Court Rules
senior Judge
Verified Current9 days ago

Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein

Southern District of New York

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Filings (All filings)

Required

Filings (Courtesy List)

Required

Adjournments

Notice Required
48Hours

Must Include

  • 1
    Original Date
  • 2
    Number Of Previous Requests
  • 3
    Previous Requests Granted Or Denied
  • 4
    Adversary Position
  • 5
    Proposed Rescheduled Date

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Affects Other Dates
  • 3
    Proposed New Dates
  • 4
    Adversary Position

Communication

Fax

Chambers

Scheduling
No Hours
Phone

Chambers

Advance Notice Required
No Status Inquiries
Email

Chambers

wtc_letters@nysd.uscourts.gov
No Status Inquiries
Chambers

Chambers

Scheduling
No Hours
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingSealingCommunicationExhibitsLettersMemorandaElectronicsCourtesy Copies

Detailed Drafting Rules

Format RequirementMandatory

Faxes limited to 5 pages without special permission, only for urgent matters, adjournment requests, or technology requests.

Faxes may be sent only: for urgent matters requiring an immediate response from Chambers; to request an adjournment or extension of time as provided by Rule 1.D; or to make a technology request as provided by Rule 1.F. Faxes should be brief and may not exceed 5 pages without special permission from Chambers. Do not follow faxes with a hard copy.

Typography
Size12 pt
Line SpacingSingle
Layout & Binding
Margins
Top:1"
Left:1.5"
Right:1"
Bottom:1"
Binding Style
Stapled
Required Format

Paper

Communication ProtocolMandatory

Adjournment requests must be faxed to specific number.

Requests for adjournments should be faxed to (212-805-7942).

Fax

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Prohibited
  • Hours
    business_hours
Communication ProtocolImportant

No phone calls for adjournment requests except after 5 business days without response.

DO NOT call Chambers or the Courtroom (i) to announce your intention to request an adjournment, (ii) to inquire about the status of your request, (iii) to confirm that your request has been received, unless more than 5 business days have lapsed since you sent your request, or (iv) to ask permission to fax a letter requesting an adjournment or extension. Requests for adjournments or extensions of time may be made by fax without advance permission.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    5_business_days
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page or Word LimitNote

No page limits for briefs.

The Court does not impose a page limit for briefs.

Page 3
|SecC. Filing of Motion Papers
Format RequirementMandatory

Affidavits and exhibits must be tabbed on both original and courtesy copies.

All affidavits and exhibits shall be clearly identified by tabs on both original and courtesy copies.

Layout & Binding
Binding Style
Tabbed
Page 3
|SecC. Filing of Motion Papers
Format RequirementMandatory

All affidavits, exhibits, and motions must be bound.

All affidavits, exhibits, and motions shall be bound.

Layout & Binding
Binding Style
Securely Bound
Page 3
|SecC. Filing of Motion Papers
Format RequirementMandatory

Exhibits must be marked sequentially without repeating numbers or letters.

Exhibits shall be marked sequentially such that no exhibit number or letter repeats, regardless of the affidavit to which it is attached.

Page 3
|SecC. Filing of Motion Papers
Format RequirementMandatory

Plaintiff exhibits marked with numbers, defendant exhibits with letters.

Exhibits for plaintiffs should be marked by numbers; exhibits for defendants should be marked by letters.

Page 3
|SecC. Filing of Motion Papers
Format RequirementImportant

Voluminous exhibits may be submitted by CD with Chambers approval.

In the event of an especially voluminous submission, and only with written approval from Chambers, parties may submit their exhibits by CD.

Page 4
|SecF. Courtesy Copies
Format RequirementMandatory

Courtesy copies must be submitted without plastic covers.

In any event, courtesy copies are to be submitted without plastic covers.

Page 4
|SecF. Courtesy Copies
Sealing ProtocolMandatory

Unredacted exhibits over 100 pages must be submitted to Chambers on CD.

For exhibits over 100 cumulative pages, the party shall submit the unredacted documents to Chambers by CD only.

Protocol

Sealing Procedure

Applicable Categories
Other
Filing Requirements
Delivery to Chambers(Unredacted Version)
REQUIRED
Format & Details
Page 7
|SecFiling Materials under Seal
Format RequirementNote

Fax communications of 6 pages or fewer without permission; no hard copy needed.

Written communications of six (6) pages or fewer may be faxed at any time without permission. No hard copy should be sent if a copy is sent by facsimile.

Applies When:Page Threshold <= 6
Required Format

Fax

Page 1
|SecFacsimile Communication
Format RequirementImportant

Fax communications of 6-20 pages only after hours without permission; permission needed during office hours.

Written communications of six (6) to twenty (20) pages may be faxed, without permission, only after hours: after 5:30 P.M through 8:30 A.M. the following morning. During office hours, between 8:30 A.M. and 5:30 P.M., permission to fax 6- to 20-page documents is necessary. No hard copy should be sent if a copy is sent by facsimile.

Applies When:Page Threshold >= 6
Required Format

Fax

Page 1
|SecFacsimile Communication
Format RequirementImportant

Fax communications of 21+ pages require permission, granted only in urgent circumstances.

Written communications of twenty-one (21) pages or more may only be faxed with permission. Permission is likely to be granted only in urgent circumstances. No hard copy should be sent if permission is given to fax the document.

Applies When:Page Threshold >= 21
Required Format

Fax

Page 1
|SecFacsimile Communication
Communication ProtocolNote

Court communications only to Liaison Counsel unless otherwise necessary.

Phone calls and facsimiles from the Court will be made to Liaison Counsel only, unless otherwise necessary.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Status Inquiries
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecCourt Communication with Counsel
Communication ProtocolNote

Court email for communication; counsel should not respond by email.

The Court has set up an email address (wtc_letters@nysd.uscourts.gov) to communicate to counsel in the September 11 litigation. Counsel should not, however, respond by email to the Court.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Status Inquiries
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecCourt Communication with Counsel
Communication ProtocolNote

Second Case Management Conference scheduled one week after settlement meeting to discuss case status, settlement, ADR, expert discovery, and motions.

Approximately one week thereafter, the parties shall meet with the Court for a Second Case Management Conference to discuss the status of the case, the prospects of settlement, whether alternative disputes-resolution procedures should be utilized, the need for and a schedule regulating experts and expert-discovery, appropriate motions and schedules therefor, and any other issue counsel or the Court wish to discuss. The Case Management Conference will be held on Friday, _________________, at 10:00 a.m.

Chambers

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Prohibited
  • Hours
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Page 3
|SecD. Motions, Settlement, Second Pre-Trial Conference, and Expert Discovery