Court Rules
district Judge
Verified Current3 hours ago

Judge Jennifer H. Rearden

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Southern District of New York

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Letter
6 pgs
Diversity Jurisdiction Letter
6 pgs
Pretrial Memorandum
3,500 wds
Document
8,750 wds

Courtesy Copies

Filings (Pleading)

Required

Filings (Plea Agreement, Cooperation Agreement, Pimentel Letter)

Required

Filings (Sentencing Submission)

Required

Adjournments

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
2Business Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Proposed New Dates
Notice Required
4Weeks

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
Notice Required
30Days

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
Notice Required
5Business Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Stipulation
  • 2
    Courtesy Copy
  • 3
    Microsoft Word Format
Notice Required
0Business Days

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
48Hours
Notice Required
24Hours
Notice Required
72Hours

Communication

Phone

Intake Unit

(212) 659-6190
Scheduling
No Hours
Email

Chambers

Technical Issues
No Status Inquiries
Letter Ecf

Chambers

Scheduling
No Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

Not specified in text
Scheduling
Letter Fax

Chambers

No Status Inquiries
Hand Delivery

Chambers

Emergencies
Email

Chambers

ReardenNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov
Technical IssuesTrial Preparation
No File Format
Phone

Chambers

Emergencies
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantSealingCommunicationTRO/InjunctionECF FilingElectronicsLettersExhibitsDiscovery

Detailed Drafting Rules

Communication ProtocolNote

Pro Se Law Clinic available for non-incarcerated pro se litigants.

This District offers a Pro Se Law Clinic to assist non-incarcerated persons who are parties in civil cases and do not have lawyers.

Phone

Direct to: Intake Unit

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Prohibited
  • Hours
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Pro se parties must communicate with the Pro Se Office, not the Court directly

Pro se parties may not contact the Court directly. All communications with the Court by a pro se party (including written, electronic, and telephone communications) should be addressed to the Pro Se Office.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Status Inquiries
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Pro se parties must file documents through Pro Se Office, not Chambers

No documents or court filings may be sent directly to Chambers. A pro se party may instead file papers with the Court by: i. Delivering them in person to the Pro Se Office at 40 Foley Square, Room 105, New York, New York 10007; ii. Mailing them to the Pro Se Intake Office at 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York 10007 (Attention: Pro Se Intake); iii. Emailing them as an attachment in PDF format to Temporary_Pro_Se_Filing@nysd.uscourts.gov, in which case the pro se party should follow the instructions contained in the April 1, 2020 Addendum to the S.D.N.Y. Electronic Case Filing Rules and Instructions; or iv. Filing them on ECF, if the pro se party has filed a Motion for Permission for Electronic Case Filing (available online and in the Pro Se Office) and been granted such permission by the Court.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolNote

Non-incarcerated pro se parties encouraged to consent to electronic service

To ensure timely service of documents, including Court orders, non-incarcerated pro se parties are encouraged to consent to receive electronic service through ECF.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Communication ProtocolImportant

Pro se parties consenting to electronic service receive no hard copies

If a pro se party consents to electronic service, or if the Court grants a Motion for Permission for Electronic Case Filing on ECF under Rule 5.iv, that party will not receive hard copies of any document filed on ECF or served by email.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Pro se discovery requests go to opposing counsel, not the Court

All requests for discovery by a pro se party should be sent to counsel for the party from whom discovery is sought (if the party is represented by counsel). Discovery requests should not be sent to the Court.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Status Inquiries
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Pre-Motion ProcedureMandatory

Discovery disputes require conference before filing letter-motion (max 6 pages)

In the event of any discovery disputes, the parties are required to confer in an effort to resolve the dispute without Court intervention. If the parties are unable to resolve their dispute, either party may file a letter-motion, not to exceed six double-spaced pages, explaining the nature of the dispute and requesting an informal conference.

Pre-Motion Conference

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

Letter Requirements

Status
Required
Max Length6 pgs
Page or Word LimitImportant

Responsive letter to discovery dispute limited to 6 double-spaced pages

The opposing party must promptly file any responsive letter, which shall not exceed six double-spaced pages.

Communication ProtocolMandatory

All communications with chambers must be by ECF letter or letter-motion.

Communications with Chambers, including requests for extensions or adjournments, shall be by letter or letter-motion filed on ECF in accordance with these Rules and Practices.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Communication ProtocolNote

Contact Courtroom Deputy for docketing, scheduling, or calendar matters.

For questions that cannot be answered by reference to these Rules or the S.D.N.Y. Local Rules, or for docketing, scheduling, or calendar matters, counsel may contact the Courtroom Deputy, Khalilah Williams.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Communication ProtocolNote

Call chambers directly for immediate attention; email for contact info.

For situations requiring immediate attention from the Court, counsel should call Chambers directly; in such situations, parties should email ReardenNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov requesting the Court’s contact information.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Faxes to chambers are prohibited.

Faxes to Chambers are not permitted.

Letter Fax

Direct to: Chambers

Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolNote

Hand deliveries go to Court Security Officers at Worth Street entrance.

Hand deliveries should be left with the Court Security Officers at the Worth Street entrance of the Courthouse. If a hand delivery requires the Court’s immediate attention, ask the Court Security Officers to notify Chambers that an urgent package has arrived.

Hand Delivery

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Diversity jurisdiction letters limited to 6 double-spaced pages.

In any action in which subject matter jurisdiction is founded on diversity of citizenship pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332, the party asserting that such jurisdiction lies shall, prior to the Initial Pretrial Conference, file on ECF a letter not to exceed six double-spaced pages, explaining the basis for that party’s position.

Page or Word LimitMandatory

Pretrial memorandum limited to 3,500 words (excluding specified items).

A pretrial memorandum of law in cases in which a party believes it would be useful to the Court, not to exceed 3,500 words (excluding the caption, any index, table of contents, table of authorities, signature blocks, or any required certificates but including material contained in footnotes or endnotes), absent leave of Court, addressing any issues of law that are expected to arise at or before trial.

Page 9
|SecB. Required Pretrial Filings in Jury Cases
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Pretrial memorandum limited to 3,500 words (excluding specified items).

A pretrial memorandum of law in cases in which a party believes it would be useful to the Court, not to exceed 3,500 words (excluding the caption, any index, table of contents, table of authorities, signature blocks, or any required certificates, but including material contained in footnotes or endnotes), absent leave of Court, addressing any issues of law that are expected to arise at or before trial.

Page 10
|SecC. Jury Selection
Communication ProtocolNote

Email ReardenNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov to request upload link for trial exhibits.

The parties shall email ReardenNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov requesting a link to upload these materials.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Email exhibit list in both Word and PDF format to chambers.

The parties shall also email a list of all exhibits sought to be admitted, both in Microsoft Word and .pdf format.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Electronic device use in courthouse governed by Standing Order M10-468.

Attorneys’ use of personal electronic devices (including mobile phones) and general purpose computing devices (such as laptops and tablets) within the Courthouse and its environs is governed by Standing Order M10-468.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Email completed Model Court Order for electronic devices to chambers five business days before trial/hearing.

When Court permission is required under the Standing Order, attorneys seeking to bring electronic devices to the Court should email a completed Model Court Order to ReardenNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov five business days before the relevant trial or hearing.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Communication ProtocolNote

Court coordinates with District Executive's Office to issue electronic device order after approval.

Upon the Court’s approval, Chambers will coordinate with the District Executive’s Office to issue the order and forward a copy to counsel.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Electronic device order must be presented when bringing devices into courthouse.

The order must be presented upon bringing the electronic device(s) into the Courthouse.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Sealing ProtocolMandatory

Letter-motions for alternative filing methods must be emailed to chambers with specific subject line requirements and page limits.

Any party unable to comply with the requirement for electronic filing under seal on ECF, or who believes that a particular document should not be electronically filed at all, shall file a letter-motion by email, seeking leave of the Court to file in a different manner. Such letter-motions may be emailed to ReardenNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov as text-searchable PDF attachments, with copies simultaneously delivered to all counsel. In the subject line, the cover email should state clearly: (1) the caption of the case, including the lead party names and docket number; and (2) a brief description of the contents of the letter. Parties shall not include substantive communications in the body of the email. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, letter-motions seeking leave to file in a different manner shall not exceed five double-spaced pages.

Protocol

Sealing Procedure

Motion to Seal: REQUIRED
Applicable Categories
Personal InformationTrade SecretsProprietary InformationAttorney Client PrivilegedWork ProductOther
Filing Requirements
Public ECF Filing(Redacted Version)
NO
Delivery to Clerk(Unredacted Version)
NO
Delivery to Chambers(Unredacted Version)
REQUIRED
Format & Details
Redaction Style
Black Box
Page 14
|SecRedactions and Sealed Filings

More Judges in Southern District of New York

Judge Alison J. Nathan
visiting
Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein
district
Judge Analisa Torres
district
Judge Andrew E. Krause
magistrate
Judge Andrew L Carter Jr
district
Judge Arun Subramanian
district
Judge Barbara Moses
magistrate
Judge Cathy Seibel
district