Northern District of California Exhibit Requirements
The Northern District of California, covering the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley, is a premier venue for technology and intellectual property disputes. With divisions in San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland, the court handles major tech industry litigation and has developed sophisticated procedures for complex commercial cases. Judge-specific standing orders, and the Patent Local Rules in patent cases, may set additional exhibit requirements.
- The Northern District of California's primary exhibit rule is Civil Local Rules 16-10, 79-2.
- Plaintiffs in the Northern District of California mark exhibits PX-1, PX-2, PX-3....
- Defendants in the Northern District of California mark exhibits DX-1, DX-2, DX-3....
- The Northern District of California accepts e-filings through CM/ECF (PACER), with a limit of 35 MB per document.
- Exhibits in the Northern District of California are exchanged per Case Management Order.
- The Northern District of California (N.D.Cal) sits within the Ninth Circuit.
- ExhibitPrep applies N.D.Cal exhibit stamps entirely in the browser, so case files never leave the attorney's computer.
Quick Reference
| E-Filing System | CM/ECF (PACER) |
| File Size Limit | 35 MB per document |
| Plaintiff Marking | PX-1, PX-2, PX-3... |
| Defendant Marking | DX-1, DX-2, DX-3... |
| Exchange Deadline | Per Case Management Order |
| Primary Rule | Civil Local Rules 16-10, 79-2 |
What This Guide Covers
Divisions & Courthouses
San Francisco
- •Philip Burton Federal Building
- •General commercial litigation
- •Class action hub
- •Securities and antitrust cases
San Jose
- •Robert F. Peckham Federal Building
- •Silicon Valley patent cases
- •Technology IP disputes
- •Heavy patent docket
Oakland
- •Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building
- •Civil rights litigation
- •General federal jurisdiction
Judge-Specific Practices
N.D.Cal judges maintain detailed standing orders that frequently address exhibit handling. Patent cases assigned to San Jose judges (including Judges Davila, Freeman, and Gilliam) follow Patent Local Rules with specific claim construction exhibit requirements. San Francisco commercial judges may have different preferences. Always download and review the assigned judge's standing order from the court website before any filing.
Pro Tips for N.D.Cal
- 1ALWAYS check assigned judge's standing order - they vary significantly
- 2San Jose patent judges have specific claim construction exhibit requirements
- 3Use Civil L.R. 79-2 for lodging oversized exhibits
- 4Technology exhibits should be presentation-ready for trials
- 5Coordinate source code exhibit handling with protective orders
- 6Check the court's e-filing guidelines and the assigned judge's standing orders for exhibit naming and formatting requirements
Common Mistakes to Avoid
N.D.Cal Exhibit FAQ
How do you lodge an oversized exhibit in the Northern District of California?
Check the Northern District of California's local rules and the assigned judge's standing orders for how to submit oversized exhibits, and for any Patent Local Rules in IP cases.
What is the CM/ECF file size limit in N.D.Cal?
The Northern District of California's ECF system cannot accept files that exceed 50MB; larger exhibits must be split or submitted as the court directs.
Why does San Jose handle most N.D.Cal patent cases?
San Jose (Robert F. Peckham Federal Building) sits at the center of Silicon Valley and carries the district's heaviest patent docket, with judges who follow Patent Local Rules and hold detailed claim construction procedures, distinct from San Francisco's general commercial litigation docket.
How are plaintiff and defendant exhibits numbered in N.D.Cal?
N.D.Cal uses "PX-1, PX-2, PX-3" for plaintiff exhibits and "DX-1, DX-2, DX-3" for defendant exhibits under Civil Local Rules 16-10 and 79-2.
Do source code exhibits need special handling in N.D.Cal?
Yes. Source code exhibits in patent and trade secret cases should be handled in line with the case's protective order.
Related Court Guides
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