District of New Jersey Document Format Requirements

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

Source text: To the extent any party submits exhibits to support a motion, such exhibits shall be clearly labeled, dated, tabbed, and indexed.

Pro se parties must file documents directly with Clerk's Office.

Source text: Parties appearing pro se must file all documents, applications, and motions directly with the Clerk's Office.

All parties except pro se must file documents electronically via CM/ECF.

Source text: All parties, with the exception of pro se parties, shall file all documents, in both civil and criminal matters, electronically via CM/ECF.

Electronic submissions must be in text-searchable PDF format.

Source text: All papers electronically submitted shall, to the extent possible, be submitted in a text-searchable PDF format.

Exhibits must be filed as related attachments to supporting documents.

Source text: Exhibits shall be separately filed as related attachments to the document they support (i.e., a declaration/certification summarizing the exhibits).

Single PDF exhibits allowed only with proper hyperlinks and bookmarks.

Source text: Exhibits shall not be compiled into a single PDF unless that PDF properly hyperlinks and bookmarks the location of each exhibit within that PDF.

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

Source text: All parties, with the exception of pro se parties, shall file all documents, in both civil and criminal matters, via ECF. All papers electronically submitted shall, to the extent possible, be submitted in a text-searchable PDF format.

Proposed jury charges require specific format: cover page with case caption, individual charges on separate pages with specific header information.

Source text: All proposed jury charges shall be submitted in the following format: (1) Cover Page, which shall include the full case caption, identical to the caption used on filings in this matter; (2) Individual Charges, which shall comply with the following requirements: a. Each proposed charge shall begin on a new page; b. Each page shall contain only one charge; c. At the top of each page, the charge shall include the charge number (sequentially numbered); the applicable model jury charge number, if any; the title or name of the charge; and the full proposed charge language.

Submit consolidated joint exhibit list in Word format with three-column chart showing exhibits, objections, and admissibility rationales.

Source text: Please submit to the Court—in hard copy and in Word Format—a consolidated/combined joint exhibit list to minimize the duplication of the exhibits. The list should be a chart separated into three columns. Column 1 will list the exhibit. Column 2 will contain the opponent’s objection (a very short statement containing the relevant rule and/or concept). Column 3 will contain the proponent’s rationale for admissibility (e.g., the relevance rationale or on-point hearsay exception).

Jury instructions must be double-spaced with citations in footnotes; uncited instructions will not be considered.

Source text: Each proposed instruction should be double-spaced and include citations to specific authority using footnotes. Proposed instructions without citations to specific legal authority will not be considered. Cases and model jury instructions that are cited should be accurately quoted and a pinpoint page reference should be provided.

Cell phones, cameras, and electronic devices are prohibited in the courtroom.

Source text: Please note that all cell phones, cameras, and other electronic devices are prohibited in this Courtroom, so if you have them, please turn them off.

Exhibits must be pre-marked with exhibit stickers

Source text: The exhibits themselves are to be pre-marked and must include exhibit stickers.

Exhibit list must have three columns with specific content requirements

Source text: The list shall be divided into three columns: the first column will identify the exhibit; the second column will state the opponent’s objection and contain a short statement citing the relevant rule and/or concept that supports the objection; the third column will contain the proponent’s rationale for admissibility.

Proposed jury instructions must be double-spaced with citations in footnotes.

Source text: Each proposed instruction should be double-spaced and include citations to specific authority using footnotes. Proposed instructions without citations to specific legal authority will not be considered. Cases and model jury instructions that are cited should be accurately quoted and a pinpoint page reference should be provided.

Modified model jury instructions must use bold/underline for additions and strikethrough for deletions.

Source text: If a model jury instruction is submitted, for instance, from the Third Circuit Model Instructions at http://www.ca3.usCourts.gov/modeljuryinstructions.htm, Devitt & Blackmar, Federal Jury Practice and Instructions, or Sand, Modern Federal Jury Instructions, the submitting litigant shall state whether the proposed jury instruction is unchanged or modified. If a litigant modifies a model jury instruction, additions should be bolded and underlined and deletions should be noted with strikethrough font.

Pleadings, motions, and letters must be in searchable PDF format.

Source text: Pleadings, motions, and letters must be filed in searchable PDF format.

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

Source text: All parties, with the exception of pro se litigants, shall file all documents, in both civil and criminal matters, electronically via CM/ECF. All papers electronically filed shall be submitted in a text-searchable PDF format to the extent possible.

Summary judgment motions must comply with Local Civil Rule 7.2 page and format requirements.

Source text: Judge Neals requires compliance with the page limitations and format requirements for briefs outlined in Local Civil Rule 7.2.

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

Source text: All parties, with the exception of pro se parties, shall file all documents, in both civil and criminal matters, via ECF. All papers electronically submitted shall, to the extent possible, be submitted in a text-searchable PDF format.

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

Source text: All parties, with the exception of pro se parties, shall file all documents, in both civil and criminal matters, electronically via ECF. All papers electronically submitted shall, to the extent possible, be submitted in a text-searchable PDF format.

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

Source text: The Joint Final Pretrial Order shall designate the assigned District Judge in the caption and shall be submitted on 8 ½ by 11 paper. Upon completion, it shall be mailed or hand delivered to: [Hon. ] United States Magistrate Judge Mitchell H. Cohen U.S. Courthouse One John F. Gerry Plaza Fourth and Cooper Streets Camden, NJ 08101

Court may strike submissions that fail to comply with exhibit formatting requirements.

Source text: The Court may strike a party’s submission for failure to comply with this rule.

Non-compliant electronic submissions will be stricken.

Source text: The Court will strike electronic submissions that fail to comply with this rule.

Exhibits must be clearly labeled, dated, tabbed, and indexed.

Source text: To the extent any party submits exhibits to support a motion, such exhibits shall be clearly labeled, dated, tabbed, and indexed.

Settlement memoranda must be double-spaced.

Source text: Each party shall submit, by email to AME_orders@njd.uscourts.gov, a confidential settlement memorandum of no more than five double-spaced pages no later than five business days before the conference.

Trial day scheduled 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM for jury matters.

Source text: The trial day typically will be from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., so that the early morning and late afternoon periods can be used for addressing matters outside the presence of the jury.

Supporting documents like exhibits may be non-searchable PDF.

Source text: Supporting documents, such as exhibits, may be filed in non-searchable PDF format.