Linda Marie Zambrano, and Jose E. Tafolla, Esq. Philip W. Orr, Esq., Claimants-Appellants v. City of Tustin David Kreyling

REINHARDT, Circuit Judge:

Attorneys Jose Tafolla and Philip Orr appeal sanctions levied against them for failure to comply with local rules requiring admission to the district court bar. We must decide whether, under the particular circumstances of the case before us, the district court overstepped the limits of its discretion in sanctioning appellants. Because we conclude that in this case it did, we vacate the order.

I. Factual Background

This appeal stems from a § 1983 action filed by Linda Zambrano against the City of Tustin, California. From the very beginning, the trial proved to be an…