(a) General Format of Papers Presented for Filing.
(1) Pleadings and other papers must be formatted for reproduction on 8-½” x
11” paper. The text must be double-spaced, but quotations more than two
lines long may be indented and single-spaced. Headings and footnotes may be
single-spaced. Margins must be at least 1” on all four sides. Page numbers
may be placed in the margins, but no text or footnotes may appear there.
(2) All pleadings and other papers must use a plain, Roman style (or similar)
font, although italics or boldface may be used for emphasis. Case names must
be italicized or underlined. Font must be 12 point or larger, including
footnotes.
(3) For filings by represented parties, at least one attorney appearing in the
action shall sign each document filed. In addition, there shall be included
directly beneath the signature line the typed or printed name, address, and
telephone number of all attorneys of record representing that party.
(4) For filings by pro se litigants, the unrepresented party shall personally
sign each document filed and shall include, directly beneath the signature
line, his or her name, address and telephone number.
(5) The requirements of this subsection (a)(1) and (2) are not applicable when
using a form approved and/or furnished by the Court.
(b) Electronic Filing.
(1) The Clerk is authorized to implement and publish Electronic Case Filing
Procedures (titled “Administrative Procedures for Filing, Signing, and
Verifying Pleadings and Documents by Electronic Means”), including the
procedure for registration of attorneys and for the distribution of passwords to
permit electronic filing, service and noticing of pleadings and other
documents.
(2) All pleadings and other papers must be filed by electronic means unless
exempted by law or the Electronic Case Filing Procedures or excused by the
Court. The Court may make reasonable exemption from the electronic filing
requirement.
(3) The electronic filing or signing of pleadings or other documents by an
attorney who is a registered participant in the Electronic Case Filing System
shall constitute the signature of that attorney under Fed. R. Civ. P. 11.
(4) No attorney shall knowingly permit, or cause to permit, his/her password
to be utilized by anyone other than an authorized member or employee of
his/her law firm.
(5) No person shall knowingly utilize or cause another person to utilize the
password of a registered attorney, unless such person is an authorized
member or employee of the law firm.
(6) The electronic filing of a pleading or other document in accordance with
the Electronic Case Filing Procedures shall constitute entry of that pleading
or other document on the docket kept by the Clerk under Fed. R. Civ. P. 79.
(7) The Clerk shall enter all orders, decrees, judgments, and proceedings of
the Court in accordance with the Electronic Case Filing Procedures, which
shall constitute entry of the order, decree, judgment, or proceeding on the
docket kept by the Clerk under Fed. R. Civ. P. 58 and Fed. R. Crim. P. 55.
(c) Non-Electronic Filing. If electronic filing is exempted or excused, the
original of all papers must be filed conventionally. All papers filed by non-
electronic means must be filed with the Clerk and not in the Judge’s chambers.
Except when the documents are deemed by the Clerk to be voluminous, the
Clerk shall scan the original papers and enter them into the record
electronically.
(d) Service.
(1) Whenever pleadings or other documents are filed electronically in
accordance with the Electronic Case Filing Procedures, the Clerk shall serve
the filing party, and all other parties whose attorney of record is a registered
participant in the Electronic Case Filing System, with a “Notice of Electronic
Filing” by electronic means at the time of docketing.
(2) The filing party shall serve the pleadings or other documents upon all
persons entitled to notice or service in accordance with the applicable Rules.
When service by first-class mail is permitted under the Rules, the filing party
may make service in accordance with sub-paragraph (d)(3) below.
(3) If the recipient of notice or service is a registered participant in the
Electronic Case Filing System, service by electronic means of the Notice of
Electronic Filing shall be the equivalent of service by first-class mail, postage
prepaid.
(4) A separate certificate of service is not required for papers served
electronically if all parties were served through the Court’s Electronic Case
Filing System.
(5) Service by electronic means is complete on transmission.
(6) Service by electronic means is not effective if the party making service
learns that the attempted service did not reach the person to be served.
(7) Participation in the Electronic Case Filing System by receipt of a
password from the Court shall constitute a request for service and notice
electronically pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(b)(2)(E) and Fed. R. Crim. P. 49.
Participants in the Electronic Case Filing System, by receiving a password
from the Court, agree to receive service by electronic means.
