declaration, not to exceed
seven (7) pages.
(c) In emergencies during discovery events (e.g., depositions), the court is available
pursuant to Civil L.R. 37-1(b). Any party seeking court intervention during a discovery event
must contact Judge Illman’s Courtroom Deputy Clerk, Ms. Knudson, at 707-445-3612, or
[email protected] prior to filing any documents.
(d) Any party seeking an award of attorney fees or other expenses as sanctions in
connection with a discovery dispute shall file a separate motion as required by Civil L.R. 37-3.
(e) If a party wishes to file a document under seal, that party shall first file a written
request for a sealing order setting forth the good cause and accompanied by a proposed order, as
provided by Civil L.R. 79-5.
5. Civil Law and Motion: Judge Illman’s civil law and motion calendar generally
takes place on Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m..
6. Settlement Conferences: All parties appearing before Judge Illman for a settlement
conference shall comply with Judge Illman’s Settlement Conference Standing Order, which is
available at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges/illman-robert-m-rmi/
7. Chambers Copy and Proposed Orders: Chambers copies should not be
submitted unless otherwise ordered by the court. Proposed orders should be emailed in MS Word
format to
[email protected]. This address is to be used only for proposed orders unless
otherwise directed.
8. Pro Se Assistance: Parties representing themselves should consult the Representing
Yourself page of the court’s website which can be found at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/pro-se-
litigants/
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: September 19, 2022
ROBERT M. ILLMAN
United States Magistrate Judge
2
