Court Rules
Common questions about Judge Robert Kirsch's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Robert Kirsch?

Courtesy copies are required for sealed filings. Details: 1 copy, delivery upon filing, by hand delivery. One courtesy copy of any sealed filing is required regardless of length, unless the Court directs otherwise.

View ruleSource: page 5, section II. E. Courtesy Copies

Does Judge Robert Kirsch require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Yes. A pre-motion letter is required for rule 12, remand, venue change, and compel arbitration. Details: 3 pages. Pre-motion letter required for specified motions, max 3 single-spaced pages, must include basis and citations, no affidavits/exhibits unless directed.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. Civil Motion Practice, A. Pre-Motion Conference, 1. Letter Request for Pre-Motion Conference

What page or word limits apply to letter before Judge Robert Kirsch?

Judge Robert Kirsch's rule states these limits: 3 pages. Pre-motion letters limited to 3 single-spaced pages.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. Civil Motion Practice, A. Pre-Motion Conference, 1. Letter Request for Pre-Motion Conference

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Robert Kirsch?

Judge Robert Kirsch's formatting rule includes file format PDF and text-searchable. Electronically submitted papers must be text-searchable PDF to the extent possible.

View ruleSource: page 5, section II. A. Electronic Submissions (ECF)

What must be included with letter filings before Judge Robert Kirsch?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Movant must file certification letter within 7 days of meet and confer, confirming meet and confer occurred, not merely unavailability or reasonable efforts.

View ruleSource: page 2, section I. Civil Motion Practice, A. Pre-Motion Conference, 3. Joint Letter Advising of Resolution, or Movant Certification and Non-Movant Response

What must be included with motion filings before Judge Robert Kirsch?

The rule requires certificate of conference. Counsel in bankruptcy, social security, and habeas appeals must seek consent for motions, certify consent in the motion, and submit stipulations for unopposed relief, exempting pro se cases.

View ruleSource: page 4, section I. Civil Motion Practice D

How may parties contact Judge Robert Kirsch's chambers?

Parties may contact Judge Robert Kirsch's chambers by letter fax only as allowed by the rule. Chambers does not accept faxes except in emergency situations.

View ruleSource: page 6, section III. A. Faxes and E-Mails

How does Judge Robert Kirsch handle sealed or redacted filings?

The rule does not state that a motion to seal is required for the covered filing process. Process: listed in toc, separate volume, and separate docket entry. Bankruptcy appeal sealed records are presumptively sealed on appeal without additional motion, must be filed separately, and listed in the appendix TOC.

View ruleSource: page 4, section I. Civil Motion Practice F Footnote 2

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Robert Kirsch?

Judge Robert Kirsch's rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. The request must include original date, number of previous requests, previous requests granted or denied, reason for request, adversary position, and affects other dates. Adjournment/extension requests must include specified details, comply with Local Rule 6.1, and exempt pro se cases and Local Rule 7.1(d)(5) requests.

View ruleSource: page 4, section I. Civil Motion Practice F

Does Judge Robert Kirsch require motion papers to be bundled?

Yes. Judge Robert Kirsch requires bundling for covered papers. Parties must exchange all briefing for specified motions before filing, serve in sequence, then file all papers simultaneously under separate docket entries, exempting pro se cases.

View ruleSource: page 3, section I. Civil Motion Practice C

Is electronic filing required before Judge Robert Kirsch?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. All parties except pro se must e-file all civil and criminal documents via ECF in text-searchable PDF; only emergent calls to Chambers allowed.

View ruleSource: page 5, section II. A. Electronic Submissions (ECF)

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Robert Kirsch?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Movant and adversaries must meet and confer within 7 days of pre-motion letter filing, with substantive verbal communication; failure to participate may result in sanctions.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. Civil Motion Practice, A. Pre-Motion Conference, 2. Meet and Confer
Complete rules summary for Judge Robert Kirsch

Pre-motion letter required for specified motions, max 3 single-spaced pages, must include basis and citations, no affidavits/exhibits unless directed.

Pre-motion letters limited to 3 single-spaced pages.

Movant and adversaries must meet and confer within 7 days of pre-motion letter filing, with substantive verbal communication; failure to participate may result in sanctions.

Joint resolution letter must be filed within 7 days of meet and confer if issues are resolved.

Movant must file certification letter within 7 days of meet and confer, confirming meet and confer occurred, not merely unavailability or reasonable efforts.

Non-movant response letters limited to 3 single-spaced pages, due 7 days after meet and confer, must include objections, proposed course, or statement of no response.

Non-movant failure to file response letter within 7 days precludes consideration at pre-motion conference.

Reply letters must be filed within 5 days of non-movant’s response letter.

All parties must appear and participate in pre-motion conference, even if they did not file pre-motion or response letters.

Parties filing specified motions must submit a pre-motion letter by the FRCP 12(a) deadline, tolling the motion filing deadline until the pre-motion conference or court decision, with exemptions for pro se, bankruptcy, and social security cases.

Parties must file a pre-motion letter for summary judgment motions before filing and before setting briefing schedule, with a status/settlement conference, exempting pro se cases.

Parties must exchange all briefing for specified motions before filing, serve in sequence, then file all papers simultaneously under separate docket entries, exempting pro se cases.

Counsel in bankruptcy, social security, and habeas appeals must seek consent for motions, certify consent in the motion, and submit stipulations for unopposed relief, exempting pro se cases.

Motion filing triggers an automatic motion date that sets the briefing schedule per the District’s website; oral argument is scheduled separately, no appearances required on motion day.

Adjournment/extension requests must include specified details, comply with Local Rule 6.1, and exempt pro se cases and Local Rule 7.1(d)(5) requests.

Bankruptcy appeal sealed records are presumptively sealed on appeal without additional motion, must be filed separately, and listed in the appendix TOC.

Junior attorneys (less than 4 years’ experience) are encouraged to participate, with increased oral argument likelihood, multiple attorneys allowed to argue, and marking required on first page of notices/briefs.

Parties must mark the first page of notices of motion and briefs if a junior attorney will present the argument.

All parties except pro se must e-file all civil and criminal documents via ECF in text-searchable PDF; only emergent calls to Chambers allowed.

Electronically submitted papers must be text-searchable PDF to the extent possible.

Telephone calls to Chambers are only permitted for emergent situations requiring immediate attention.

Filings seeking relief must include a proposed order in text-searchable PDF format.

Pro se litigants must mail or file documents with the Clerk’s Office, not Judge Kirsch.

Documents filed under seal must comply with Local Rule 5.1.

One courtesy copy of any sealed filing is required regardless of length, unless the Court directs otherwise.

Courtesy copies must be e-filed versions with ECF headers, labeled, dated, tabbed, indexed, and preferably bound and double-sided.

Documents with supporting exhibits totaling 75 pages or less must be filed electronically on ECF only.

Chambers does not accept faxes except in emergency situations.

All communications with Chambers must be via letter filed on ECF; no hard copies allowed. Pro se parties are exempt.

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