Court Rules
district Judge
Verified Current9 days ago

Judge Gregory H. Woods

Southern District of New York

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Letter
3 pgs
Objection To Magistrate
25 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Filings

Not Required

Filings (Reply)

Required

Filings (Documentary Exhibits)

Required

Filings (All filings)

Required

Filings

Required

Filings (Plea Agreement, Cooperation Agreement, Pimentel Letter)

Required

Filings (Sentencing Submission)

Required

Adjournments

Must Include

  • 1
    Original Date
  • 2
    Number Of Previous Requests
  • 3
    Reason For Request
  • 4
    Adversary Position
  • 5
    Proposed New Dates
  • 6
    Affects Other Dates
  • 7
    Proposed Rescheduled Date
Notice Required
2Business Days
Notice Required
24Hours

Communication

Letter Fax

Chambers

No Status Inquiries
Letter Ecf

Chambers

Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

Emergencies
No Status Inquiries, Hours
Phone

Clerk

(212) 805-0800
Technical Issues
Email

Chambers

WoodsNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov
EmergenciesTechnical Issues
Phone

Chambers

(855) 244-8681
Scheduling
Phone

Chambers

(212) 805-0296
SchedulingEmergencies
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingCommunicationConferencesElectronicsECF FilingLettersTRO/InjunctionMemoranda

Detailed Drafting Rules

Communication ProtocolMandatory

Faxes to Chambers are prohibited unless prior approval is obtained.

Faxes to Chambers are not permitted except with prior approval.

Letter Fax

Direct to: Chambers

Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Communications with the Court must be by letter filed on ECF unless sealed or confidential.

Except as otherwise provided below, communications with the Court must be by letter. Unless there is a request to file a letter under seal or a letter contains sensitive or confidential information (see Rule 4(A), below), letters must be filed electronically on ECF.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Letters to the Court are limited to 3 pages (excluding exhibits).

Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, letters must not exceed 3 pages, excluding any exhibits.

Communication ProtocolImportant

Phone calls to Chambers should be avoided except for urgent matters requiring immediate attention.

Parties should avoid calling Chambers unless an urgent matter requires immediate attention.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Communication ProtocolNote

ECF help desk should be called for docketing-related issues at (212) 805-0800.

For docketing-related issues, please consider calling the ECF help desk at (212) 805-0800.

Phone

Direct to: Clerk

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Communication ProtocolImportant

For urgent matters, counsel may call Chambers after emailing to request contact information.

If an urgent matter requiring immediate attention should arise, counsel may call Chambers directly; in such situations, parties should email the Chambers inbox requesting the Court’s contact information.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Emergencies
Communication ProtocolImportant

ECF submissions are reviewed the next business day; urgent submissions require telephone notification after filing.

Materials filed via ECF are generally reviewed by the Court the business day after they have been filed. If a submission requires immediate attention, please notify Chambers by telephone after the submission has been filed via ECF.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Emergencies
Communication ProtocolImportant

Counsel must not interrupt or speak over each other during telephone conferences.

Counsel should also take special care not to interrupt or speak over one another.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 3
|SecC. Telephone Conferences
Document RequirementNote

Include uncommon words or case names in appearance sheet template.

In the event that the parties anticipate that they will use uncommon words, or case names during the conference, they are directed to include that information in the location indicated in the template appearance form.

Document Type

Appearance Sheet

Content & Formatting
Uncommon Words Case Names
Page 3
|SecB. Appearance Sheets
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Telephone conferences use Court’s dedicated line with specific access code.

The Court may designate that a conference will be held telephonically. In some cases, the Court may direct one of the parties to set up a conference line. In all other cases, the parties should call into the Court’s dedicated conference line at (855) 244-8681, and enter Access Code 2318-572-4826, followed by the pound (#) key.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Page 3
|SecC. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolImportant

Use landline, headset, and mute when not speaking during telephone conferences.

Counsel should use a landline whenever possible, should use a headset instead of speakerphone, and must mute themselves whenever they are not speaking to eliminate background noise.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Prohibited
  • Hours
    during_conference
Page 3
|SecC. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolImportant

Voice-activated systems that don’t show speaking status are prohibited.

Counsel should not use voice-activated systems that do not allow the user to know when someone else is trying to speak at the same time.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 3
|SecC. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Counsel must identify themselves every time they speak during recorded telephone conferences.

To facilitate orderly teleconferences and the creation of an accurate transcript where a teleconference is held on the record, counsel are required to identify themselves every time they speak.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Page 3
|SecC. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolNote

Counsel must spell proper names for the court reporter during telephone conferences.

Counsel should spell any proper names for the court reporter.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Page 3
|SecC. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Recording court conferences is prohibited by law.

The recording of any court conference is prohibited by law.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 3
|SecC. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolNote

Telephone conferences are open to the public and press.

Like in-person conferences, telephone conferences are open to the public. Members of the public or the press may join a telephone conference using the dial-in information above.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Page 3
|SecC. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolImportant

Counsel must notify Court by ECF letter if conference not scheduled within 3 months.

If a conference has not been scheduled within three months of the filing of the complaint or notice of removal, counsel must advise the Court by letter on ECF.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Status Inquiries
Page 3
|SecD. Initial Case Management Conference
Document RequirementMandatory

Memoranda of 10+ pages require TOC and TOA.

Memoranda of 10 pages or more must contain a table of contents and a table of authorities.

Document Type

Memorandum Of Law

Content & Formatting
Table Of Contents
Table Of Authorities
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Objections to magistrate rulings: 25 pages, opposition 25 pages, reply 10 pages.

Unless prior permission has been granted, objections to reports and recommendations by, and appeals from orders of, magistrate judges are limited to 25 pages, any opposition is limited to 25 pages, and any reply is limited to 10 pages.

Document RequirementMandatory

Objection briefs of 10+ pages require TOC and TOA.

Briefs of 10 pages or more must contain a table of contents and a table of authorities.

Document Type

Objection To Magistrate

Content & Formatting
Table Of Contents
Table Of Authorities
Format RequirementImportant

Media files must be in common player-compatible format.

A party submitting media files in connection with a motion must, to the extent possible, provide them in a format capable of being played using commonly available media players, e.g., Windows Media Player.

Applies When:Document Type Set Undefined
Format RequirementImportant

Special media software must not require admin privileges.

If the media unavoidably requires special viewing software, that software must be provided to the Court in a form that does not require administrative privileges for installation or operation.

Applies When:Document Type Set Undefined
Format RequirementMandatory

Media files must be filed physically with Clerk (not ECF).

Because media files cannot currently be uploaded to ECF, a party submitting media files must also file them physically with the Clerk of Court.

Applies When:Document Type Set Undefined
Required Format

Paper

Communication ProtocolNote

Email digital copies of paper filings to chambers at WoodsNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov.

Digital copies of these documents must also be emailed to chambers (outside the ECF system) at WoodsNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Must call chambers at (212) 805-0296 when deciding to seek TRO.

As soon as a party decides to seek a temporary restraining order, he or she must call Chambers at (212) 805-0296 and state clearly (1) whether the adversary has been notified and whether the adversary consents to temporary injunctive relief; or (2) that the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b) are satisfied and no notice is necessary.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergencies
Communication ProtocolImportant

Must still call chambers to schedule TRO application even when Rule 65(b) notice requirements are met.

If the party requesting relief believes that the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b) are met and no notice is necessary, the party must still call Chambers at (212) 805-0296 to schedule a time to bring the application to the Court.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergencies
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Call Chambers by 11:00 AM on filing day to advise and schedule delivery of hard copies.

Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the day on which you intend to file an order to show cause, call Chambers to advise the Court that you intend to do so, and to schedule an appropriate time to deliver hard copies of the filing to Chambers for review.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Prohibited
  • Hours
    before 11:00 AM
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Pro se parties must send communications to Pro Se Office with proof of service.

All communications with the Court by a pro se party must be hand delivered or mailed to the Pro Se Office, United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, Room 200, New York, NY 10007, and must include an Affidavit of Service or other statement affirming that the pro se party sent a copy to all other parties or to their counsel if they are represented.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecCommunications with Chambers
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Pro se parties must not send documents directly to Chambers.

No document or filing should be sent directly to Chambers. Absent a request to file a communication under seal, the parties should assume that any communication with the Court will be placed on the public docket.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecCommunications with Chambers
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Pro se parties must file papers with Pro Se Office in person or by mail.

All papers to be filed with the Court by a pro se party, along with any courtesy copies of those papers, should be delivered in person or sent by mail to the Pro Se Office, United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, Room 200, New York, NY 10007.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecFiling and Service