The Court may strike any paper which does not conform to the following format unless the
filer promptly corrects it.
(A) Each document filed with the Court shall:
(1) be on 8½ x 11-inch size paper;
(2) have one-inch margins on each side, top, and bottom;
(3) include page numbers;
(4) be legibly written, typed, or printed, without erasures or interlineations which
materially deface it;
(5) be signed by:
(a) the attorney or the unrepresented defendant, which constitutes a
certificate that:
(i) the signer has read the pleading, motion, or other document;
and
(ii) to the best of the signer’s knowledge, information, and belief
formed after reasonable inquiry, the pleading, motion, or other
document is well-grounded in fact; and
(iii) the pleading, motion, or other document is warranted by
existing law or a good faith argument for the extension,
modification, or reversal of existing law; and
(iv) that it is not presented for any improper purpose, such as to
harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the
cost of litigation.
(B) Where the document is typed:
(1) Lines shall be double spaced.
(2) Body text shall be sized 12-point or 14-point, with footnote text no
smaller than 10-point font. All documents must be formatted in a
plain, roman style. Italics may be used for emphasis.
Added 9/2024
Committee Comments:
September 19, 2024
The Committee added the Rule to make formatting consisting for civil and criminal cases. See Civil LR
5.1(A)–(B). Former Criminal Local Rule 12.1(C) was relocated to subsection (A)(5) of this Rule to clarify
that a signer’s certification is part of every document presented to the Court.
