a) Filing Electronically. A person represented by an attorney must file documents electronically,
unless nonelectronic filing is allowed by the court for good cause. A person not represented by an
attorney may file documents electronically only after successful completion of a Clerk’s Office
administered class on how to file electronic documents in this Court and then may file documents
only after the complaint has been filed in paper format. The filing must comply with procedures
established by the court as set forth in the General Order on Electronic Case Filing
b) Filing in Paper. A person not represented by an attorney may file paper documents as follows:
(1) in person at the Clerk’s Office, (2) by United States Mail, (3) by overnight delivery or courier
service, (4) by using the drop box in the Courthouse, or (5) by having another individual hand
deliver the document to the Clerk’s Office.
c) Official Court Record. Where a document is submitted in an electronic format pursuant to
procedures established by the court, submitted in both electronic and paper formats, or submitted in
paper and subsequently converted to an electronic format by court staff, the electronic version shall
be the court's official record. Where a document is submitted in paper format without an electronic
version being docketed, the paper version shall be the court's official record. Where the electronic
version of a document is a redacted version of an unredacted paper document, the unredacted paper
version shall be the court's official record.
d) Filing by Email or FAX Not Permitted. Documents to be filed with the court may not be
transmitted to the court by Email or FAX. The only means of filing documents with the court
electronically is in accordance with LR 5.2(a) and the General Order on Electronic Case Filing or
other similar General Order.
(e) Document Format. Any paper shall be flat and unfolded on opaque, unglazed, white paper 8½
x 11 inches in size. It shall be plainly written, typed, printed, or prepared by means of a duplicating
process, without erasures or interlineations which materially deface it.
Where the document is typed, line spacing will be at least 2.0 lines. Where it is typed or printed,
(1) the size of the type in the body of the text shall be 12 points and that in footnotes, no less than
11 points, and
(2) the margins, left-hand, right-hand, top, and bottom, shall each be a minimum of 1 inch.
Documents filed electronically must conform to these requirements.
(f) Binding and Tabs. Each paper original shall be bound or secured at the top edge of the
document by a staple or a removable metal paper fastener inserted through two holes. A paper
original shall not have a front or back cover. A paper original shall not have protruding tabs.
Exhibits or tabs that are part of the paper original shall be indicated in bold type on a single sheet
of paper placed immediately before the corresponding exhibit or attachment. Unless not reasonably
feasible, exhibits to paper originals shall be 8½ x 11 inches in size.
(g) Documents Not Complying May be Stricken. Any document that does not comply with this
rule shall be filed subject to being stricken by the court.
(h) Searchable Text and Hyperlinks. In creating documents for filing through the EFiling system,
parties are encouraged to make documents text searchable and to use hyperlinks to link table of
contents headings with section headings and textual citations to cases, exhibits, and other materials
filed in the case.
(i) Redaction of Transcripts Filed Electronically. If a party or an attorney for a party files a
written request to redact specific portions of a transcript pursuant to either Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 5.2 or Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 49.1, the court reporter is ordered by the
Court to make that redaction. Any other redaction request must be made by motion to the court.
Amended October 23, 2013, November 22, 2013,
December 30 , 2020, and May 18, 2023
