Western District of Washington Document Format Requirements

CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Electronic exhibits must be submitted before trial in specific format.

Exhibits must be presented to the Court prior to the trial date. Exhibits are to be delivered in the following format:

CRITICALCriminal cases

Unless otherwise directed, parties must provide their exhibits to Judge Tsuchida on the trial date in a three-ring binder with appropriately numbered tabs.

Unless otherwise directed, the parties shall provide Judge Tsuchida, on the date of trial, their exhibits in a three-ring binder with appropriately numbered tabs.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Each exhibit must be clearly marked.

Each exhibit shall be clearly marked.

CRITICALCivil cases

Each party must submit its exhibits in a three-ring binder with appropriately numbered tabs.

Each party shall submit its exhibits in a three-ring binder with appropriately numbered tabs.

CRITICAL

Margins

top 3 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in

Pleasings must be on 8.5x11 white paper, double-spaced, with 3-inch top margin on first page, 1-inch other margins, 12-point text, and 10-point footnotes.

Form Under Local Rule CR 10 all pleadings must be on 8.5 X 11 inch white paper, be typed or clearly written and double spaced except for quotations. Three inches of space shall be left at the top of the first page. All other margins must be at least 1 inch wide. The text must be at least 12 points. Footnotes must be at least 10 points.

CRITICALCriminal cases

The United States’ exhibits must be numbered consecutively starting with 1, and Defendants’ exhibits consecutively starting with 1A.

The United States’ exhibits shall be numbered consecutively beginning with 1; Defendants’ exhibits shall be numbered consecutively beginning 1A.

CRITICALCivil cases

Three judge court cases require special labeling and quadruplicate filings

If the case is such that any party contends that it will require a hearing before a three judge court, the words “THREE JUDGE COURT” shall be typed in capital letters on the first page of the complaint, answer, or other pleading making such allegation immediately below the name of the pleading to the right of the name of the cause, and the original and three copies of the complaint or other pleadings shall be left with the clerk and all other pleadings and papers filed in the cause shall be submitted in quadruplicate, unless the court rules that the cause is not properly before a three judge court.

CRITICALCivil cases

(3) Bottom Notation. At the left side of the bottom of each page, an abbreviated title of the pleading, motion or other filing should be repeated, followed by the case number. The page number should be placed after the abbreviated title or in the middle of the bottom of each page. At the right side of the bottom of each page, the law firm (if any), mailing address and telephone number of the attorney or party preparing the paper should be printed or typed.

(3) Bottom Notation. At the left side of the bottom of each page, an abbreviated title of the pleading, motion or other filing should be repeated, followed by the case number. The page number should be placed after the abbreviated title or in the middle of the bottom of each page. At the right side of the bottom of each page, the law firm (if any), mailing address and telephone number of the attorney or party preparing the paper should be printed or typed.

CRITICALCivil cases

Format

DOCX

Joint Instructions and Joint Statement of Disputed Instructions must be emailed as Word/WordPerfect files to judge's email orders address.

The “Joint Instructions” and any “Joint Statement of Disputed Instructions” shall be filed and shall be attached as a Word or WordPerfect compatible file to an email sent to the email orders address of the assigned judge pursuant to the court’s electronic filing procedures.

CRITICALCivil cases

(5) Numbered Paper. Each pleading, motion or other filing shall bear line numbers in the left margin, leaving at least one-half inch of space to the left of the numbers.

(5) Numbered Paper. Each pleading, motion or other filing shall bear line numbers in the left margin, leaving at least one-half inch of space to the left of the numbers.

CRITICALCivil cases

(8) Electronic Filing of Documents. All documents filed with the court shall be in accordance with the Electronic Filing Procedures for Civil and Criminal Cases adopted by General Order of the court. The Electronic Filing Procedures are available on the court’s web site at www.wawd.uscourts.gov and from the Clerk’s Office.

(8) Electronic Filing of Documents. All documents filed with the court shall be in accordance with the Electronic Filing Procedures for Civil and Criminal Cases adopted by General Order of the court. The Electronic Filing Procedures are available on the court’s web site at www.wawd.uscourts.gov and from the Clerk’s Office.

CRITICALCivil cases

Margins

top 3 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in

(1) Margins and Fonts. No less than three inches of space should be left at the top of the first page. All other margins must be at least one inch wide, although formatted lines and numbering, attorney information, the name of the judge(s) to whom copies should be sent, and footers may be placed in the margins. Examples of correctly formatted pages are attached as Appendix A. The text of any typed or printed brief must be 12 point or larger and must, with the exception of quotations, be double spaced or exactly 24 points. Footnotes must be 10 point or larger and may be single spaced. A proportionally spaced font must be used on all typed filings.

(1) Margins and Fonts. No less than three inches of space should be left at the top of the first page. All other margins must be at least one inch wide, although formatted lines and numbering, attorney information, the name of the judge(s) to whom copies should be sent, and footers may be placed in the margins. Examples of correctly formatted pages are attached as Appendix A. The text of any typed or printed brief must be 12 point or larger and must, with the exception of quotations, be double spaced or exactly 24 points. Footnotes must be 10 point or larger and may be single spaced. A proportionally spaced font must be used on all typed filings.

CRITICALCivil cases

Required title format for all filings

(2) Title. Each pleading, motion or other filing shall contain the words “United States District Court, Western District of Washington” on the first page and, in the space below the docket number, a title indicating the purpose of the paper and the party presenting it.

CRITICALCivil cases

Registry deposits must be cashier’s or business checks payable to USDC Court Clerk.

Acceptable forms of deposit into the Court Registry are cashier’s or business check made payable to “USDC Court Clerk.”

CRITICALCivil cases

All filings must be on 8.5 x 11 inch paper

Page size of all pleadings, motions and other filings shall be 8 ½ x 11 inch.

CRITICALCivil cases

Format

PAPER

Proposed instructions must be on numbered paper with unique numbers, titles, and source citations.

Each proposed instruction, whether filed jointly or under objection, shall be submitted on numbered paper. Each proposed instruction shall bear a unique instruction number and brief title at the top of the page. At the bottom of the page, the parties shall identify the source(s) of the proposed instruction if the source is a model or pattern jury instruction; otherwise, the parties must include other citations to relevant authority.

CRITICALCivil cases

Electronic exhibits must be provided on CD with paper index.

Electronic exhibits must be provided on a CD unless otherwise ordered by the court. The party offering the electronic exhibit(s) must include an index on paper with the electronic exhibits.

CRITICALCivil cases

Petitions must comply with LCR 100 formatting rules.

Petitions shall be completed in conformance with LCR 100.

CRITICALCivil cases

Format

PAPER

Prisoner complaints under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 must be typewritten or legibly handwritten and signed by each plaintiff unless represented by an attorney.

Complaints filed pursuant to the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, by or on behalf of prisoners, shall be typewritten or legibly handwritten, and signed by each plaintiff unless presented by an attorney.

CRITICALCivil cases

Admiralty pleadings must include specific jurisdictional labels above the cause number

The words “IN ADMIRALTY” shall be typed in capital letters above the cause number on the first page of a pleading setting forth a claim which is cognizable only in admiralty. The words “AT LAW AND IN ADMIRALTY” shall be typed in capital letters above the cause number on the first page of a pleading setting forth a claim for relief within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction that is also within the jurisdiction of the court on some other ground.

CRITICALCivil cases

Format

PAPER

Hard copy originals must be single-sided on 8.5x11 paper unless filed as exhibits; original signatures required.

(11) Format of Hard Copy or Paper Originals. Originals of documents filed with the court shall not contain double-sided pages or items other than 8 ½ x 11 inch paper, unless double-sided or larger original documents are being filed as exhibits. If an original document is required to be filed with the court, any required signature thereto must also be original.

CRITICAL

Format

PAPER

Documents must be submitted on 8½" x 11" white paper, bear 25-line numbers in the left margin, include the case caption, case number and typed or neatly written. If you submit pleadings in writing, use black or blue ink (no pencils) and write legibly on one side of the paper only. All documents must be signed and dated with an original signature and include your name, address and phone number.

Documents must be submitted on 8½" x 11" white paper, bear 25-line numbers in the left margin, include the case caption, case number and typed or neatly written. If you submit pleadings in writing, use black or blue ink (no pencils) and write legibly on one side of the paper only. All documents must be signed and dated with an original signature and include your name, address and phone number.

CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Documents must be in PDF format for e-filing, with 200 dpi scanning required for scanned documents.

Software to convert your documents to PDF format (portable document format) OR a scanner set to 200 dpi (dots per inch) for scanning documents to PDF format.

CRITICAL

Documents must be on 8.5x11 paper with line numbers, case caption, original signature, and contact information; handwritten pleadings must use black or blue ink on one side only.

Documents must be submitted on 8½" x 11" white paper, bear 25-line numbers in the left margin, include the case caption, case number and typed or neatly written. If you submit pleadings in writing, use black or blue ink (no pencils) and write legibly on one side of the paper only. All documents must be signed and dated with an original signature and include your name, address and phone number.

CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Documents filed via ECF must be in PDF format.

Only documents in PDF format may be filed with the court using the ECF system.

CRITICAL

Documents must use blue/black ink on 8½ x 11 white paper, single-sided, with contact information included.

Documents must be typed or neatly written in blue or black ink (no pencils) on white, 8½ x 11 paper. Do not write on both sides of the paper. You must include your name, address and phone number on each document submitted.

CRITICAL

Documents must be typed or written in blue/black ink on white 8.5x11 paper, single-sided only.

Documents must be typed or neatly written in blue or black ink (no pencils) on white, 8½ x 11 paper. Do not write on both sides of the paper.

CRITICALCivil cases

All pleadings, motions, and other filings must use 8½-by-11-inch pages.

Page size of all pleadings, motions and other filings shall be 8 ½ x 11 inch.

CRITICALCivil cases

Footnotes must be at least 10 points and may be single spaced.

Footnotes must be 10 point or larger and may be single spaced.

CRITICALCivil cases

Typed or printed briefs must use text of at least 12 points and double spacing or exactly 24-point spacing, except for quotations.

The text of any typed or printed brief must be 12 point or larger and must, with the exception of quotations, be double spaced or exactly 24 points.

CRITICALCivil cases

Each pleading, motion, and other filing must have line numbers in the left margin with at least one-half inch of space to their left.

Each pleading, motion or other filing shall bear line numbers in the left margin, leaving at least one-half inch of space to the left of the numbers.

CRITICALCivil cases

Any signature required on an original document filed with the court must itself be original.

If an original document is required to be filed with the court, any required signature thereto must also be original.

CRITICALCivil cases

All typed filings must use a proportionally spaced font.

A proportionally spaced font must be used on all typed filings.

CRITICALCivil cases

Hyperlinks may not link to sealed or restricted documents or directly open other software.

Hyperlinks may not be used to link to sealed or restricted documents, and hyperlinks may not directly open other software.

CRITICALCivil cases

A prisoner § 1983 complaint must be typewritten or legibly handwritten and signed by each plaintiff, unless presented by an attorney.

Complaints filed pursuant to the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, by or on behalf of prisoners, shall be typewritten or legibly handwritten, and signed by each plaintiff unless presented by an attorney.

CRITICALCivil cases

A proposed amended pleading must mark deleted text with brackets or strikethrough and added text with underlining or highlighting.

The party must indicate on the proposed amended pleading how it differs from the pleading that it amends by bracketing or striking through the text to be deleted and underlining or highlighting the text to be added.

CRITICALCivil cases

Motion papers must be double-spaced with 12-point sans serif font in text, 10-point sans serif in footnotes, page numbers, and minimum margins.

Motions, oppositions, objections, replies, and surreplies shall be double-spaced and filed in no less than 12-point sans serif font in the text and 10-point sans serif font in the footnotes. The pleadings shall contain page numbers and have margins of no less

CRITICALCivil cases

The party offering deposition testimony must prepare one transcript copy containing the parties’ designations, highlighted testimony, and marginal objections and responses, using a color unique to that party.

The party intending to offer the deposition testimony at trial shall prepare a single copy of the deposition transcript containing the parties’ designations, highlighting all testimony, indicating any objections and all responses to objections in the margins, all in a single color used only by that party.

CRITICALCivil cases

Motions must be double-spaced, 12-point sans serif font (10-point footnotes), with page numbers.

Motions, oppositions, objections, replies, and surreplies shall be double-spaced and filed in no less than 12-point sans serif font in the text and 10-point sans serif font in the footnotes. The pleadings shall contain page numbers and have margins of no less

CRITICALCivil cases

Format

WORD_PERFECT

The proposed order must be emailed to the assigned judge’s email orders address as a Word- or WordPerfect-compatible file.

This proposed order shall be attached as a Word or Word Perfect compatible file to an email sent to the email orders address of the assigned judge pursuant to the court’s Electronic Filing Procedures.

CRITICALCivil cases

Filed originals must use single-sided 8½-by-11-inch pages, except that double-sided or larger originals may be filed as exhibits.

Originals of documents filed with the court shall not contain double-sided pages or items other than 8 ½ x 11 inch paper, unless double-sided or larger original documents are being filed as exhibits.

CRITICALCivil cases

Each proposed instruction must use numbered paper, carry a unique number and brief title at the top, and identify its source or cite other relevant authority at the bottom.

Each proposed instruction, whether filed jointly or under objection, shall be submitted on numbered paper. Each proposed instruction shall bear a unique instruction number and brief title at the top of the page. At the bottom of the page, the parties shall identify the source(s) of the proposed instruction if the source is a model or pattern jury instruction; otherwise, the parties must include other citations to relevant authority.

CRITICALCivil cases

Margins

top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in

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.

CRITICALCivil cases

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.

CRITICALCivil cases

Margins

top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in

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. Submissions which do not comply with these instructions may be summarily denied or stricken.

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. Submissions which do not comply with these instructions may be summarily denied or stricken.

CRITICALCivil cases

All exhibits must be pre-marked by counsel with cause number, exhibit number, and admitted status (left blank) per the specified format.

All exhibits must be pre-marked by counsel using the following format: Cause No.:________________ Plainti or Defendant Exh #:______________ Admitted: (leave blank)

CRITICALCivil cases

Each party must submit 3 paper exhibit sets to the Courtroom Deputy the morning of trial, in binders with tabbed dividers marked Clerk, Judge, Witness.

3 sets of paper copies for each party shall be submitted to the Courtroom Deputy the morning of trial in binders with tabbed dividers between exhibits and shall be marked on the side of binder 1) Clerk, 2) Judge and 3) Witness.

CRITICALCivil cases

Newly admitted exhibits during trial require daily email to Courtroom Deputy with description, PDF via email or thumb drive, plus paper copies with new dividers.

If new exhibits are admitted during trial, counsel must email daily the Courtroom Deputy the description of the admitted exhibit(s) and (depending on number of exhibits or size) must either email the PDF with the correct new exhibit number or deliver a thumb drive with only the newly admitted exhibits attached. Paper versions must also be provided with new dividers.

CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Each exhibit must be submitted as its own single PDF file.

Each exhibit must be a single PDF document

CRITICALCivil cases

Each party must submit 3 paper exhibit binders and 2 electronic thumb drives unless directed otherwise by the Courtroom Deputy.

Judge Settle requires 3 binders of paper copies and 2 thumb drives (electronic) from each party unless otherwise instructed by the Courtroom Deputy.