--- title: "Robert M. Illman | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-m-illman-california-us-magistrate" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-08" --- # Robert M. Illman U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California · U.S. Magistrate Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California - State: California - Role: U.S. Magistrate Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-29 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Career Law Clerk, U.S. District Court - Northern District of California, 2014–2017-11 (to Nandor Vadas) - Career Law Clerk, U.S. District Court - Middle District of Alabama, 2007–2014 (to Wallace Capel) - Assistant Federal Public Defender, Federal Public Defender's Office - Southern District of Alabama, 2003–2007 - Highly experienced federal magistrate judge with a strong background in public defense, clerkships, and federal litigation ### Education - Convenant College — History — B.A. ### Additional information - Magistrate, District Court, N.D. California, 2017-present - Marcell Lamont Branch v. - Nancy A. Berryhill These cases span issues from civil rights to administrative disputes, demonstrating his broad judicial expertise. - This quirky detail highlights his engagement with both legal and intellectual curiosity in mentoring law clerks Above the Law. - J.D. — Univ. of Alabama at Tuscaloosa - Federal magistrate judge in the Northern District of California, where he handles a wide range of motions, case management conferences, and trials, often via video or teleconference for the convenience of the parties. - He also sits in San Francisco for certain motions and trials, reflecting his active involvement in both procedural and substantive aspects of federal cases. - Known for his distinctive approach to clerkships, including a notable requirement for applicants to distinguish between types of redwood trees, reflecting his personal interests and the culture of his chambers. - His work in the Northern District of California encompasses a wide range of cases, and he is recognized for both his professional rigor and unique approach to mentoring clerks. - Service Employees International Union Local 1021 v. - County of Mendocino ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### technology walkthrough Scope: courtwide 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. Evidence excerpt: 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. [Courtroom Technology](https://cand.uscourts.gov/attorneys/courtroom-technology) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### specialized evidence software Scope: courtwide 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. Evidence excerpt: 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... [Courtroom Technology](https://cand.uscourts.gov/attorneys/courtroom-technology) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### civil remote testimony Scope: courtwide 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. Evidence excerpt: 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 Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### criminal recording and broadcasting Scope: courtwide Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception. Evidence excerpt: 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. [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=89) - [Official roster](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=89) - [U.S. Courts judicial profile or roster](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=89) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9090/robert-m-illman/) - [Courtroom Technology](https://cand.uscourts.gov/attorneys/courtroom-technology) - [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) - [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9090/robert-m-illman/) - [BR/MAG Judge Database: Robert M. Illman](https://legaldatalab.law.virginia.edu/brmag-judges/brmag-judges.json) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9090/robert-m-illman/) - [BR/MAG Judge Database: Robert M. Illman](https://legaldatalab.law.virginia.edu/brmag-judges/brmag-judges.json) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-m-illman-california-us-magistrate", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-m-illman-california-us-magistrate", "name": "Robert M. Illman | KnowJudges", "description": "Robert M. Illman, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-08", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-m-illman-california-us-magistrate#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-m-illman-california-us-magistrate#judge", "name": "Robert M. Illman", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-m-illman-california-us-magistrate", "jobTitle": "U.S. Magistrate Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=89", "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9090/robert-m-illman/" ], "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Convenant College" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Univ. of Alabama at Tuscaloosa" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "California", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/california" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert M. Illman", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-m-illman-california-us-magistrate" } ] } ] } ``` ## Federal civil docket activity Dataset updated through 2026-06-30. | Period | Assigned cases | Terminated cases | Median disposition (months) | Median sample | | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | | 1y | 88 | 2 | Not available | 2 | | 2y | 129 | 15 | 2.5 | 15 | | 5y | 258 | 138 | 5.7 | 138 | | 10y | 491 | 371 | 10.5 | 371 | Source: https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/ ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-651872d6e45e0d82319ecccc) — Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.