Court Rules
senior Judge
Verified Current3 hours ago

Judge Barbara J. Rothstein

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Western District of Washington

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Motion
15 pgs
Reply
10 pgs
Motion
24 pgs
Motion
10 pgs
Jury Instructions
2 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Filings

Not Required

Adjournments

Notice Required
21Calendar Days
Notice Required
3Business Days
Notice Required
5Business Days

Communication

Email

Chambers

natalie_wood@wawd.uscourts.gov
Technical Issues
Phone

Chambers

EmergenciesTechnical Issues
Advance Notice Required
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingCommunicationCertificatesTRO/InjunctionSummary JudgmentCourtroom ConductJuryTOC/TOA

Detailed Drafting Rules

Page or Word LimitMandatory

Motions limited to 15 pages, oppositions to 15 pages, replies to 10 pages, no tables allowed, sur-replies require leave.

A motion and the legal argument supporting the motion shall be filed as a single document. Motions shall not contain a table of cases or a table of authorities. Except for dispositive motions, motions for summary judgment (see Section II(F) infra) and motions for reconsideration (see Section II(H) infra), all motions, oppositions, and objections shall not exceed FIFTEEN (15) pages (exclusive of the certificate of service). Replies shall not exceed TEN (10) pages, unless otherwise noted. Leave of the Court must be obtained to file a sur−reply.

Page or Word LimitMandatory

Replies limited to 10 pages.

Replies shall not exceed TEN (10) pages, unless otherwise noted.

Page or Word LimitImportant

Page limit extensions granted only for extraordinary complexity.

Motions to exceed the page limitations will be granted only where the matter is one of extraordinary complexity.

Format RequirementMandatory

Double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman, 1-inch margins, page numbers required.

Motions, oppositions, objections, replies, and sur−replies shall be double−spaced and filed in 12−point Times New Roman font, and shall contain page numbers and have margins of no less than 1 inch. Footnotes shall also be 12−point Times New Roman font but may be single−spaced.

Typography
Font FamilyTimes New Roman
Size12 pt
Line SpacingDouble
Layout & Binding
Margins
Top:1"
Left:1"
Right:1"
Bottom:1"
Format RequirementMandatory

Administrative records must be filed electronically, no physical copies.

In matters requiring that an administrative record be filed with the Court, parties must provide a copy of the record to the Court in an electronic format. No physical copy of the record shall be filed.

Applies When:Document Type Set Undefined
Required Format

Electronic

Communication ProtocolNote

Contact courtroom deputy for audio/video filing instructions.

If an audio or video exhibit must be filed, the party shall contact the courtroom deputy, Natalie Wood, via email at natalie_wood@wawd.uscourts.gov for instructions on how to file it.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Summary judgment motions limited to 24 pages; oppositions to 24 pages; replies to 12 pages.

A motion for summary judgment pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 56, and oppositions thereto, shall not exceed TWENTY−FOUR (24) pages (exclusive of the certificate of service). Replies shall not exceed TWELVE (12) pages.

Page 4
|SecF. Dispositive Motions
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Reconsideration motions limited to 10 pages; oppositions to 10 pages; replies to 5 pages.

Motions for reconsideration and oppositions thereto shall not exceed TEN (10) pages (excluding the certificate of service). Replies shall not exceed FIVE (5) pages.

Page 4
|SecH. Motions for Reconsideration
Document RequirementMandatory

Witnesses put on call at peril of calling party - no recesses for unavailable witnesses except extraordinary circumstances

Once the trial begins, witnesses will be put on call at the peril of the calling party; in other words, the trial will not be recessed because a witness is unavailable except in extraordinary circumstances.

Document Type

Witness Availability

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Page 7
|SecC. Statements and Witnesses
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Disputed jury instructions limited to 2 pages per party per instruction.

Where disagreements arise, the proposed jury instructions shall include the alternate instructions and argument and authority for the instruction not to exceed TWO (2) pages per party, per instruction.

Page 10
|SecD. Jury Trials
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Counsel must be within 20 minutes of courthouse during jury deliberations.

Throughout jury deliberations counsel must be within twenty minutes of the courthouse in order for the Court to expeditiously respond to any jury notes or a verdict. Counsel must provide the courtroom deputy or law clerk with telephone numbers where they can be contacted.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
EmergenciesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    telephone numbers where they can be contacted
Page 10
|SecD. Jury Trials

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