Charles R. Breyer

For civil bench trials, Judge Breyer requires a joint final-pretrial order with a numerical joint exhibit list, including a description, offered-and-received columns, and use limitations; counsel must meet in person on exhibit numbers and objections before the conference.

the parties shall meet and confer and prepare a joint proposed final pretrial order that contains ... a joint exhibit list in numerical order, including a brief description of the exhibit, a column for when it is offered in evidence, a column for when it is received in evidence, and a column for any limitations on its use ... Prior to the final pretrial conference, counsel must meet and confer in person over all exhibit numbers and objections.

For e-evidence requiring specialized software, the Northern District of California publishes a process for at least two business days' advance notice through the Courtroom Deputy and approval by the judge and Court IT.

at least two (2) business days advance notice, counsel may request via the Courtroom Deputy that the specialized software be loaded by counsel prior to use of the system. If the judge and the court’s IT Department approve...

Judge Breyer publishes that the courtroom supports evidence presentation; additional equipment requires a court order for courthouse entry and coordination with the courtroom deputy on layout.

The Courtroom is set up with equipment that allows evidence presentation. If additional equipment is necessary, the United States Marshal requires a court order to allow equipment into the courthouse. Please work with Lashanda Scott ... on courtroom-layout issues.

The Northern District of California publishes guidance advising counsel to fully test their equipment and schedule a courtroom visit to test it before the proceeding.

The court highly recommends that counsel be familiar their equipment and fully test prior to using anything in the courtroom. ... schedule a visit in the courtroom to test everything before the proceeding.

In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.

For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.

Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.

Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.