**Magistrate Judge Cari Fais** was appointed to the District of New Jersey effective September 3, 2025. Judge Fais earned her undergraduate degree from George Washington University and her law degree from Columbia Law School, where she was a Notes Editor on the Columbia Law Review. She began her legal career as a law clerk for Chief Judge Michael A. Chagares of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She subsequently practiced as a litigation associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman LLP, and served for nearly a decade as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, ultimately leading the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit. She served as Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs from 2022 to 2025. **Education** - Columbia Law School, J.D. (Notes Editor, Columbia Law Review) - George Washington University, B.A. **Career** - Victim advocate, Womanspace and Mercer County Prosecutor's Office - Law clerk, Chief Judge Michael A. Chagares, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2009–2010 - Associate, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, 2008–2009 - Associate, Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman LLP, 2010–2013 - Assistant U.S. Attorney (including Chief, Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit), District of New Jersey, 2013–2022 - Director, New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, 2022–2025 - U.S. Magistrate Judge, District of New Jersey, 2025–present
**Division:** Newark **Courthouse:** Frank R. Lautenberg U.S. Post Office & Courthouse, 2 Federal Square, Newark, NJ 07102 **Chambers:** Courtroom PO 9 **Phone:** (973) 776-7862 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: Ruby Abreu, (973) 776-7864
Courtesy-copy scope is not stated in the structured details. Details: by email. Courtesy copies of sealed documents must be sent via email to CF_Orders@njd.uscourts.gov.
Judge Cari Fais's rules set a pre-motion procedure for covered motions. Counsel must meet and confer regarding the final pretrial order to minimize disputes.
Judge Cari Fais' formatting rule includes file format PDF, editable, and also submit word via email. Proposed orders must be filed as editable PDF via CM/ECF and also submitted in Word format via email to CF_Orders@njd.uscourts.gov.
The rule requires proposed order. All requests, including requests to modify a Scheduling Order, must be accompanied by a proposed order.
The rule addresses letter ecf communications with Judge Cari Fais' court. Pro se litigants should not engage in ex parte communications; substantive correspondence must be filed on the docket and will be posted publicly.
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Cari Fais. Motions to seal must comply with L.Civ.R. 5.3(c), include a proposed order with findings of fact and conclusions of law and docket entry references, certify consent, and send courtesy copies via email; leave of court is not required.
The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Parties must submit the joint proposed final pretrial order by email no later than 14 days before the final pretrial conference.
Yes. Judge Cari Fais's rules include a junior lawyer participation incentive. The Court encourages junior attorneys (under 5 years) to participate in proceedings and is more likely to grant oral argument if a junior attorney will argue; multiple lawyers may argue to allow junior participation.
Parties must submit the joint proposed final pretrial order by email no later than 14 days before the final pretrial conference.
Counsel must meet and confer regarding the final pretrial order to minimize disputes.
Parties must meet and confer in person or by video conference before presenting any dispute to the Court.
Motions to seal must comply with L.Civ.R. 5.3(c), include a proposed order with findings of fact and conclusions of law and docket entry references, certify consent, and send courtesy copies via email; leave of court is not required.
All requests, including requests to modify a Scheduling Order, must be accompanied by a proposed order.
Proposed orders must be filed as editable PDF via CM/ECF and also submitted in Word format via email to CF_Orders@njd.uscourts.gov.
Pleadings, motions, letters, and proposed orders filed on CM/ECF must be in searchable, editable PDF format; exhibits may be non-searchable.
The Court encourages junior attorneys (under 5 years) to participate in proceedings and is more likely to grant oral argument if a junior attorney will argue; multiple lawyers may argue to allow junior participation.
Pro se litigants should not engage in ex parte communications; substantive correspondence must be filed on the docket and will be posted publicly.
Courtesy copies of sealed documents must be sent via email to CF_Orders@njd.uscourts.gov.