Federal Courts Update – January 2026

For more federal courts content, please see the Quarterly Federal Courts Committee Newsletter.

We are looking for new members to join our Federal Courts Committee. If you are interested, please apply here or email Committee Chair Christina McCall at Litigation@calawyers.org for more information.

Northern District of California

Judicial Appointments: The United States District Court for the Northern District of California is considering the reappointment of United States Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson to a new eight-year term. Judge Hixson’s current term is due to expire on September 3, 2026. Members of the bar and the public are invited to provide comments regarding Judge Hixson’s reappointment no later than February 2, 2026 via email to magistrate_comments@cand.uscourts.gov or via mail to:

Mark B. Busby, Clerk of Court 
U.S. District Court, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, 16th Floor 
San Francisco, CA 94102

Judicial Status: Effective December 31, 2025, United States District Judge William H. Alsup has taken inactive status.

Miscellaneous: The Northern District of California is soliciting entries from high school students for its 2026 Northern District of California Civics Contest. The submission deadline is March 6, 2026. Further details can be found here.

Eastern District of California

Opt-Out Civil Consent to Magistrate Judges Program: The Eastern District has proposed changes to the Local Rules, effective February 1, 2026, that will include magistrate judges in initial civil case assignments unless parties timely opt-out. The proposed rules and ways to provide comments are linked here. Comments are being accepted through January 15, 2026.

Appointment of United States Attorney: Effective December 9, 2025, the Eastern District has appointed Eric Grant as the United States Attorney, pursuant to General Order No. 694.