Robert M. Illman at a glance
- Current role
- U.S. Magistrate Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- Jurisdiction
- California · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Robert M. Illman
U.S. Magistrate Judge · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Available research
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AI abuse cases
1 caseAI-related ruling · April 28, 2026
Louis L. Ligon III v. Meta Platforms, Inc.
- Court response
- Warning
Biography
Professional career
- Assistant Federal Public Defender, Federal Public Defender's Office - Southern District of Alabama, 2003–2007
- Career Law Clerk, U.S. District Court - Middle District of Alabama, 2007–2014 (to Wallace Capel)
- Career Law Clerk, U.S. District Court - Northern District of California, 2014–2017-11 (to Nandor Vadas)
Judicial service
- Magistrate, District Court, N.D. California, 2017-present
Education
- Convenant College · B.A.
- Univ. of Alabama at Tuscaloosa · J.D.
Courtroom rules and guidance
Technology Walkthrough
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.Courtroom Technology ↗
Specialized Evidence Software
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...Courtroom Technology ↗
Civil Remote Testimony
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 Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
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.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 29, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=89CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9090/robert-m-illman/Courtroom Technology
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://cand.uscourts.gov/attorneys/courtroom-technologyFederal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts