Judge Rachel P. Kovner
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Filings (Motion)
Upon Request
Adjournments
Must Include
- 1Reason For Request
- 2Adversary Position
Must Include
- 1Reason For Request
- 2Original Date
- 3Number Of Previous Requests
- 4Previous Requests Granted Or Denied
- 5Adversary Position
- 6Proposed New Dates
- 7Affects Other Dates
Communication
Letter Ecf
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Phone
Clerk
Chambers
Chambers
Detailed Drafting Rules
Written communications with chambers must be filed on ECF.
File on ECF.
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Chambers
Phone calls to chambers for docketing, scheduling, or calendar issues should be directed to Tsz Chan at the listed number.
For docketing, scheduling, or calendar matters, please call Tsz Chan at (718) 613-2455.
Urgent communications must be made to chambers by telephone.
Contact chambers by telephone.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
Memoranda of law are limited to 25 pages for opening/opposition and 10 pages for replies.
25 pages for opening and opposition briefs; 10 pages for reply briefs.
Summary-judgment accompanying filings must comply with the Court's Local Rule 56.1 formatting and filing requirements.
Parties must follow the Court’s formatting and filing rules for Local Rule 56.1 statements and evidentiary filings.
ECF filing assistance must be sought through the ECF helpline, not chambers staff.
Chambers staff cannot help with filing via ECF. For ECF assistance, please call the ECF helpline at (718) 613-2285.
Parties must email chambers at the specified address when submitting proposed orders, jury instructions, and similar proposed writings.
Proposed orders, jury instructions, and other writings a party requests that the Court adopt shall be filed on ECF and also provided via e-mail, in PDF and Microsoft Word format, to Kovner_Chambers@nyed.uscourts.gov.
Direct to: Chambers
Communications to chambers must be written and filed on ECF, with copies to non-ECF-notified parties, and counsel-to-counsel correspondence should not be sent to the Court.
All communications with chambers shall be in writing and filed on ECF, with copies simultaneously delivered to all parties who do not receive automatic notification through ECF. Copies of correspondence between counsel shall not be sent to the Court.
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Chambers
Telephone contact with the courtroom deputy is authorized for docketing, scheduling, and calendar matters.
For docketing, scheduling, or calendar matters, please call Courtroom Deputy Tsz Chan at (718) 613-2455.
Ex parte phone calls to chambers about case substance are prohibited.
Ex parte telephone calls to chambers about the substance of cases are not permitted.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice RequiredEx parte telephone calls to chambers about the substance of cases are not permitted.
Urgent submissions require a follow-up telephone notification to chambers after ECF filing.
If a submission requires immediate attention, please notify chambers by telephone after filing on ECF.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredafter filing on ECF
A pre-motion conference request must be made by a served letter of no more than three pages explaining the anticipated motion basis.
To request a pre-motion conference, the moving party is to file and serve a letter, not to exceed three pages, setting out the bases for the anticipated motion.
Pre-Motion Conference
A pre-motion conference is mandatory before filing. You must submit a letter first.
Letter Requirements
Parties receiving a pre-motion-conference letter must file a response within five business days, limited to three pages.
All parties served with the moving party’s pre-motion-conference letter are required to serve and file a letter response within five business days of service of the moving party’s letter. The response shall not exceed three pages.
Pre-Motion Conference
A pre-motion conference is mandatory before filing. You must submit a letter first.
Letter Requirements
Support and opposition memoranda are capped at 25 double-spaced pages, excluding specified components.
Unless prior permission has been granted, memoranda of law in support of and in opposition to motions are limited to 25 double-spaced pages, not including tables of contents, tables of authorities, exhibits, appendices, or attachments.
Reply memoranda have a 10-page double-spaced limit.
Reply memoranda are limited to 10 double-spaced pages, not
Memoranda of law must use 12-point font (10-point footnotes), one-inch margins, be text-searchable, and show the date of service on the front cover.
All memoranda of law shall be produced in 12-point font, with footnotes in 10-point font, and shall have one-inch margins on all sides. All memoranda must be filed in a text-searchable format and must have the date of service printed on the front cover.
Any submission citing record material must include evidentiary citations with specific transcript pages.
Parties must provide evidentiary citations, including specific transcript pages, in any submission that cites record material.
Document Type
Submission
Transcript exhibits must include cited relevant pages and enough context to satisfy Rule 106 completeness.
Parties shall file only the pages of transcripts containing relevant testimony cited in the memoranda or affidavits. However, excerpts must comply with Federal Rule of Evidence 106. Parties shall include the portion of the transcript necessary for completeness.
Document Type
Transcript Excerpts
Parties must email any plea agreement to Courtroom Deputy Tsz Chan at least three days before a change-of-plea hearing.
The parties must provide the Court with a copy of any plea agreement at least three days before a change-of-plea hearing. The plea agreement should be sent by email to Courtroom Deputy Tsz Chan at the address Tsz_Chan@nyed.uscourts.gov.
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredat least three days before a change-of-plea hearing
When pleading to an information after waiving indictment, counsel should email the information to the Court at least three days before the hearing.
If the defendant intends to waive the indictment and plead guilty to an information at the change-of-plea hearing, a copy of the information should also be provided to the Court at least three days before the hearing. The information should be sent by email to Tsz_Chan@nyed.uscourts.gov.
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredat least three days before the hearing
Multi-page documentary exhibits must be paginated by counsel before trial.
Documents to be offered in evidence that contain multiple pages shall be paginated by counsel in advance of trial.
Pro se litigants may communicate with the Court only in writing.
Only communicate with the Court in writing.
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Clerk