Judicial Profile: Department 60
Commissioner Judith Sanders
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Commissioner Judith Sanders graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 1972. After doing graduate work at Cal in English, she worked as an editor at U.C. for several years before attending Hastings College of Law. She was in private practice briefly before being appointed to the bench in 1987.
- Judicial Experience
- She has served as Discovery Commissioner for nearly twenty-five years.
- Courtroom Policies
- Please turn off cell phones and other electronic devices before entering the courtroom.
- Teleconferencing
- Permitted, but Commissioner Sanders prefers personal appearances, especially if the matter is contested.
- Motions
- When moving to compel discovery, relate the discovery sought directly to the complaint or affirmative defense. Do not make open ended requests. At argument, do not simply repeat what is in the papers.
- Briefs
- No string cites.
- Discovery
- See motions.
- Settlement Conferences
- No special policies.
- Sanctions
- Commissioner Sanders is more likely to grant requests for sanctions if counsel has first written to opposing counsel, requested a face to face meeting, and given a reasonable amount of time for compliance.
- Documents
- Counsel should not present new documents at a hearing without a good reason.
- Decorum
- Counsel should not raise their voice in the courtroom.
- Court Reporters & Translators
- If required, counsel should make their own arrangements.
- Computers in the Courtroom
- Laptops are permitted.
- Audio-Visual
- Permissible.
- Cameras in the Courtroom
- Permissible if a request for press access is filed.
- General Advice
- Commissioner Sanders advises counsel to be collegial and try to work out matters together.
