District of New Jersey Local Rules and Judge Filing Requirements

Extension requests must include a proposed order.

Extension requests must be filed via CM/ECF.

Proposed order required with any submission seeking relief.

Exhibits used only for impeachment need not be listed.

Settlement memoranda must include specific required content elements.

Communications to the Court must be made in writing through CM/ECF.

Letters to chambers must be filed via CM/ECF; no hard copies allowed; pro se parties exempt.

Parties are encouraged to contact Chambers directly

Final Pretrial Conference requires attorney with settlement authority and client availability.

All communications with chambers must be filed via ECF; no hard copies.

Formal motions require prior leave of Court except Rule 12 motions, timely remand motions, and motions expressly allowed by the Case Management Order.

Reply letters only if directed by court.

Pre-motion letter requirement does not apply to pro se cases or bankruptcy/social security appeals.

Pre-motion conference required before specific motions (max 3 single-spaced pages).

Discovery motions require leave of court.

Adjournment requests must be filed at least five business days before a scheduled conference.

Requests for excused absence must be in writing 3 days before conference.

Adjournment requests must include dates sought, previous requests, reason, and adversary consent status.

Discovery must be completed within deadlines; extension requests must be made via letter before deadline expires.

Rule 12(a) deadline extensions are limited to 7 days unless stipulated or ordered by Court.

Settlement memoranda must be double-spaced.

Exhibits submitted with motions must be clearly labeled, dated, tabbed, and indexed.

All parties except pro se must file via ECF in text-searchable PDF format.

Joint Final Pretrial Order must be on 8.5x11 paper and designate assigned District Judge in caption.

All parties except pro se must file documents via ECF in text-searchable PDF format.

Discovery Confidentiality Orders must comply with FRCP 26(c) and Local Rule 5.3.

Consent of all parties required for sealing motions.

Settlement and discovery dispute letters under confidentiality order may be emailed to AME_orders@njd.uscourts.gov.

Motions to seal require proposed order with findings/conclusions, references to docket entries, and contemporaneous submission of redacted documents.

Magistrate Judge handles motions to seal.

Submitting a pre-motion letter tolls the deadline to file the motion until the pre-motion conference or Court decision; additional 7 days if no conference held.

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.

Dispositive motions must be filed by a date to be determined.

All exhibits must be exchanged in advance of hearing or trial per the Judge's prescribed manner and format.

Exhibits must be filed 14 calendar days before the hearing.

One courtesy copy is required for submissions over 20 pages and must be sent to chambers by mail or courier.

Settlement memoranda must be submitted to chambers via email one week before conference.

One courtesy copy of supporting briefs required; exhibits filed electronically only.

Courtesy copies required for ECF filings over 50 pages (2 copies, mailed within 7 days, tabbed/bound, no paperclips/binder clips/rubber bands).

Original and two copies of Joint Final Pretrial Order must be delivered to court.

Exhibits should be circulated to all attorneys, witnesses, and the Court in advance of trial.

All litigants must receive a contemporaneous copy of all correspondence sent to the Court.

Initial disclosures under FRCP 26 must be served by the date specified in the scheduling order.

Exhibits should be circulated to all attorneys, witnesses, and the Court in advance of hearing or trial.

Parties must provide participant email addresses with role descriptions, including emails for witnesses, experts, and other participants, to the Court.

Unresolved discovery disputes must be presented by joint letter limited to five pages.

Discovery dispute letters limited to 5 pages, double-spaced, no exhibits.

Settlement submissions must be submitted 5 business days before conference, max 5 single-spaced pages.

Sur-replies require permission, limited to 15 pages, due within 7 days.

Opposition to discovery dispute must be filed within 5 days, double-spaced, max 10 pages.

All correspondence with the Court, including continuance/extension requests, must be filed electronically via CM/ECF.

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.

Exhibits must be filed electronically; hard copies may be required if instructed by the Judge, with parties to contact Chambers for procedures.

Exhibits must be filed electronically as PDFs 14 calendar days before the hearing.

Non-exhibit documents used for impeachment or rebuttal must be emailed to Court staff for screen sharing during Zoom proceedings.

Junior attorneys (under 5 years) presenting oral argument may increase likelihood of argument being granted.

Junior attorneys (under 5 years) may present oral argument with supervisor assistance.

Junior lawyers (first 6 years) encouraged to present arguments.

Junior associates arguing motions may increase likelihood of oral argument

Junior attorneys (first 6 years of practice) presenting argument may increase likelihood of oral argument, and more experienced counsel may assist if needed.

Out-of-town cases scheduled same as local cases.

Joint submissions required 3 weeks before trial via USB and docket.

Parties must refrain from filing summary judgment briefs until all briefing is complete, then file consecutively in order of moving papers, oppositions, replies.

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.

Bulk exhibit filings are prohibited; exhibits must be filed separately, with one allowed exhibit list containing separately attached exhibits.