Court Rules
district Judge
Verified Current9 days ago

Judge Valerie E. Caproni

Southern District of New York

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Letter
5 pgs
Memorandum Of Law
25 pgs8,750 wds

Courtesy Copies

Filings (Proposed Order, Stipulation, Judgment)

Required

Filings (All filings)

Required • Binding: Tabbed Three Ring

Filings (>20 pages)

Required

Filings (Joint Pretrial Order)

Required • Binding: Stapled

Filings (Proposed Findings Conclusions)

Required

Filings (Default Judgment)

Required

Filings (Sentencing Submission, Letter)

Required

Filings (Requests To Charge, Proposed Voir Dire Questions)

Required

Filings (Formal Motion Papers)

Required

Adjournments

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Original Date
  • 3
    Number Of Previous Requests
  • 4
    Adversary Position
  • 5
    Proposed New Dates
Notice Required
48Business Hours
Notice Required
3Business Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
Notice Required
48Hours

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Original Date
  • 3
    Number Of Previous Requests
  • 4
    Adversary Position
  • 5
    Proposed New Dates

Communication

Email

Chambers

No Status Inquiries
Letter Ecf

Intake Unit

No Status Inquiries
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingSealingCommunicationECF FilingTRO/InjunctionMemorandaLettersWord Counts

Detailed Drafting Rules

Format RequirementMandatory

Letters must be filed on ECF unless sealed or contain sensitive information.

Letters must be filed electronically on ECF unless there is a request to file a letter under seal or a letter contains sensitive or confidential information

Required Format

ECF

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|SecCommunications with Chambers
Page or Word LimitImportant

Letters should generally not exceed 5 pages in length.

Unless otherwise ordered by the Court or in exceptional circumstances, letters should generally not exceed five pages in length.

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|SecCommunications with Chambers
Communication ProtocolNote

Contact Courtroom Deputy for questions not answered by rules or for scheduling matters.

For questions that cannot be answered by reference to these Rules or the S.D.N.Y. Local Rules, or for docketing, scheduling, and calendar matters, counsel may contact the Courtroom Deputy, Angela Caliendo, at the Chambers inbox listed above.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingTechnical Issues
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|SecCommunications with Chambers
Communication ProtocolMandatory

For emergencies, email Chambers with "URGENT" in subject line and copy all parties.

For situations requiring immediate attention from the Court, counsel should email the Chambers inbox requesting the Court’s contact information. The Re line of the email should be marked “URGENT” and the text should provide a short explanation of the emergency and should be copied to all parties.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Emergencies
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
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|SecCommunications with Chambers
Communication ProtocolImportant

ECF filings may not be reviewed same day; use "URGENT" email for immediate attention.

Materials filed via ECF are not necessarily reviewed the same day they are filed. If a submission requires immediate attention, please notify Chambers by an email to the Chambers inbox; the Re line should be marked “URGENT.”

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Emergencies
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
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|SecCommunications with Chambers
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Word limits: 8,750 for attorney/computer briefs, 25 pages for pro se/handwritten; reply limits 3,500 words/10 pages

If filed by an attorney or prepared with a computer, unless otherwise provided by statute or rule, memoranda of law in support of and in opposition to motions are limited to 8,750 words and reply memoranda are limited to 3,500 words. If filed by a party who is not represented by an attorney and handwritten or prepared with a typewriter, in support of and in response to a motion must not exceed 25 pages, and reply briefs must not exceed 10 pages.

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|SecB. Memoranda of Law
Document RequirementMandatory

Memoranda of 10+ pages require TOC and TOA (excluded from word count)

Memoranda of 10 pages or more must contain a table of contents and a table of authorities, which do not count toward the word limit.

Document Type

Memorandum Of Law

Content & Formatting
Table Of Contents
Table Of Authorities
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|SecB. Memoranda of Law
Format RequirementMandatory

Memoranda must use 1-inch margins, double-spacing, Times New Roman 12pt, footnotes min 10pt

All memoranda must be formatted with one-inch margins and double-spaced and all text must be in Times New Roman, 12-point font. Footnotes may be in smaller font, but in no case smaller than 10-point font.

Typography
Font FamilyTimes New Roman
Size12 pt
Line SpacingDouble
Layout & Binding
Margins
Top:1"
Left:1"
Right:1"
Bottom:1"
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|SecB. Memoranda of Law
Document RequirementMandatory

Attorney/computer briefs require word count certificate (excluded from limit)

If a memorandum is filed by an attorney or prepared with a computer, it must include a certificate by the attorney, or party who is not represented by an attorney, that the document complies with the word‐count limitations. The person preparing the certificate may rely on the word count of the word‐processing program used to prepare the document. The certificate must state the number of words in the document. The text in the certificate does not count toward the word‐count limitation.

Document Type

Memorandum Of Law

Content & Formatting
Word Count
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|SecB. Memoranda of Law
Sealing ProtocolMandatory

Documents in sealed cases or previously ordered sealed documents must be filed under seal on ECF with courtesy copy to chambers if over 20 pages.

If a case is entirely under seal or if the Court previously ordered that certain documents be filed under seal or with specific redactions, a party need not again request permission to file under seal. The party must file any such document electronically on ECF, under seal, and provide, via mail or hand-delivery, a courtesy copy to Chambers if the document exceeds 20 pages.

Protocol

Sealing Procedure

Applicable Categories
Personal InformationTrade SecretsProprietary InformationAttorney Client PrivilegedWork ProductOther
Filing Requirements
Public ECF Filing(Redacted Version)
REQUIRED
Delivery to Chambers(Unredacted Version)
NO
Format & Details
Courtesy CopyMandatory

Courtesy copies required for non-electronic sealed documents over 20 pages

b. If the document(s) exceeds 20 pages, provide a courtesy copy of the relevant document(s) to Chambers via mail or hand-delivery.

Courtesy Copies Required

When: Page Threshold > 20
Logistics
Quantity1 Copy
TimingUpon Filing
MethodMail Or Hand Delivery
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Pro se parties must file via ECF if registered, or mail to Pro Se Intake Unit if not registered; no direct filings to Chambers.

Pro se parties who are registered on ECF should file all letters and motions, absent a request to file a document under seal, via ECF. By Standing Order, a pro se party who is not registered on ECF must mail all communications with the Court to the Pro Se Intake Unit located at 500 Pearl Street, Room 200, New York, NY 10007. A pro se party must not send any document or filing directly to Chambers.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
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|SecCommunications with Chambers
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Non-ECF pro se parties must send all filings to Pro Se Intake Unit.

If the pro se party is not participating in ECF, then the pro se party must send all papers to be filed with the Court to the Pro Se Intake Unit.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Intake Unit

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
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|SecFiling of Papers