Southern District of New York Local Rules and Judge Filing Requirements
Filing requirements from local rules, individual practices, standing orders, and published court policies for Southern District of New York
Federal court local rules are only the first layer. These filing requirements come from individual judges' practices, standing orders, and policies published by the Southern District of New York. They supplement the district local rules and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Requirements vary significantly between judges in the same district, so always verify the specific rules for your assigned judge.
- Magistrate Judge Kim P. Berg
Use Westlaw citations for unreported cases when possible.
- Judge J. Paul Oetken
For TRO applications with notice, file papers simultaneously on ECF.
- Judge Nelson S. Roman
Proposed orders must be submitted as attachments to formal applications.
- Judge Lewis J. Liman
Pro se discovery letter-motion must explain dispute and detail unsuccessful meet-and-confer efforts.
- Judge Richard M. Berman
Order to show cause applications must include written explanation with authority why ordinary motion practice is unavailable.
- Judge J. Paul Oetken
Requests to charge and voir dire must be emailed to chambers as Word docs
- Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke
Large files require special email protocol to chambers.
- Judge Paul Crotty
All communications with chambers must be by letter (max 3 pages, ECF filing required with hard copy mailed).
- Judge Katherine Polk Failla
Email subject line must include case caption, docket number, and brief description.
- Judge Colleen McMahon
Emergency communications allowed with chambers
- Magistrate Judge Kim P. Berg
Court permission required to file documents under seal.
- Judge J. Paul Oetken
For ex parte TRO applications, file under seal on ECF or email to Chambers, then call Chambers.
- Judge Edgardo Ramos
Supporting papers may be filed under seal or redacted only as necessary to protect confidential information.
- Judge Richard M. Berman
Certain sensitive information must be redacted without court approval under FRCP 5.2.
- Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke
Procedure for filing documents with redactions requires three steps
- Judge Richard M. Berman
Adjournment/extension requests must be made by letter at least 48 hours before the scheduled date.
- Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke
Adjournment/extension requests must be filed as letter-motions on ECF with specific required elements and advance notice.
- Judge Paul Crotty
Adjournment/extension requests must include original dates, previous requests, adversary consent, and 3 alternate dates if consented.
- Judge Katherine Polk Failla
Letter motions for adjournments/extensions must include 5 specific elements
- Judge Colleen McMahon
Adjournment/extension requests must be made in advance
- Judge Lewis J. Liman
Pre-motion letters and conferences are not required unless ordered by the Court.
- Judge J. Paul Oetken
Extensions and adjournments must be requested via letter-motion, not proposed stipulations or orders.
- Judge Richard M. Berman
Pre-motion conference required before any motion except FRAP 4(a)(4)(A) motions and pro hac vice motions.
- Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke
Pre-motion letters/conferences not required except for discovery disputes
- Judge Paul Crotty
Pre-motion conference required before any motion except specified exceptions.
- Judge Edgardo Ramos
One courtesy copy required for all motions except pro hac vice and letter-motions.
- Judge Richard M. Berman
Courtesy copies of pleadings (including Rule 7.1 statements) must be submitted to Chambers as soon as possible after filing.
- Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke
No courtesy copies required for any submissions unless court orders otherwise.
- Judge Paul Crotty
One courtesy copy of pleadings must be submitted to chambers as soon as practical after filing.
- Judge Katherine Polk Failla
Letters must be filed on ECF with courtesy copy emailed to chambers.
- Judge Richard M. Berman
Memoranda of law (support/opposition) limited to 25 pages, reply memoranda to 10 pages, all double-spaced.
- Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke
Letters to chambers limited to 1,050 words without permission.
- Judge Paul Crotty
Letters to court must not exceed 3 pages (excluding exhibits) and must comply with Local Rule 11.1(b) formatting.
- Judge Katherine Polk Failla
Memoranda of law limited to 8,750 words; reply briefs to 3,500 words; pro se parties limited to 25/10 pages.
- Judge Colleen McMahon
Memoranda of law limited to 25 pages (support/opposition) and 10 pages (reply), except reconsideration motions.
- Magistrate Judge Kim P. Berg
All moving papers, letter-motions, and letters must be in searchable PDF format.
- Judge Richard M. Berman
Memoranda must use double spacing, one-inch margins, 12-point font for text and footnotes (footnotes may be single-spaced).
- Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke
Large files require email request for transfer link with case details.
- Judge Paul Crotty
Trial schedule: Mon-Fri 9:30 AM-4:30 PM with morning counsel meeting, lunch recess, and breaks.
- Judge Katherine Polk Failla
Motion papers must conform to Local Civil Rule 7.1 with specific formatting and word limits.
- Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke
Court encourages junior attorney participation in cases where they substantially contributed to filings or witness preparation
- Judge Katherine Polk Failla
Court encourages junior attorney participation in proceedings where they contributed substantially.
- Judge Loretta A. Preska
Court encourages junior lawyers to argue and may allow multiple lawyers to argue
- Judge Jesse M. Furman
Advise Court by letter if junior attorney will handle oral argument.
- Judge Alison J. Nathan
Junior attorneys are encouraged to argue motions and question witnesses they have helped prepare, with the Court amenable to multiple lawyers arguing for one party.
- Judge Nelson S. Roman
Motion papers must be filed via ECF promptly after reply papers are served.
- Judge Richard M. Berman
Motion papers must be filed promptly after service.
- Judge Colleen McMahon
Motion papers must be filed promptly after service; do not hold until all submissions are complete.
- Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein
Motion papers must be filed promptly after service.
- Judge Denise L. Cote
Motion papers must be filed promptly after service.
- Judge Paul Engelmayer
Moving parties must serve Rule 56.1 Statements electronically in Microsoft Word format to all other parties.
- Judge Arun Subramanian
Non-moving parties electing to amend under Rule 15(a)(1) after motion to dismiss must notify court and adversary within 10 days of motion receipt with intended filing date.