Court Rules
district Judge
Verified Current10 days ago

Judge Rachel P. Kovner

Eastern District of New York

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Memorandum Of Law
25 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Filings (All filings)

Required

Adjournments

Notice Required
48Hours

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Original Date
  • 3
    Number Of Previous Requests
  • 4
    Previous Requests Granted Or Denied
  • 5
    Adversary Position
  • 6
    Proposed New Dates
  • 7
    Affects Other Dates
Notice Required
2Working Days

Communication

Letter Ecf

Chambers

Advance Notice Required
No Status Inquiries, Hours
Phone

Chambers

(718) 613-2455
Scheduling
No Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

Emergencies
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingCommunicationECF FilingLettersMemorandaJuryElectronicsConferences

Detailed Drafting Rules

Document RequirementMandatory

Evidentiary citations must include specific transcript page numbers.

Parties must provide evidentiary citations, including specific transcript pages, in any submission that cites record material.

Document Type

Motion

Content & Formatting
Evidentiary Citations
Format RequirementMandatory

Text-searchable files required for proposed orders and jury instructions.

Mandatory for proposed orders, jury instructions, and similar filings.

Applies When:Document Type Set Undefined
Required Format

PDF

Format RequirementMandatory

Text-searchable files required for all submissions.

Mandatory for all submissions.

Required Format

PDF

Format RequirementMandatory

Filings styled as letters must identify addressee and subject in ECF header.

Identify the addressee and subject matter in the ECF header.

Applies When:Document Type Set Undefined
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Written communications must be filed on ECF.

File on ECF.

Letter via ECF

Approved Topics
Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolNote

Call Tsz Chan for docketing, scheduling, or calendar matters.

For docketing, scheduling, or calendar matters, please call Tsz Chan at (718) 613-2455.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Urgent communications require telephone contact with chambers.

Contact chambers by telephone.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Emergencies
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Page limits: 25 pages for opening/opposition, 10 pages for reply briefs.

25 pages for opening and opposition briefs; 10 pages for reply briefs.

Format RequirementMandatory

Proposed orders and jury instructions must be emailed in PDF and Word format

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.

Applies When:Document Type Set Undefined
Required Format

PDF

Format RequirementMandatory

All written submissions must be text-searchable when practicable

All written submissions and supporting materials must be text-searchable, to the extent practicable.

Format RequirementImportant

Letters must identify addressee and subject in ECF header

Any filing styled as a “Letter” shall identify in its ECF header (i) the addressee and (ii) the subject matter. E.g.: “Letter to Judge Kovner re: Pre-Motion Request” or “Letter to Magistrate Judge Doe re: Status Conference.”

Applies When:Document Type Set Undefined
Typography
Font FamilyTimes New Roman
Size12 pt
Layout & Binding
Margins
Top:1"
Left:1.5"
Right:1"
Bottom:1"
Communication ProtocolMandatory

All chambers communications must be in writing via ECF with party copies

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

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolNote

Call Courtroom Deputy Tsz Chan at (718) 613-2455 for scheduling matters

For docketing, scheduling, or calendar matters, please call Courtroom Deputy Tsz Chan at (718) 613-2455. Calls to chambers with questions about these rules are permitted, but please review this document first. Ex parte telephone calls to chambers about the substance of cases are not permitted.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolImportant

For urgent submissions, notify chambers by phone after ECF filing

If a submission requires immediate attention, please notify chambers by telephone after filing on ECF.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Pre-Motion ProcedureMandatory

Pre-motion letter max 3 pages; include LR 56.1 for summary judgment motions

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. If the motion is for summary judgment under Rule 56, the movant’s pre-motion conference letter must also include a copy of the movant’s Local Rule 56.1 statement.

Pre-Motion Conference

A pre-motion conference is mandatory before filing. You must submit a letter first.

Letter Requirements

Status
Required
Max Length3 pgs
Pre-Motion ProcedureMandatory

Response to pre-motion letter must be filed within 5 business days and limited to 3 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

Status
Required
Max Length3 pgs
Opposition Due5 days
Page 7
|SecPre-Motion Conference
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Memoranda of law limited to 25 pages (support/opposition) and 10 pages (reply).

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 are limited to 10 double-spaced pages, not including tables of contents, tables of authorities, exhibits, appendices, or attachments.

Page 8
|SecMemoranda of Law
Format RequirementMandatory

Memoranda of law must use 12-point font (10-point footnotes) with one-inch margins.

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.

Typography
Font FamilyTimes New Roman
Size12 pt
Line SpacingDouble
Layout & Binding
Margins
Top:1"
Left:1"
Right:1"
Bottom:1"
Format RequirementMandatory

Memoranda must be text-searchable and include date of service on front cover.

All memoranda must be filed in a text-searchable format and must have the date of service printed on the front cover.

Required Format

PDF

Document RequirementMandatory

Only relevant transcript pages should be filed with motions.

Parties shall file only the pages of transcripts containing relevant testimony cited in the memoranda or affidavits.

Document Type

Transcript Pages

Content & Formatting
Relevant Pages Only
Document RequirementMandatory

Documentary evidence must be paginated and multiple copies provided for trial.

Documents to be offered in evidence that contain multiple pages shall be paginated by counsel in advance of trial. When counsel anticipates that a witness will refer to documentary evidence during his or her direct testimony, counsel shall have (i) two copies of each document for the Court, and (ii) at least one copy each for the court reporter, each present opposing counsel, and each juror.

Document Type

Exhibits

Content & Formatting
Pagination
Exhibit List
Legal Argument
Table Of Contents
Statement Of Facts
Table Of Authorities
Page 13
|SecDocuments to be offered in evidence
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Pro se litigants must communicate with the Court only in writing.

A pro se litigant shall: Only communicate with the Court in writing.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 13
|SecResponsibilities of Pro Se Litigant