Judge Julia E. Kobick

Federal Judicial Service

Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts.

Nominated by Joseph R. Biden on January 23, 2023, to a seat vacated by William G. Young. Confirmed by the Senate on November 7, 2023, and received commission on November 13, 2023.

Education

Harvard University, A.B., 2005
Pace University, M.S., 2007
Harvard Law School, J.D., 2010


Courthouse

Boston Courthouse

John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse
1 Courthouse Way, Suite 2300
Boston, Massachusetts 02210

Courtroom

3, 3rd floor

John J. Moakley Federal Courthouse - Boston, MA
John J. Moakley Federal Courthouse - Boston, MA

Courtroom Technology

Contact the courtroom clerk regarding the use of technology in the courtroom. View our courtroom technology page for more information on the technology that is available.

Internet access is available upon request and with the consent of the presiding Judge. Click here for more information.


Staff
Chambers Procedures/Standing Orders/Sample Orders
USDC Judicial Forum Survey

Civil - Case Management

Q6: What schedule do you set at the initial scheduling conference?

A6: I set deadlines through a dispositive motion deadline. I do not set a trial date or schedule a final pretrial conference at the initial scheduling conference.

Q8: If so, when do you hold status conferences?

A8: Typically after the close of fact discovery, but sometimes sooner.

Q9: If so, what issues do you address at status conferences?

A9: The status of discovery, any outstanding discovery disputes, the parties' interest in mediation, the likelihood of dispositive motion practice.

Civil - Discovery

Q16: Typically, do you resolve discovery motions or do you refer them to the magistrate judge?

A16: I usually resolve discovery motions but sometimes refer them to a Magistrate Judge.

Q17: Do you typically hold a hearing on discovery?

A17: Only if the discovery dispute is complex or I have questions for the parties.

Q18: Please describe your general practice regarding the resolution of discovery motions.

A18: I have no set practice, but do try to resolve discovery motions promptly to keep the case moving.

Q22: If the case involves a pro se litigant, do you typically have any different practices in regard to scheduling conferences, status conferences or discovery matters?

A22: I typically explain the discovery process and the parties' obligations, and I often hold more frequent status conferences.

Civil - Dispositive Motions

Q23: Other than the presumptive pages limits for memoranda under Rule 7.1(b), do you have any other requirements or preferences about the filing of dispositive motions?

A23: Parties should meaningfully confer before filing dispositive motions. For summary judgment motions, the non-moving party should note their response to the moving party's concise statement of material facts under each fact asserted by the moving party, so that the fact and response is contained in one document.

Q25: Do you typically allow reply briefs and/or surreply briefs?

A25: I typically allow reply briefs, and will allow surreply briefs if warranted.

Q30: Under what, if any, circumstances, would you allow the filing of post-argument briefs?

A30: If a topic comes up at the hearing that is not fully addressed in the parties' briefs, I will often grant leave for the parties to file short supplemental briefs after the hearing. But I rarely grant requests to file post-argument briefs where leave was not orally granted at the hearing.

Civil - Patent Cases

Criminal Matters

General Trial Practice - Pretrial Matters

Q42: Do you typically hold an initial pretrial conference in civil cases?

A42: Yes, but only to set a trial date, discuss the length of trial and trial practices, and see if the parties are interested in mediation. Counsel do not need to file anything ahead of the initial pretrial conference.

Q43: When do you set a deadline for the filing of proposed voir dire, proposed jury instructions and/or special verdict form, witness and exhibits lists, motions in limine? Typically, how far in advance of trial are these deadlines?

A43: I set these deadlines in a pretrial order issued after the initial pretrial conference. These deadlines back out from the final pretrial conference and are set for dates one to two months before the trial is set to begin.

Q46: Do you typically hear motions in limine at the final pretrial conference?

A46: If I can resolve motions in limine ahead of the final pretrial conference, I will do that through a memorandum and order or docket order. Otherwise, I will hear motions in limine at the final pretrial conference.

Q48: Do you typically hear and/or resolve Daubert motions at the final pretrial conference?

A48: I prefer to resolve Daubert motions before the final pretrial conference.

Criminal - Scheduling Trials

Criminal - Jury Selection

Q57: Please describe your jury selection process.

A57: I'll ask general voir dire questions to the whole panel, move jurors to a neighboring courtroom, then bring jurors who answered yes to the voir dire questions back into the courtroom for individual voir dire.

General Trial Practice - Trial Practices

Q70: If you have any preferences or practices about pretrial or trial matters that has not been solicited by the prior questions, please describe them here.

A70: I meet with counsel each morning at 8:30am to resolve any anticipated evidentiary objections or other disputes.

Criminal - Sentencing/Revocation Hearings

Q74: Under what, if any, circumstances, would you consider an expedited sentencing?

A74: If the defendant is detained and would risk overserving the guideline range absent an expedited sentencing.

Standing Orders & Miscellaneous Matters

Q79: Order #2

A79: Respondent skipped this question.

Q80: Order #3

A80: Respondent skipped this question.

Post-Pandemic Practices

Q82: As of Fall 2022, are there any case events that you routinely conduct via Zoom in civil cases? If so, what are they?

A82: I typically conduct status conferences and initial scheduling conferences via Zoom.