a) Filing Electronically.
A person represented by an attorney must file documents electronically, unless
nonelectronic filing is allowed by the court for good cause. A person not
represented by an attorney may file documents electronically only after
successful completion of a Clerk’s Office administered class on how to file
electronic documents in this Court and then may file documents only after the
complaint has been filed in paper format. The filing must comply with
procedures established by the court as set forth in the General
Order on Electronic Case Filing
b) Filing in
Paper. A person not represented by an attorney may file
paper documents as follows: (1) in person at the Clerk’s Office, (2) by United
States Mail, (3) by overnight delivery or courier service, (4) by using the
drop box in the Courthouse, or (5) by having another individual hand deliver
the document to the Clerk’s Office.
c) Official
Court Record. Where a document is submitted in an electronic format
pursuant to procedures established by the court, submitted in both electronic
and paper formats, or submitted in paper and subsequently converted to an
electronic format by court staff, the electronic version shall be the court's
official record. Where a document is submitted in paper format without an
electronic version being docketed, the paper version shall be the court's
official record. Where the electronic version of a document is a redacted
version of an unredacted paper document, the unredacted paper version shall be
the court's official record.
d) Filing by Email or FAX
Not Permitted. Documents to be filed with the court may
not be transmitted to the court by Email or FAX. The only means of filing
documents with the court electronically is in accordance with LR
5.2(a) and the General
Order on Electronic Case Filing or other similar
General Order.
(e) Document Format. Any
paper shall be flat and unfolded on opaque, unglazed, white paper 8½ x 11
inches in size. It shall be plainly written, typed, printed, or prepared by
means of a duplicating process, without erasures or interlineations which
materially deface it.
Where the document is
typed, line spacing will be at least 2.0 lines. Where it is typed or printed,
(1) the
size of the type in the body of the text shall be 12 points and that in
footnotes, no less than 11 points, and
(2) the margins, left-hand, right-hand, top, and bottom, shall each
be a minimum of 1 inch.
Documents filed electronically must
conform to these requirements.
(f) Binding and Tabs. Each paper original shall be bound or secured at
the top edge of the document by a staple or a removable metal paper fastener
inserted through two holes. A paper original shall not have a front or back
cover. A paper original shall not have protruding tabs. Exhibits or tabs that
are part of the paper original shall be indicated in bold type on a single
sheet of paper placed immediately before the corresponding exhibit or attachment. Unless not reasonably feasible, exhibits to paper originals shall be 8½ x 11 inches in size.
(g) Documents Not Complying May be Stricken. Any document that does not comply with this rule shall be filed subject to being stricken by the court.
(h) Searchable Text and Hyperlinks. In creating documents for filing through the EFiling system, parties are encouraged to make documents text searchable and to use hyperlinks to link table of contents headings with section headings and textual citations to cases, exhibits, and other materials filed in the case.
(i) Redaction of Transcripts Filed Electronically. If a party or an attorney for a party files a written request to redact specific portions of a transcript pursuant to either Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 or Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 49.1, the court reporter is ordered by the Court to make that redaction. Any other redaction request must be made by motion to the court.
Amended November 22, 2013, December 30 , 2020, and May 18, 2023