District Judge James Donato

Chambers Copy Requirements

The processing of unnecessary chambers copies wastes resources and burdens the court.  Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 5-1(d)(7), chambers copies should not be submitted unless required by the assigned judge’s standing order or specifically requested by the assigned judge.

Judges’ standing orders may include additional requirements and may differ from the local rules in other particulars.  If they are not in agreement, a judge’s standing order supersedes the local rules.

The pertinent parts of Judge Donato’s standing orders are set forth below:

Civil Standing Order

In addition to filing papers electronically, the parties are required to lodge for chambers one paper copy of the following: (a) complaints; (b) notices of removal; (c) case management conference statements; (d) stipulations; (e) all motion papers, including the opening, opposition, and reply briefs, as well as any supporting declarations and exhibits; and (f) discovery dispute letters that are filed pursuant to this Court’s Standing Order for Discovery in Civil Cases. Counsel should not submit chambers copies of any other documents that are electronically filed.

All chambers copies must be double-sided, three-hole punched at the left margin and marked with the ECF stamp (case number, document number, date and page number). These printed copies should be marked “Chambers Copy — Do Not File” and placed in an envelope clearly labeled with the judge’s name and case number. The copies must be delivered in accordance with Civil Local Rule 5-1(e)(7). For voluminous filings, chambers would appreciate the use of binder clips rather than staples, or submission in three-ring binders. For documents with multiple attachments (e.g., declarations with exhibits, requests for judicial notice and so on), please use side tabs that clearly separate each attached document.

Civil Jury Trials Standing Order

Two three-hole punched, double-sided chambers copies of the parties’ pretrial filings must be delivered to the Clerk’s office by noon the day after filing.

Criminal Standing Order

The parties are required to lodge for chambers one paper copy of each document that is filed electronically. All chambers copies must be three-hole punched at the left margin and marked with the ECF stamp (case number, document number, date and page number). These printed copies shall be marked “Chambers Copy — Do Not File” and placed in an envelope clearly labeled with the judge’s name and case number. All chambers copies must be submitted to this Court’s San Francisco chambers; please do not deliver chambers copies to the Oakland Courthouse.

Delivery Address

About District Judge James Donato

Born 1960 in Pasadena, CA

Federal Judicial Service:

• Judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
• Nominated by Barack Obama on January 6, 2014, to a seat vacated by James Ware
• Confirmed by the Senate on February 25, 2014, and received commission on February 26, 2014

Education:

• University of California, Berkeley, B.A., 1983
• Harvard University, A.M., 1984
• Stanford Law School, J.D., 1988

Professional Career:

• Law clerk, Hon. Procter R. Hug, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1988-1989
• Private practice, San Francisco, California, 1990-1993, 1996-2014
• Deputy city attorney, San Francisco, California, 1993-1996