Judge Sanket J. Bulsara

Courtesy copies are required for all memoranda of law and Rule 56.1 statements.

Required for all memoranda of law and Rule 56.1 statements. Otherwise not required.

Page 3 | Courtesy Copies

The filing should only provide paper courtesy copies of memoranda of law and Rule 56.1 statements associated with any motion to the Court on the day the motion is filed on ECF (and not before). Such papers may be mailed; overnight, express or hand delivery service is not required.

The filing should only provide paper courtesy copies of memoranda of law and Rule 56.1 statements associated with any motion to the Court on the day the motion is filed on ECF (and not before). Such papers may be mailed; overnight, express or hand delivery service is not required.

Page 9 | III. CASE RELATED FILINGS - F. Courtesy Copies

Courtesy Copies: Required for all memoranda of law longer than 10 pages/3500 words; sentencing submissions; and 3500 material. Otherwise not required.

Courtesy Copies: Required for all memoranda of law longer than 10 pages/3500 words; sentencing submissions; and 3500 material. Otherwise not required.

Page 22 | Criminal Case Practices at a Glance - Courtesy Copies

The parties must supply the Court with courtesy copies of any memoranda longer than 3500 words (10 pages), sentencing submissions, and 3500 material, all of which may be mailed to Chambers (express, overnight or hand deliver are not required). Courtesy copies of any other material are not required.

The parties must supply the Court with courtesy copies of any memoranda longer than 3500 words (10 pages), sentencing submissions, and 3500 material, all of which may be mailed to Chambers (express, overnight or hand deliver are not required). Courtesy copies of any other material are not required.

Page 25 | III. CASE RELATED FILINGS - E. Courtesy Copies

Only FRCP 5.2 categories may be redacted without prior permission; all other redactions require Court approval per Lugosch test.

There are limited categories of information that may be redacted from public ECF filings without prior permission from the Court: those items listed in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2. All other redactions or filing seal of Court materials require Court approval.

Page 10 | III. CASE RELATED FILINGS - G. Sealed or Redacted Filings

A party seeking to file a redacted or sealed document should file a single motion to seal that addresses every document (as separate exhibits) for which sealing or redaction is sought.

A party seeking to file a redacted or sealed document should file a single motion to seal that addresses every document (as separate exhibits) for which sealing or redaction is sought.

Page 25 | III. CASE RELATED FILINGS - F. Sealed or Redacted Filings

A public version of the motion should attach the exhibits containing limited redactions or an indication that the entire document is sealed, as appropriate. A private version of the motion should be filed under seal with these same documents unredacted in their entirety.

A public version of the motion should attach the exhibits containing limited redactions or an indication that the entire document is sealed, as appropriate. A private version of the motion should be filed under seal with these same documents unredacted in their entirety.

Page 25 | III. CASE RELATED FILINGS - F. Sealed or Redacted Filings

Should be followed for all motions except for letter-motions and other enumerated motions.

Should be followed for all motions except for letter-motions and other enumerated motions.

Page 4 | Bundling Rule

Joint proposed schedule should be filed for all motions, except letter-motions, Rule 12 motions, motions in limine and Daubert motions.

Joint proposed schedule should be filed for all motions, except letter-motions, Rule 12 motions, motions in limine and Daubert motions.

Page 4 | Briefing Schedule

Motion papers should be held until fully briefed before filing, with exemptions for default judgment, post-trial motions, attorney's fees, pro se cases, and letter-motions.

As a courtesy to the Court, no motion papers should be filed on the docket until the motion is fully briefed. The parties should serve its papers on the other parties in accordance with the briefing schedule, and file a letter confirmation on the docket memorializing the same. Once the motion is fully briefed, the moving party is responsible for filing the full set of motion papers via ECF and providing a courtesy copy of all papers required by Section III.F to the Court. This bundling rule does not apply to motions: (1) for default judgment pursuant to Rule 55; (2) post-trial and/or post-judgment motions under Rules 50(b) (for judgment as a matter of law), 52(b) (to amend or make additional findings), 59 (for a new trial), and 60 (for relief from a final judgment, order or proceeding); (3) attorney's fees pursuant to Rule 54(d)(2); (4) motions involving a pro se litigant; or (5) letter-motions.

Page 13 | VI.D. Bundling Rule

Proposed summary judgment briefing schedule must be submitted within 30 days after close of discovery or the right is waived.

Unless ordered otherwise by either Judge Bulsara or the assigned Magistrate Judge, the deadline to submit a proposed summary judgment briefing schedule is 30 days following the close of all discovery. Failure to abide by this deadline will result in waiver of the right to make a summary judgment motion. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(b). The schedule must contain the date of the settlement conference required by Section VI.H.1.

Page 15 | VI.H.2

A settlement conference with the assigned magistrate judge is mandatory before filing any motion for summary judgment; telephone conferences do not comply.

Effective October 1, 2025, any party seeking to file a motion for summary judgment must first have had a settlement conference with the assigned magistrate judge. Failure to request and attend such a conference precludes a party from moving for summary judgment. A party opposing summary judgment may not decline to participate in a settlement conference requested by the moving party, and doing so is grounds for sanctions. See United States v. U.S. Dist. Ct. for N. Mariana I., 694 F.3d 1051, 1057 (9th Cir. 2012) ("[T]he district court has broad authority to compel participation in mandatory settlement conference."); Bulkmatic Transp. Co. v. Pappas, No. 99-CV-12070, 2002 WL 975625, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. May 9, 2002) ("[I]t is well established that a court can require parties to appear for a settlement conference, and impose sanctions pursuant to Rule 16(f) if a party fails to do so.") (collecting cases). Attending a private mediation or one arranged through the EDNY's mediation program does not satisfy this requirement. The assigned magistrate judge is empowered to hold the conference via video or in-person (telephone conferences do not comply with this requirement). This requirement does not apply to those cases exempt from Rule 16 scheduling orders under Local Civil Rule 16.1.

Page 15 | VI.H.1

A pre-motion settlement conference is required before filing summary judgment motions.

Summary Judgment Motions: Pre-motion settlement conference required.

Motions in limine briefing schedule: oppositions due 14 days after opening brief, replies due 7 days after opposition.

Each party must file a single memorandum of law, addressing all motions in limine filed by that party, and absent leave of Court, subject to the page and format limitations in Section VI.E above. Oppositions to the motions in limine are due no later than 14 days following the filing of the opening brief, with reply papers to follow no later than 7 days thereafter.

Motions in limine must be filed 45 days before trial, opposition 14 days later, reply 7 days after that.

Any motions in limine, including those directed at evidentiary issues, must be filed no later than 45 days prior to the date of trial, with any opposition due 14 days later, and any reply 7 days thereafter.

Early summary judgment motions require a letter of no more than 700 words explaining why early practice should be permitted, with 700-word responses allowed within 7 days.

For such early summary judgment motions, contemporaneous with the filing of the proposed briefing schedule, the moving party must file a letter no longer than 700 words directed to why early dispositive motion practice should be permitted. Any party may file a response no longer than 700 words in opposition no later than seven days after the first filing.

Page 16 | VI.H.3

Daubert motions must be made by summary judgment briefing deadline, not treated as motions in limine; parties may request suspension of expert briefing if good cause exists.

Motions to exclude testimony of experts, pursuant to Rules 702-705 of the Federal Rules of Evidence and Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 509 U.S. 579 (1993), must be made by the deadline for briefing summary judgment motions and should not be treated as motions in limine. In the proposed briefing schedule for summary judgment motions, the parties may ask the Court to suspend briefing on motions related to experts, if good cause exists for such an adjournment until dispositive motions are resolved.

Page 17 | J. Motions to Exclude Experts

In non-jury cases, parties may submit a 700-word joint letter explaining why summary judgment practice should be permitted.

In any non-jury case, the Court will ordinarily not permit summary judgment practice. In such a case, on the date for the submission of a briefing schedule, the parties may submit a joint letter no longer than 700 words, explaining why such practice should be permitted.

Page 16 | VI.H.5

Pre-motion conferences are required only for non-venue Rule 12 motions.

Required only for non-venue Rule 12 motions.

Page 4 | Premotion Conferences

Rule 12 motions require pre-motion conference with 1750-word letters; non-moving party has 7 days to respond; no replies; counsel must appear.

Premotion conferences are required for all motions brought pursuant to Rule 12, except for those motions which must be made via letter-motion. No other motion requires a premotion conference. To arrange for such a conference, the moving party should file a letter not exceeding 1750 words setting forth the basis for the motion. No later than seven days following ECF service, the non-moving party may file a letter not exceeding 1750 words opposing the request and contesting the basis for the motion. Replies are not permitted. Counsel who authored and signed the premotion conference letter (or response) must appear at any conference held on the request.

Page 13 | VI.B. Premotion Conferences / VI.G. Rule 12 Motions

Requests for adjournment or extension must be made via letter motion, 48 hours prior to deadline.

Must be made via letter motion, 48 hours prior to deadline or time.

Page 3 | Requests for Adjournment or Extensions

Adjournment requests must be in writing at least 48 hours in advance (absent emergency) and include original/proposed dates, reasons, consent status, and revised deadlines.

All requests for adjournments of a court appearance must be made in writing, and absent an emergency, at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled appearance. All requests for adjournments or extensions of time must state: (1) the original date and proposed new date; (2) the reasons for the adjournment or extension; (3) whether the application is on consent; and (4) proposed dates for the revised deadline or conference.

Page 11 | IV. COURT CONFERENCES - B. Requests for Adjournments or Extensions of Time

Trials may be scheduled with only two weeks notice, and adjournments will not be granted absent extraordinary circumstances.

Following submission of the joint pretrial order, the Court may schedule the trial to commence with only two weeks notice, and absent extraordinary circumstances, adjournments will not be granted.

Page 18 | IX. TRIAL PROCEDURES - A. Notice of Trial Date

Adjournment requests must be made 72 hours in advance in writing via letter-motion.

Request for Adjournment: Must be made 72 hours in advance, including for sentencing or pleas, and in writing via letter-motion.

Page 22 | Criminal Case Practices at a Glance - Case Scheduling

Any request for an adjournment, even an emergency request, should only be made by letter, not email or telephone.

Any request for an adjournment, even an emergency request, should only be made by letter, not email or telephone.

Page 24 | II. COMMUNICATION WITH CHAMBERS - C. Emails to Chambers

Adjournment and extension requests must be filed electronically as letter-motions.

Requests for adjournments and for extensions of time—including for sentencing—must be filed electronically as letter-motions.

Page 26 | III. CASE RELATED FILINGS - D. Requests for Adjournments or Extensions of Time

Adjournment requests for court conferences, sentencing, or plea hearings must be in writing and made at least 72 hours prior absent emergency.

All requests for adjournments of a court conference, sentencing or plea hearing must be made in writing, and absent an emergency, at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled appearance.

Page 26 | III. CASE RELATED FILINGS - D. Requests for Adjournments or Extensions of Time

Adjournment and extension requests must state the original date and proposed new date.

All requests for adjournments or extensions of time must state: (1) the original date and proposed new date

Page 26 | III. CASE RELATED FILINGS - D. Requests for Adjournments or Extensions of Time

Adjournment or extension requests must include reasons, consent status, and proposed dates.

reasons for the adjournment or extension; (3) whether the application is on consent; and (4) proposed dates for the revised deadline or conference.

Trial dates will only be adjourned in exceptional circumstances once set.

Once a trial date has been set, it will only be adjourned in exceptional circumstances.

Page 26 | IV. CASE SCHEDULING - C. Trial Dates

Faxes are not permitted for chambers communications.

Faxes Not permitted.

Page 2 | Communications with Chambers

Certain documents must be provided to Chambers via email; ex parte communication is prohibited.

Ex parte communication prohibited. Certain documents must be provided to Chambers via email.

Page 2 | Communications with Chambers

Email address provided but adjournment requests cannot be made by email; no ex parte emails permitted.

The Court's email address is bulsara_chambers@nyed.uscourts.gov. Any request for an adjournment, even an emergency request, should only be made by letter-motion filed on the docket, not by email or telephone. The Court does not respond to email requests or inquiries, or accept submissions via email, except as provided in these rules. Ex parte emails to Chambers are not permitted and all emails must cc: all other counsel in the case.

Page 8 | II.C. Emails to Chambers

Except as otherwise provided below, any communication with the Court must occur via letter filed on ECF. Except for courtesy copies, which may be delivered to the Clerk's Office at the Central Islip courthouse, the Court does not accept hand delivery of any material. And the Court does not accept faxes. Letter correspondence solely between counsel should not be filed on ECF, unless as an exhibit to motion papers seeking relief from the Court. To ensure timely evaluation, a party making an application for relief via letter (such as a request for an adjournment) should file the document as a letter-motion on ECF.

Except as otherwise provided below, any communication with the Court must occur via letter filed on ECF. Except for courtesy copies, which may be delivered to the Clerk's Office at the Central Islip courthouse, the Court does not accept hand delivery of any material. And the Court does not accept faxes. Letter correspondence solely between counsel should not be filed on ECF, unless as an exhibit to motion papers seeking relief from the Court. To ensure timely evaluation, a party making an application for relief via letter (such as a request for an adjournment) should file the document as a letter-motion on ECF.

Page 8 | II.A. Written Communications

Telephone calls to chambers are prohibited except for emergencies on the date of a conference; adjournment requests cannot be made by phone.

Telephone calls to chambers are prohibited, except for emergency circumstances on the date of a conference. For case-related questions including deadlines and confirmation of conference dates, counsel should electronically access the docket sheet. Chambers should only be contacted if on the day of the conference, the parties cannot appear due to an emergency and counsel wish to inform the Court that an electronic application is forthcoming. In such a case, counsel may contact Judge Bulsara's case manager, Eddie Manson. Adjournment requests may not be made telephonically.

Page 8 | II.B. Telephone Calls and Case Related Inquiries

In addition to filing the document on ECF, a party should provide Microsoft Word versions of proposed (a) voir dire; (b) jury instructions; (c) findings of fact and conclusions of law; and (d) verdict forms to the Court through its email address. Other papers should not be emailed to Chambers.

In addition to filing the document on ECF, a party should provide Microsoft Word versions of proposed (a) voir dire; (b) jury instructions; (c) findings of fact and conclusions of law; and (d) verdict forms to the Court through its email address. Other papers should not be emailed to Chambers.

Page 9 | III. CASE RELATED FILINGS - E. Microsoft Word Documents

TRO movant must email Chambers upon filing indicating requested timeframe and counsel/witness availability for preliminary injunction hearing.

The moving party must upon filing of the TRO papers send an email to Chambers indicating the timeframe requested for Court action. The email should also provide counsel and witness availability for a preliminary injunction hearing.

Page 18 | VII. TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS - B. Email to Chambers

Telephone calls to chambers only permitted for emergencies on the day of conference; otherwise prohibited.

Telephone Calls: Call only if parties cannot appear due to emergency and on the day of the conference. Telephone calls to chambers otherwise prohibited.

Page 22 | Criminal Case Practices at a Glance - Communications with Chambers

Email: Ex parte communication prohibited.

Email: Ex parte communication prohibited.

Page 22 | Criminal Case Practices at a Glance - Communications with Chambers

All communications with the Court must be via letter filed on ECF unless an exception applies.

Except as otherwise provided below, any communication with the Court must occur via letter filed on ECF.

Page 24 | II. COMMUNICATION WITH CHAMBERS - A. Written Communications

Telephone calls to chambers are prohibited except for emergencies on the date of a conference.

Telephone calls to chambers are prohibited, except for emergency circumstances on the date of a conference.

Page 24 | II. COMMUNICATION WITH CHAMBERS - B. Telephone Calls and Case Related Inquiries

Ex parte emails to Chambers are prohibited; all emails must cc opposing counsel unless good cause exists.

Ex parte emails to Chambers are not permitted, and absent good cause, all emails must cc: opposing counsel.

Page 24 | II. COMMUNICATION WITH CHAMBERS - C. Emails to Chambers

Chambers may only be contacted by phone on the conference day for emergencies to inform the Court an electronic application is forthcoming; adjournment requests cannot be made by phone.

Chambers should only be contacted if on the day of the conference, the parties cannot appear due to an emergency and counsel wish to inform the Court that an electronic application is forthcoming, in which case counsel may contact Judge Bulsara's deputy, Eddie Manson. Adjournment requests may not be made telephonically.

Page 24 | II. COMMUNICATION WITH CHAMBERS - B. Telephone Calls and Case Related Inquiries

For TROs, email Chambers to schedule the hearing.

Temporary Restraining Orders Email: Email Chambers for scheduling of hearing.

Telephone calls to chambers permitted only for emergencies and on the day of conference; otherwise prohibited.

Call only if parties cannot appear due to emergency and on the day of the conference. Telephone calls to chambers, otherwise prohibited.

Page 2 | Communications with Chambers

Hand delivery of materials is not accepted except for courtesy copies; materials must go through Court Security Officers at the Central Islip Courthouse lobby.

Except for courtesy copies, the Court does not accept hand delivery of any materials, which must be provided to the Court Security Officers at the Central Islip Courthouse lobby.

Page 24 | II. COMMUNICATION WITH CHAMBERS - A. Written Communications

Court does not respond to email requests or inquiries and does not accept documents via email except as specified in the rules.

The Court does not respond to email requests or inquiries, or accept documents via email, except for those matters detailed in these rules.

Page 24 | II. COMMUNICATION WITH CHAMBERS - C. Emails to Chambers

Fax communications are not accepted by the Court.

And the Court does not accept faxes.

Page 24 | II. COMMUNICATION WITH CHAMBERS - A. Written Communications

These documents should also be emailed to chambers contemporaneously.

These documents should also be emailed to chambers contemporaneously.

Voir dire, jury instructions, verdict forms, and proposed findings should be emailed to Chambers.

Microsoft Word Documents: Voir dire; jury instructions; verdict forms; proposed findings should also be emailed to Chambers.

Page 2 | Case Related Filings

Contact Chambers via email to obtain an FTP link for submitting large electronic files.

Contact Chambers via email for FTP link.

Page 2 | Communications with Chambers

The Court has a file transfer protocol for the safe electronic transmission of electronic files. If a party needs to submit large files to the Court, or exhibits for trial, the party should email Chambers indicating that they intend to submit large electronic file(s). The email should include the name and docket number of the case and the nature of the materials to be submitted electronically. The party should then follow the protocol set forth here: https://evidence.nyed.uscourts.gov for submission.

The Court has a file transfer protocol for the safe electronic transmission of electronic files. If a party needs to submit large files to the Court, or exhibits for trial, the party should email Chambers indicating that they intend to submit large electronic file(s). The email should include the name and docket number of the case and the nature of the materials to be submitted electronically. The party should then follow the protocol set forth here: https://evidence.nyed.uscourts.gov for submission.

Page 8 | II.D. Submission of Large Electronic Files

These documents should also be emailed to Chambers.

These documents should also be emailed to Chambers.

Technology: Parties should consult courtroom deputy in advance of trial date.

Technology: Parties should consult courtroom deputy in advance of trial date.

Phone calls to chambers from law students and recommenders regarding inquiries or references are discouraged and will not be returned.

Law students and their recommenders are strongly encouraged not to call chambers with inquiries or references. Such phone calls will not be returned.

Page 1 | JUDGE BULSARA'S LAW CLERK HIRING

Written communications to chambers must occur via letter filed on ECF.

Written Communications Must occur via letter filed on ECF.

Page 2 | Communications with Chambers

Court encourages participation of relatively inexperienced counsel.

Court encourages participation of relatively inexperienced counsel.

Page 3 | Participation