(a) Designation. An attorney not having an office within this District (“nonresident attorney”)
may appear before this Court only upon having designated as local counsel a member of the bar
of this Court having an office within this District upon whom service of papers may be made.
Such designation shall be made at the time the initial notice or pleading is filed by the
nonresident attorney. Local counsel shall file an appearance but is not required to participate in
the case beyond performance of the duties identified in section (c).
(b) Penalties. Where a nonresident attorney tenders documents without the required designation
of local counsel, the Clerk shall process them as if the designation were filed and shall promptly
notify the attorney in writing that the designation must be made within 30 days. If the attorney
fails to file the designation within that time, the documents filed by the attorney may be stricken
by the court.
(c) Duties of Local Counsel. Local counsel shall be responsible for receiving service of notices,
pleadings, and other documents and promptly notifying the nonresident attorney of their receipt
and contents. In emergencies, local counsel may appear on behalf of the nonresident attorney.
This rule does not require local counsel to handle any substantive aspects of the litigation. Nor
does the rule require local counsel to sign any pleading, motion or other paper (See
Fed.R.Civ.P. 11). Local Rule 83.15 Abrogated per General Order 23-0021 on July 6, 2023.
