District of Delaware Local Rules and Judge Filing Requirements
Filing requirements from local rules, individual practices, standing orders, and published court policies for District of Delaware
Federal court local rules are only the first layer. These filing requirements come from individual judges' practices, standing orders, and policies published by the District of Delaware. They supplement the district local rules and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Requirements vary significantly between judges in the same district, so always verify the specific rules for your assigned judge.
- Judge Maryellen Noreika
Any submission using a word-count limit must include a certification of total word count.
- Senior Judge Richard G. Andrews
Motions to join parties or amend pleadings must be filed by specified deadline
- Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly
Initial disclosures under Rule 26(a)(1) must be made within 5 days of the scheduling order.
- Magistrate Judge Sherry R. Fallon
Additional expert reports require consent or court leave
- Judge Gregory B. Williams
Initial disclosures under Rule 26(a)(1) must be made within 5 days of order entry.
- Judge Maryellen Noreika
When a page limit is set by order or rule, parties may use a word-count alternative calculated at 250 words per page.
- Senior Judge Richard G. Andrews
Discovery dispute letters limited to 3 pages; 48-hour and 24-hour filing deadlines.
- Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly
Seeking party must file 3-page letter outlining dispute and position.
- Judge Gregory B. Williams
Maximum number of interrogatories permitted per side.
- Magistrate Judge Mary Pat Thynge
Defendant's answering brief limited to 30 pages.
- Senior Judge Richard G. Andrews
Courtesy copy of sealed documents must be provided within one hour of e-filing.
- Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly
Two hard copies required within 1 hour of e-filing.
- Magistrate Judge Mary Pat Thynge
Two courtesy copies required for all briefs and supporting documents
- Judge Gregory B. Williams
Two courtesy copies required for discovery letters.
- Magistrate Judge Christopher J. Burke
Two courtesy copies required for briefs and supporting documents; one copy for other documents.
- Judge Maryellen Noreika
Absent a case-specific order, responses to pre-trial or post-trial motions are due in 21 calendar days, and any reply is due 10 calendar days after the response.
- Senior Judge Richard G. Andrews
Pre-motion letter (max 3 pages) required for discovery disputes, with 7-day and 5-day filing deadlines.
- Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly
Contact Case Manager to schedule in-person conference for discovery disputes.
- Magistrate Judge Mary Pat Thynge
Letter filing deadline: 72 hours before conference, max 4 pages, double-spaced, 12pt font
- Judge Gregory B. Williams
Motions to join parties or amend pleadings must follow procedures in Paragraphs 4(g) and 5.
- Judge Maryellen Noreika
Citations must appear in body text rather than in footnotes or endnotes.
- Senior Judge Richard G. Andrews
Jury documents must be submitted in Word format to specified email address.
- Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly
Hard copies must comply with formatting requirements in paragraphs 10 and 14.
- Judge Gregory B. Williams
Joint Claim Construction Chart must be in Word format and emailed to specific address.
- Magistrate Judge Christopher J. Burke
Parties must highlight important portions of exhibits in yellow.
- Judge Maryellen Noreika
All phone calls to Chambers must include local counsel.
- Magistrate Judge Mary Pat Thynge
Telephonic Rule 16 status conference scheduled with specific coordination requirement
- Magistrate Judge Sherry R. Fallon
Counsel must discuss discovery issues before seeking court intervention
- Magistrate Judge Christopher J. Burke
Joint Claim Construction Chart must be emailed in Word format to chambers at Samantha_Miller@ded.uscourts.gov.
- Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly
Joint Claim Construction Chart must be emailed to cfc_civil@ded.uscourts.gov simultaneously with filing.
- Senior Judge Richard G. Andrews
Sealed papers require original and copy to Clerk; redacted version due within 7 days.
- Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly
Sealed documents require 1 original + 2 copies to Clerk; electronic redacted version within 7 days.
- Judge Maryellen Noreika
Sealed courtesy copies no longer required in sealed envelopes.
- Magistrate Judge Mary Pat Thynge
ADR communications are confidential and disclosure is prohibited except by court authorization or party agreement.
- Magistrate Judge Christopher J. Burke
Redacted version of sealed documents must be filed electronically within 7 days.
- Senior Judge Richard G. Andrews
In limine requests must be included in proposed pretrial order with page limits.
- Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly
Multiple motions relying on different facts must be filed separately
- Judge Gregory B. Williams
Motions in limine must be included in proposed pretrial order with page limits and combined submissions.
- Magistrate Judge Christopher J. Burke
ADR/mediation communications must not be filed or docketed.
- Magistrate Judge Sherry R. Fallon
ADR/mediation communications must not be filed or docketed.
- Judge Maryellen Noreika
Either party may request a change to the presumptive response/reply schedule upon a showing of good cause.
- Senior Judge Richard G. Andrews
Objections to expert reports must be raised within one week of submission.
- Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly
Claim construction hearing: no testimony without prior approval, max 3 hours total.
- Magistrate Judge Sherry R. Fallon
Objections to magistrate judge decisions are due within 14 days of service of R&R or Order
- Magistrate Judge Eleanor G. Tennyson
Motions to join parties or amend pleadings must be filed by specified date.
- Judge Maryellen Noreika
The Court encourages attorneys with fewer than seven years of practice to participate in oral argument and trial proceedings, and welcomes notice when they will do so.
- Magistrate Judge Christopher J. Burke
Judge encourages newer attorneys to argue motions they contributed to briefing for.
- Visiting Todd M. Hughes
Newer attorneys (practicing fewer than 7 years) are encouraged to participate in oral arguments; upon notice, judge grants oral argument if practicable, considers extra time, and allows experienced counsel to assist.