Judge Esther Salas
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Filings (All filings)
Required • Binding: Spiral
Adjournments
Must Include
- 1Corresponding Request Via Cm Ecf
- 2Reason For Request
- 3Adversary Position
- 4Proposed New Dates
Must Include
- 1Defendant Agreement
- 2Client Position
Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Letter Ecf
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Law Clerks
Chambers
Detailed Drafting Rules
Pretrial housekeeping conference scheduled before Judge Salas.
a pretrial housekeeping conference is scheduled before Hon. Esther Salas on [date]
Chambers
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredconference_scheduled
Must consult relevant rules and docket before contacting court
Before corresponding with the Court, litigants must consult the relevant rules for the Third Circuit, the District of New Jersey, this document, and the docket on the CM/ECF system. Only after doing so is it appropriate to contact the Court.
Letter via ECF
- Advance Notice Requiredas much advance notice as possible
Phone calls to chambers must provide name, case number, party represented, and question
When litigants call Chambers, they should let the Court know (1) their name(s); (2) the case name and civil action number on which they are calling; (3) the party(ies) they represent; and (4) their question.
Phone
Limited communication with law clerks only for administrative matters or emergencies
Judge Salas permits limited communications with her law clerks. Unless directed otherwise by the Court, litigants should never contact law clerks for advice on substantive or procedural matters other than of a very rudimentary nature (such as to confirm the Court’s administrative policies and procedures or to alert the Court of some actual emergency that cannot be timely handled by conventional correspondence or formal filings).
Direct to: Law Clerks
- Status Inquiries
Scheduling matters should be directed to Courtroom Deputy
Communications with the Court about scheduling matters should be directed to Judge Salas’s Courtroom Deputy.
Cannot justify conduct by claiming law clerk or deputy said so
Communications from litigants purporting to justify litigants’ conduct because 'Your Honor’s law clerk [or Deputy] said . . .' are highly disfavored and are never appropriate as an explanation of litigants’ strategic or tactical choices.
Direct to: Law Clerks
- Status Inquiries
Moving party arranges telephone conferences and contacts chambers after all parties join.
Litigants will be notified of the date and time for the telephone conference. It will be the responsibility of litigants for the moving or initiating party to arrange the telephone conference and to contact Judge Salas’s Chambers after all litigants are present on the call unless otherwise advised by the Court.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredafter_all_parties_present
Participants must identify themselves and speak clearly during telephone conferences.
Litigants are reminded to be especially careful to avoid being discourteous during telephone conferences by failing to listen to other speakers, failing to identify themselves prior to each statement, failing to speak loudly or slowly enough to be heard, etc.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredidentify_yourself_before_speaking
- Status Inquiries
Court will refuse telephone conferences for participants who are discourteous.
Failure to observe basic telephone courtesy will result in the Court’s refusal to use telephone conferences in matters involving the offending participants.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredidentify_yourself_before_speaking
- Status Inquiries
Provide names and spelling when contacting chambers for conference calls.
When litigants contact Chambers for a conference call, litigants should recognize that the individuals who answer the phone are asking for names and spelling for a reason. The Courtroom Deputy or law clerks are recording the names for purposes of organizing the call and streamlining discussion.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredprovide_names_and_spelling
- Status Inquiries
Speak slowly and spell your name during conference calls.
Therefore, please speak slowly and spell your name so that the Judge knows who is participating during the call.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredspeak_slowly_and_spell_name
- Status Inquiries
Identify yourself during calls with multiple parties.
Again, in cases involving numerous parties, litigants should remember to identify themselves during the call so that Judge Salas knows who is talking.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredidentify_yourself_during_call
- Status Inquiries
Hearings and arguments scheduled ad hoc, no specific days set aside.
Judge Salas does not set aside specific days or times for oral argument, motions, or evidentiary hearings. Hearings and arguments are scheduled on an ad hoc basis as warranted.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredno_specific_days_set_aside
- Status Inquiries
Sur-replies require permission, limited to 15 pages, due within 7 days.
No sur-replies are permitted without permission. They are strongly discouraged unless it is apparent on the face of the submission that such additional briefing is necessary to rebut an issue or point of law not discussed in the initial briefs. Sur-reply briefs may be filed and served within seven (7) days of service of the brief to which the sur-reply responds unless the Court sets a different schedule. Sur-reply submissions should not contain a repeat recitation of the facts of the case and, without leave of Court for good cause shown, must not exceed fifteen (15) pages in total. No other briefs may be filed without leave of Court for good cause shown.
Immediate notification required for trial conflicts.
Litigants should notify the Court and opposing counsel immediately upon learning of any unavoidable and compelling professional or personal conflicts affecting the trial schedule.
Letter via ECF
Contact Courtroom Deputy at least one week before trial to test equipment.
Should litigants wish to use equipment provided by the Court or to set up the Courtroom before their appearance to test the technology, please contact Judge Salas’s Courtroom Deputy at least one week prior to the start of trial.
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredone_week_before_trial
Public/press must file written request for access to redacted sentencing materials with 5-page limit, parties respond within 2 days (5-page limit).
A member of the public or the press who wishes to have access to portions of the redacted sections of the Sentencing Materials shall advise the Court, via a written submission on the docket (or if unrepresented by counsel, via e-mail to the Courtroom Deputy and all Counsel of Record) that it seeks access to redactions contained within the Sentencing Materials. Such written submission shall identify the name of the requesting party, the name of counsel for the requesting party, if any, the specific portions of the sentencing memoranda sought to be disclosed, and any legal arguments supporting disclosure (not to exceed to 5 pages). Within two days of such written submission, the parties shall electronically file a response (not to exceed 5 pages).
Protocol