ELECTRONIC CASE FILES
(ECF) USER MANUAL
United States District Court, District of Maine
Updated: June 2026
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Contents
Preface ........................................................................................................................................4
Getting Started ............................................................................................................................5
Introduction .............................................................................................................................5
User Interactions ......................................................................................................................5
Conventions used in this Manual ..............................................................................................5
Definitions ...............................................................................................................................5
Hardware and Software Requirements ......................................................................................6
ECF Registration and Attorney Admissions....................................................................................7
Electronic Filing, Documents, Attachments, and Exhibits ..............................................................8
Excerpts from the Administrative Procedures Governing ECF .....................................................8
Electronic Filing ....................................................................................................................8
Service of Electronically Filed Documents .............................................................................8
Deadlines .............................................................................................................................8
Special Filing Requirements and Exceptions ..........................................................................9
Portable Document Format (PDF) ...........................................................................................10
Attachments and Exhibits....................................................................................................11
Signatures ..........................................................................................................................13
Proposed and Text Only Orders ...........................................................................................14
Technical Failures ...............................................................................................................14
Public Access.........................................................................................................................15
Third-Party Services and Access to Information in CM/ECF ......................................................16
Transcripts .............................................................................................................................16
Sealed, Ex Parte, and Unredacted Documents in Civil Cases ...................................................19
Redacted Documents in Civil and Criminal Cases ...................................................................20
Correcting a Mistake ..................................................................................................................22
Documents Filed in Error ........................................................................................................22
Help Desk ..............................................................................................................................22
Case Opening Documents in a Civil Action .................................................................................23
Initiating Case Opening Documents ........................................................................................23
Summons Preparing and Issuing .............................................................................................25
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Paying the Filing Fee ...............................................................................................................26
Logging into PACER/ECF ............................................................................................................27
Navigating ECF ..........................................................................................................................29
Manipulating the Screens ....................................................................................................29
Filing Documents in ECF ............................................................................................................30
1. Select the Case Type...........................................................................................................30
2. Select the Type of Document to File.....................................................................................30
3. Enter the Case Number in which the Document is to be filed. ...............................................32
4. Select the Defendant (in criminal cases only).......................................................................34
5. Select the Party(s) for whom the Document is being Filed. ....................................................35
6. Select the Main Document for Filing ....................................................................................36
7. Add attachments, if any, to the document being filed ...........................................................38
8. Modify Docket Text as Necessary ........................................................................................39
9. Submit the Document .........................................................................................................40
10. Retain Notification of Electronic Filing (NEF). .....................................................................41
11. Mail Paper Copies of Pleading to any Non-Registered Party. ...............................................43
Other Options in ECF .................................................................................................................44
Add/Create a New Party..........................................................................................................44
Linking Documents (refer to Existing Event) .............................................................................47
Attorney/Party Association .....................................................................................................48
Menu Bar Features .....................................................................................................................49
Query Feature ........................................................................................................................49
Attorney..............................................................................................................................51
Deadlines/Hearings ............................................................................................................51
Docket Report.....................................................................................................................53
History/Documents ............................................................................................................56
Reports Feature......................................................................................................................57
Docket Sheet ......................................................................................................................57
Civil Cases Report ..............................................................................................................58
Criminal Cases Report ........................................................................................................59
Utilities Feature ......................................................................................................................60
Your Account ......................................................................................................................60
View Your Transaction Log...................................................................................................60
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Review Billing History ..........................................................................................................61
Miscellaneous ....................................................................................................................61
Search Feature .......................................................................................................................63
Logout ...................................................................................................................................65
Additional ECF Filing Guidance...................................................................................................66
Guidelines for the Filing of Confidential Information in Civil Cases ...........................................66
Guidance for Filing Confidential Information in Criminal Cases ................................................66
Discovery Dispute Filing Reference Guide ...............................................................................66
PSR Objection Filing Instructions ............................................................................................66
Pro Hac Vice Certification .......................................................................................................66
Pay Fee Instructions ...............................................................................................................66
Local Rules- Appendix B .........................................................................................................66
How to Maintain Secondary Email Addresses ..........................................................................66
PACER: Maintenance Tab Guide .............................................................................................66
A Guide to the Proper Redaction of Documents .......................................................................66
Attorney Admission Instructions .............................................................................................66
Attorney Registration for Electronic Filing ................................................................................66
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Preface
All documents submitted for filing in civil and criminal cases, except those documents
specifically exempted in subsection (g) of the Administrative Procedures Governing the
Filing and Service by Electronic Means (Appendix B of the Local Rules), shall be filed
electronically using the Electronic Case Filing System (ECF).
The Clerk's Office will not maintain a paper court file in any civil or criminal case
commenced after January 1, 2003, except as provided in the Administrative Procedures
Governing the Electronic Filing and Service by Electronic Means (Appendix B of the Local
Rules). The official court record shall be the electronic file maintained on the Court's
servers together with any physical media and any paper documents filed in accordance
with those procedures.
All documents filed by electronic means must comply with technical standards, if any,
established by the Judicial Conference of the United States or by this Court.
Documents filed with the Clerk’s Office will normally be reviewed no later than the close of
the next business day. It is the responsibility of the filing party to promptly notify the Clerk
via telephone of a matter that requires the immediate attention of a judge.
An attorney may apply to the Court for permission to file paper documents.
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Getting Started
Introduction
This manual provides procedures and instructions for using the Electronic Case Files (ECF)
system to file documents with the Court or to view and retrieve docket sheets and
documents for all civil (cv), miscellaneous (mc), criminal (cr) and magistrate (mj) cases in
the system. A Filing User should have a working knowledge of an ECF-compatible web
browser and Adobe Acrobat or equivalent software for creating and reading Portable
Document Files (PDF).
User Interactions
There are three general types of user interactions employed in ECF:
• Entering information in data fields;
• Using command buttons to direct system activities; and
• Clicking on hyperlinks.
Conventions used in this Manual
• Data to be entered by the user is shown enclosed in angle brackets: <data to be
entered>.
• Command buttons are represented in this manual in [bracketed boldface type].
• Hyperlinks are represented in underlined boldface type.
Definitions
Electronic Filing is the process of uploading a document from the registered user’s
computer, using the court’s Internet-based Electronic Case Files (ECF) system to file the
document in the court’s case file. The ECF system only accepts documents in a portable
document format (PDF). Although there are two types of PDF documents – electronically
converted PDF’s and scanned imaged, only electronically converted PDF’s may be filed
with the court using the ECF System, unless otherwise authorized by local rule or order.
Filing User is an individual who has a court-issued login and password to file documents
electronically.
Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) is a notice automatically generated by the Electronic
Filing System at the time a document is filed with the system, setting forth the time of filing,
the name of the party and attorney filing the document, the type of document, the text of
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the docket entry, the name of the party and/or attorney receiving the notice, and electronic
links (hyperlinks) to the filed document and the docket report.
Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) is an automated system that allows
an individual to view, print and download court docket information over the Internet.
Portable Document Format (PDF) There are two types of PDF documents:
• ELECTRONICALLY CONVERTED PDF documents, which are created from word
processing documents (MS Word, WordPerfect, etc.) using Adobe Acrobat or
similar software and,
• SCANNED IMAGE PDF documents, which are produced using an optical
scanner.
Electronically converted PDF documents are text searchable and their file size is small.
Scanned image PDF documents are created from paper documents run through an optical
scanner. Scanned image PDFs are not searchable and have a large file size.
Software used to electronically convert documents to PDF which includes proprietary or
advertisement information within the PDF document is prohibited.
Hardware and Software Requirements
The hardware and software needed to electronically file, view and retrieve case documents
are the following:
• A personal computer running a standard platform such as Windows or Macintosh.
• Internet access.
• Microsoft Edge; Google Chrome; Mozilla Firefox; or Safari.
• Software, such as Adobe Acrobat Writer or pdfFactory, to convert documents from
a word processor format to portable document format (PDF).
A scanner is helpful when filing electronically. Use a scanner ONLY if you cannot
electronically prepare your documents with a word processing software package and
convert them to PDF format. When scanning documents for ECF scan at a resolution of
300 pixels per inch (ppi) or higher.
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ECF Registration and Attorney Admissions
Attorneys admitted in the United States District Court for the District of Maine, Pro Hac
Vice counsel, Government Attorneys, and Federal Public Defenders as outlined in Local
Rule 83.1(c)(2) must register for electronic filing through their upgraded individual PACER
account.
Attorneys admitted to the bar of this court, Government Attorneys and Federal Public
Defenders shall register as filing users of the court's ECF system prior to filing any
pleadings. Registration shall be completed by going to PACER at
https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ and selecting Manage My Account Login. Click the
Maintenance tab and then select E-File Registration Only.
• For detailed instructions on how to Register for Electronic Filing in the District of
Maine click here
Attorneys seeking full admissions must apply via PACER.
• For detailed instructions on how to be admitted to the Maine Bar click here
Local counsel for vising attorneys (pro hac vice) must file a Certification Pro Hac Vice in
each case prior to pro hac counsel submitting a Pro Hac Vice E-Filing request.
• For detailed instructions on how to file Pro Hac Vice and register for ECF click here
A non-prisoner who is a party to a civil action and who is not represented by an attorney
may register to transmit documents electronically to the Court for filing and to receive
electronic notification of filings from the ECF System. Non-prisoner pro se filers who
register for electronic filing are not provided an ECF account but may want to register for a
PACER account. If during the course of the action the person retains an attorney who
appears on the person’s behalf, the Clerk’s Office shall terminate the person’s registration
upon the attorney’s appearance.
A registered user shall not allow another person to file a document using the user’s login
and password, except for an authorized agent of the filing user. Use of a user’s login and
password by a staff member shall be deemed to be the act of the registered user.
Registration constitutes consent to service of all documents by electronic means.
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Electronic Filing, Documents, Attachments, and Exhibits
Excerpts from the Administrative Procedures Governing ECF
Electronic Filing
Electronic transmission of a document to the ECF system, together with the transmission
of a Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) from the court, constitutes filing of the document for
all purposes of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and constitutes entry of the document
on the docket maintained by the Clerk pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P.58, Fed.R.Civ.P.79 and
Fed.R.Crim.P.55. A document filed electronically shall be deemed filed at the time and
date stated on the Notice of Electronic Filing received from the court.
All pleadings filed electronically shall be titled in accordance with the approved dictionary
of civil or criminal events of the ECF system of this court.
Service of Electronically Filed Documents
Whenever a pleading or other document is filed electronically, the ECF system will
automatically generate and send a Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) to the filing user and
registered users of record. The user filing the document should retain a paper or digital
copy of the NEF, which shall serve as the court's date stamp and proof of filing.
Transmission of the NEF shall constitute service of the filed document and shall be
deemed to satisfy the requirements of Fed.R.Civ.P.5(b)(2)(D),Fed.R.Civ.P.77(d) and
Fed.R.Crim.P.49(b).
No certificate of service is required when a document is served by filing it with the ECF
system. Pleadings filed in paper or under seal in the ECF filing system must include a
certificate of service that identifies the manner in which the service on each party was
accomplished.
Attorneys who have not yet registered as users with ECF and pro se litigants who have not
registered with ECF shall be served a paper copy of any electronically filed pleading or
other document in accordance with the provisions of Fed.R.Civ.P.5.
Deadlines
Filing documents electronically does not in any way alter any filing deadlines. All
electronic transmissions of documents must be completed prior to midnight, Eastern
Time, in order to be considered timely filed that day. Where a specific time of day deadline
is set by Court order or stipulation, the electronic filing must be completed by that time.
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Special Filing Requirements and Exceptions
1. Generally, all documents are filed electronically in civil cases, to include the
following:
A. Motions to file documents under seal and sealed documents;
B. Ex parte motions and applications;
C. Unredacted documents; and
D. Administrative records in Social Security Disability cases
2. The following documents may be filed in paper:
A. Administrative review proceeding records other than administrative records
in Social Security Disability cases.
B. the state court record and other Rule 5 materials in habeas corpus cases
filed in 28 U.S.C. § 2254 proceedings.
3. The following documents must be filed in paper or via alternate electronic means
such as email with the Clerk’s Office. The documents will be uploaded into ECF
(Note that sealed documents in criminal cases will not generate an NEF and the
docket entry and documents will not be accessible):
A. Motions to file documents under seal and documents filed under seal in
criminal cases;
B. Ex parte motions and applications filed in criminal cases;
C. Pleadings and documents filed in sealed cases, both civil and criminal;
D. The charging document in a criminal case, such as the complaint,
indictment, or information;
E. Any pleading or document in a criminal case containing the signature of a
defendant, such as a waiver of indictment, or plea agreement; and
F. Affidavits for search and arrest warrants.
4. The following restricted criminal documents shall be electronically filed by the
United States Probation Office. All parties will receive notice of the filing, but the
documents will not be accessible via ECF:
A. Pretrial Services Reports, any Addendums and Release Status Reports;
B. All versions of Presentence Reports; and
C. Revocation Reports
5. The following criminal documents must be electronically filed by the United States
Probation Office and the documents will be sealed:
A. Sentencing recommendations; and
B. Revocation justifications.
6. The following restricted criminal documents shall be electronically filed by counsel.
All parties will receive notice of the filing, but the documents will not be accessible
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via ECF. Counsel will need to serve opposing side in a manner other than through
ECF.
A. Objections to Presentence Reports; and
B. Restricted Document(s) in Felony Information Cases (if not filed with the
original filing paperwork), until the waiver of indictment is held, at which time
it will become unrestricted.
7. The following restricted criminal documents are scanned by the Clerk’s Office and
uploaded into ECF. All parties will receive notice of the filing, but the documents will
not be accessible via ECF. The Clerk’s Office will provide copies in a manner other
than through ECF.
A. Financial Affidavits;
B. Writs of Habeas Corpus;
C. Forensic Psychiatric Evaluation Reports;
D. Statements of Reasons and Findings Affecting Sentencing; and
E. Revocation of Judgment Personal Identifier Attachment
8. The following documents must be filed in paper; which may also be scanned into
ECF by the Clerk’s Office:
A. All handwritten pleadings; and
B. All pleadings and documents filed by pro se litigants who are incarcerated or
who are not registered ECF users.
9. The following documents must be scanned by counsel and filed using ECF:
A. Rule 4 executed service of process documents; and
B. The state court record filed in 28 U.S.C. § 1446 removal proceedings.
10. The following documents may be received by the Clerk’s Office, but are not filed,
electronically or otherwise, unless ordered by the Court:
A. Character letters and general documents in support of sentencing (excluding
Sentencing Memoranda), whose admission will be moved at the time of
sentencing;
B. Hearing and trial exhibits; and
C. Letters in support of Downward Departure motions.
11. Any document or exhibit to be filed or submitted to the Court must not be
password-protected, encrypted or accessible via link (example Dropbox).
Portable Document Format (PDF)
Only electronically converted PDF (Portable Document Format) documents may be filed
with the court using the ECF system, unless otherwise specified by Local Rule or Order.
Users must therefore install a PDF reader, such as Adobe’s Acrobat Reader, if they wish to
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view documents via the Court’s electronic systems. Users must install a PDF converter,
such as Adobe Acrobat, if they wish to file documents via the ECF system. Before sending
the document to the court, users should review the PDF formatted document to ensure
that it appears in its entirety and in the proper format.
There are two types of PDF documents – electronically converted PDF documents and
scanned image PDF documents.
Electronically converted PDF documents are created from word processing documents
(MS Word, WordPerfect, etc.) using Adobe Acrobat or similar software. They are text
searchable, and their file size is small.
Scanned image PDF documents are created from paper documents run through an
optical scanner. Scanned image PDFs are not searchable and have a large file size.
Note: No PDF document filed via the ECF system shall exceed 100 MB in size.
Attachments and Exhibits
A filing user shall submit, in electronic format, all documents referenced as exhibits or
attachments to filings as outlined below, unless otherwise ordered by the court.
Each referenced exhibit must be labeled with a proper exhibit marking, filed as a separate
attachment, and fully described as shown on page 35.
A filing user must submit as attachments and non-trial exhibits only those excerpts of the
referenced documents that are directly germane to the matter under consideration by the
court. Excerpted material must be clearly and prominently identified as such. Users who
file excerpts of documents do so without prejudice to their right to timely file additional
excerpts or the complete document, as may be allowed by the court. Responding parties
may timely file additional excerpts or the complete document that they believe are directly
germane.
Note: Filers must not attach as an exhibit any pleading or other paper already on file
with the Court but shall merely refer to that document.
Attachments and exhibits must be filed according to the following guidelines.
Attachment and Exhibit Size
IF THE ATTACHMENT OR EXHIBIT IS THEN IT MUST BE
A PDF document less than 100 MB in size Filed electronically via ECF
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A PDF document more than 100 MB in Divided into multiple, 100 MB PDF documents
size and filed via ECF
Non-scanned exhibits Filed with the Clerk’s Office with a Notice of
Filing made in ECF
(e.g. videotapes and demonstratives)
Trial exhibits Filed in paper form
Excerpts of deposition transcripts in support of or in opposition to a motion shall be filed
electronically using ECF, unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
Note: A scanning resolution of 300 pixels per inch (ppi) or higher is recommended.
Number of Attachments and Exhibits
When there are 50 or fewer attachments to a pleading, the attachments must be filed
electronically via ECF.
When there are more than 50 attachments, the attachments must be filed in one of the
following ways:
• Filed via ECF as attachments to the pleading,
• Filed via ECF using the Additional Attachments option,
• Filed on paper with the Clerk’s Office or,
• Filed on either a properly labeled compact disk (CD) or digital video disk (DVD) or
thumb drive.
Note: attachments filed on paper or on disk must contain a comprehensive index that
clearly describes each attachment.
Non-scanned Exhibits
All attachments and exhibits that are referred to in a document and are filed with the
Clerk’s Office (i.e. video tapes, demonstratives, pre-trial hearing exhibits, large
documents, etc.) must have notice of their filing recorded in ECF.
The filer must create a descriptor PDF document that contains the name and a description
of the attachment/exhibit (see below).
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During the filing of the referencing document, upload the descriptor PDF document.
If you have multiple exhibits, which will not be filed via ECF, you may include them all in a
single descriptor PDF document.
Signatures
Attorneys The user login and password required to submit documents to the ECF system
shall serve as that user's signature for purposes of Fed.R.Civ.P.11 and for all other
purposes under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Local Rules of this Court. All
electronically filed documents must include a signature block and must set forth the
attorney's name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. The name of the ECF
user under whose login and password the document is submitted must be preceded by a
"/s/" in the space where the signature would otherwise appear.
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Multiple Signatures The filer of any document requiring more than one signature (e.g.,
pleadings filed by visiting lawyers, stipulations, joint status reports) must list thereon all
the names of other signatories, preceded by a "/s/" in the space where the signatures
would otherwise appear. By submitting such a document, the filing attorney certifies that
each of the other signatories has expressly agreed to the form and substance of the
document and that the filing attorney has their actual authority to submit the document
electronically. The filing attorney shall retain any records evidencing this concurrence for
future production, if necessary, until two (2) years after the expiration of the time for filing a
timely appeal. A non-filing signatory or party who disputes the authenticity of an
electronically filed document containing multiple signatures must file an objection to the
document within ten days of the date on the Notice of Electronic Filing.
Affidavits Except as provided in subsection (g)(3)(F) of the Administrative Procedures,
affidavits shall be filed electronically; however, the electronically filed version must
contain the typed name of the signatory, preceded by a "/s/" in the space where the
signature would otherwise appear indicating that the paper document bears an original
signature. The filing attorney shall retain the original for future production, if necessary, for
two (2) years after the expiration of the time for filing a timely appeal.
Proposed and Text Only Orders
Proposed orders shall not be filed unless requested by the Court. When requested by the
Court, proposed orders shall be filed by e-mail in word processing format.
A judge, or any authorized member of the court staff, may grant routine orders by a text-
only entry upon the docket. In such cases, no PDF document will issue; the text-only entry
shall constitute the court's only order on the matter and counsel will receive a system
generated NEF.
Technical Failures
A filing user whose filing is made untimely as the result of a technical failure may seek
appropriate relief from the Court.
The initial point of contact for any Filing User experiencing technical difficulty filing a
document electronically shall be the court’s ECF Help Desk at the numbers listed in this
manual.
A technical failure of the Court’s ECF system is deemed to have occurred when the Court’s
ECF site cannot accept filings continuously or intermittently over the course of any period
of time greater than one hour. Known system outages will be posted on the Court’s
website along with guidance on how to proceed, if applicable.
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Public Access
The public may review at the Clerk’s Office all filings that have not been sealed or
restricted to Case Participants or Applicable Parties.
Except for social security cases and some immigration cases, the public may access civil
filings made after January 1, 2003 and criminal filings made after November 1, 2004 in ECF
at the court’s Internet site (www.med.uscourts.gov) by obtaining a PACER login and
password.
Effective December 1, 2007, PACER users will be allowed access to judgments, opinions,
and orders that have been marked as written opinions in Social Security appeal cases.
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Third-Party Services and Access to Information in CM/ECF
Individuals with CM/ECF filing rights via PACER should protect their account credentials
and avoid sharing them with third-party vendors such as DocketBird, RECAP and PACER
Pro to name a few. The District of Maine strongly urges the following:
1. Do NOT share PACER account credentials with third parties; and
2. Do NOT add third-party service providers as recipients for secondary email
concerning Notices of Electronic Filing or Notices of Docket Activity.
Individuals who have been granted an exemption from PACER fees (such as CJA counsel)
should NOT share documents they retrieve from PACER with third-party service providers.
Transcripts
Proceedings of this Court*: A transcript of a proceeding of this court shall be filed
electronically using ECF.
1. Proceedings of this Court
A. A transcript of a proceeding of this court shall be filed electronically using
ECF. The transcript shall be available at the Clerk’s Office, for inspection
only, for a period of 90 days after it is filed. During this 90-day period, a copy
of the transcript may be obtained from the court reporter or transcriber at the
rate established by the Judicial Conference. The transcript will be available
at the public terminal at the Courthouse and remotely electronically
available to any attorneys of record who have purchased a copy from the
court reporter or transcriber.
B. In compliance with the policy of the Judicial Conference of the United States
and to address privacy concerns:
i. Parties must file a Notice of Intent to Redact within seven (7) calendar
days of the filing of the official court transcript;
ii. If redaction is requested, parties must submit to the court reporter a
Redaction Request within 21 days from the filing of the official court
transcript;
iii. Parties must move the court for any additional redactions beyond
those identified in section (i) above;
iv. Any redacted transcript shall be filed electronically using ECF within
31 days from the filing of the official court transcript;
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v. After the 90-day inspection-only period has ended, the original
transcript, or redacted transcript, if so filed, will be publicly available
through PACER.
C. The Judicial Conference of the United States Policy on Privacy and Public
Access to Electronic Case Files states that documents in criminal cases
containing identifying information about jurors or potential jurors shall not be
included in the public case file and shall not be made available to the public
at the courthouse or via remote electronic access. Transcripts of
proceedings may become public record; therefore, counsel are advised to
use juror numbers instead of juror names during court hearings.
2. Transcripts from Other Courts
A transcript of a proceeding of another court must be filed electronically in PDF if
possible and otherwise in paper.
3. Depositions
Excerpts of depositions in support of or in opposition to a motion must be filed
using ECF, unless otherwise permitted by the Court. Full transcripts of depositions
to be used at trial should be filed in paper.
*Note: While transcripts of court proceedings are filed via ECF, they are not available for
viewing via the ECF/PACER system for a period of 90 days after they are filed.
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Privacy
In compliance with the policy of the Judicial Conference of the United States and to
address the privacy concerns created by Internet access to court documents, parties shall
refrain from including, or shall partially redact where inclusion is necessary, the following
personal data identifiers from all documents filed with the court, including exhibits
thereto, whether filed electronically or in paper, unless otherwise ordered by the Court:
1. Minors' names: Use of the minors' initials only;
2. Social security numbers: Use of the last four numbers only;
3. Dates of birth: Use of the year of birth only;
4. Financial account numbers: Identify the type of account and the financial
institution, but use only the last four numbers of the account number; and
5. Home addresses: Use the city and state in criminal cases only.
In compliance with the E-Government Act of 2002, a party wishing to file a document
containing the personal data identifiers listed above may file an unredacted document
under seal, which shall be retained as part of the record, or, may file a reference list under
seal. The reference list shall contain the complete personal data identifiers and the
redacted identifiers used in their place in the filing. All references in the case to the
redacted identifiers included in the reference list will be construed to refer to the
corresponding complete identifier. The reference list must be filed under seal and may be
amended as of right. It shall be retained by the court as part of the record.
The responsibility for redacting these personal identifiers rests solely with counsel and the
parties. The Clerk will not review filings for compliance with this rule.
The redaction requirement does not apply to the following:
1. A financial account number that identifies the property allegedly subject to
forfeiture in a forfeiture proceeding in civil cases;
2. A financial account number or real property address that identifies the property
allegedly subject to forfeiture in a forfeiture proceeding in criminal cases;
3. The record of an administrative or agency proceeding;
4. The official record of a state court proceeding;
5. The record of a court or tribunal, if that record was not subject to the redaction
requirement when originally filed;
6. A filing covered by Rule 5.2(c) or (d);
7. A pro se filing in an action brought under 28 U.S.C. Sections 2241, 2254, or 2255;
8. A criminal filing made under Rule 49.1(d);
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9. A court filing that is related to a criminal matter or investigation and that is prepared
before the filing of a criminal charge or is not filed as part of any docketed criminal
case;
10. An arrest or search warrant; and
11. A charging document and an affidavit filed in support of any charging document.
Sealed, Ex Parte, and Unredacted Documents in Civil Cases
Sealed, Ex Parte and Unredacted documents shall be filed electronically via the CM/ECF
system in CIVIL cases only. Listed below are the options provided for filing such
documents.
1. Motions to Seal and Sealed Motions (in the Motions category):
• Seal (used for any requests to seal another pleading, motion or document)
• Sealed Motion 1 and Sealed Motion 2 (used for any sealed motions regardless of the
request)
2. Sealed Documents:
• Sealed Response to Motion
• Sealed Reply to Response to Motion
• Sealed Document
• Unredacted Document
• Redaction Reference List
• Additional Attachments-SEALED
Note: All documents filed per sections 1 and 2 will send a Notice of Electronic Filing to
counsel of record notifying them of the filing, but counsel will be unable to view the
document. If service is required, all counsel must be served in a manner other than
through ECF.
3. Motions filed Ex Parte (in the Motions category):
• Ex Parte (NO NOTICE)
• Ex Parte (NOTICE)
One of these ECF options must be used for ANY Ex Parte filing. The Clerk’s Office will not
observe the ECF generated response time before sending it to a judicial officer for action.
Note: The Ex Parte (NO NOTICE) option will NOT send a Notice of Electronic Filing and
the docket entry and attached document will be sealed from public view.
The Ex Parte (NOTICE) option will send a Notice of Electronic Filing to all counsel of
record. The docket entry, and the attached document, will be publicly available.
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Redacted Documents in Civil and Criminal Cases
In compliance with Rule 5.2 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Rule 49.1 of the
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, it is the filing party’s responsibility when filing
documents containing personal data identifiers, to refrain from including, or partially
redacting where inclusion is necessary, protected information. For complete information
on properly filing redacted and unredacted documents in civil cases, see Guidelines for the
Filing of Confidential Information in Civil Cases.
Filing a Properly Redacted Document:
The process for filing a properly redacted document is identical to other electronic filings.
Upload the redacted document during the document selection portion of the electronic
filing process.
Filing an Unredacted Document in a Civil Case:
It is not always necessary to file an unredacted version of a properly filed, redacted
document. Only if personal data identifiers are necessary to a decision, should counsel
file an unredacted version. To do so, select Unredacted Document from the Other
Documents list of available events and electronically file the unredacted version of the
document and/or attachment(s). When prompted to select a link to a filing, check the box
next to the previously filed, redacted version of the document.
Note: Although the docket entry will be public, the unredacted document(s) will be
unavailable to the public.
Filing an Unredacted Document in a Criminal Case:
If personal data identifiers are necessary to a decision, an unredacted version of the
document shall not be filed electronically but should be filed in paper with the Clerk’s
Office.
Filing in Accordance with an Approved Consent Confidentiality Order in Civil Cases:
If there is information in a document that is protected under an approved consent
confidentiality order and that information is necessary to a decision, a motion to seal is
required. Filing practices differ depending on whether or not there is a non-confidential
pleading or motion with one or more attachments that contain protected information or if
there is a pleading or motion that incorporates confidential information in the main
document. For complete information on properly filing documents that contain
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information protected under an approved Confidentiality Order, see Guidelines for the
Filing of Confidential Information in Civil Cases.
Mistakes Filing Redacted Documents:
If electronically filed documents and/or attachments improperly contain personal data
identifiers, counsel should immediately file a Motion to Seal. The motion must indicate
exactly which pleading and attachment number(s) are requested to be sealed. If the
motion to seal is granted, the Court will seal only those documents and or attachments
that are subject to the order. A redacted version of the document(s) must be filed by
selecting Redacted Document from the Other Documents list of available events.
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Correcting a Mistake
While filing if a mistake has been identified it’s best to start over. Clicking the back button
on the internet browser could result in additional errors. If a mistake has been identified
after the filing was submitted, contact the Clerk’s Office to determine the best fix. Note:
once an entry has been made it cannot be deleted or removed.
Documents Filed in Error
A document incorrectly filed in a case may result from (a) posting the wrong PDF file to a
docket entry; (b) selecting the wrong document type from the menu; or (c) entering the
wrong case number and not discovering the error before completing the transaction.
To request a correction telephone the Help Desk as soon as the error is discovered. You
will need to provide the case and document number for the document requiring correction.
If appropriate, the Court will make an entry indicating that the document was filed in error.
You will be advised if you need to re-file the document. The ECF system does not permit
you to change a misfiled document or incorrect docket entry after the transaction has been
accepted. The Court does not remove any incorrectly filed document.
Help Desk
The Court’s Help Desk will be available Monday through Friday if you need assistance
using ECF.
Bangor Help Desk: 1-207-945-0575 ext. 1 or 1-866-820-5315 ext. 1 (toll free)
Portland Help Desk: 1-207-780-3356 ext. 1 or 1-866-540-3017 ext. 1 (toll free)
or
E-mail --
[email protected]
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Case Opening Documents in a Civil Action
Initiating Case Opening Documents
Civil case opening documents, such as a complaint, petition, or notice of removal,
together with a properly completed civil cover sheet, summons (if applicable) and Rule 7.1
Disclosure Statement (if applicable), must be sent in PDF to
[email protected].
The body of the email must contain:
• The name, address and telephone number of the filer (i.e. attorney);
• The type of document(s) being filed (i.e. complaint);
• The county in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the
claim occurred;
• The number of documents sent with the e-mail; and
• Method of payment (pay.gov or check)
The District of Maine has a 20-megabyte (MB) limit for all messages that its email server
can receive. This means that you must limit the size of attachments so that the entire
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email message does not exceed 100 MB in size (Please remember that no individual PDF
document may exceed 100 MB in size). Exceeding this limit will result in delivery failure. In
the event that the cumulative size of email attachments in a single email message exceeds
10 MB, consider sending the attachments over the course of several email. It is helpful to
indicate in the subject line Email ## of ##.
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Summons Preparing and Issuing
The following describes the summons process in ECF.
1. The filing user must obtain a summons form from the Court’s website.
2. The filing user will fill in the appropriate information on the summons form and e-
mail it in PDF to
[email protected].
3. The Clerk’s Office will imprint the seal of the court and the Clerk’s signature on the
summons and issue the summons electronically to counsel.
4. A party may not electronically serve a civil complaint but shall print the embossed
summons and effect service in the manner in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P.4.
Note: The Summons process described above is valid for all Summonses, even those
submitted after the complaint or other initiating document.
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Paying the Filing Fee
Once a new civil case is opened by the Clerk’s Office, counsel will receive notice via a
notice of electronic filing (NEF) that the filing fee must be paid. There are two ways that
filing fees may be paid – online via Pay.gov or by check.
Payment by check must be received within 48 hours of filing.
The Clerk’s Office encourages you to use the Pay.gov method of payment.
The following describes the process of paying the filing fee via Pay.gov:
1. From the CM/ECF menu bar, select Civil→ Other Documents.
2. Select Pay Fee from the list of available events.
3. Enter the case number
4. Select the name of the filing party
5. Read the reminder and click Next
6. Select which fee you are paying: Civil Action Filing Fee
7. You will be redirected to PACER to submit payment.
8. After payment is processed, you will return to CM/ECF.
9. Upon completion of the credit card transaction screens, click “next” until receiving
the confirmation Notification of Electronic Filing.
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Logging into PACER/ECF
Users can get into the system via the Internet by going to:
1. https://ecf.med.uscourts.gov
2. http://www.med.uscourts.gov click on the E-Filing (CM/ECF) hyperlink
3. https://pacer.uscourts.gov/
The screen below is the Login screen.
Enter your PACER Login and Password in the appropriate data entry fields. A Client Code is
not required to login. Click [Login]
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You must read and accept the Redaction Agreement before continuing.
Note: Use your PACER login and password. If you do not remember your PACER login
and password, contact PACER at 800-676-6856. The Clerk’s Office is not able to assist
with retrieving/resetting passwords.
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Navigating ECF
Once logged in you should see this menu bar at the top of the screen.
ECF provides the following features that are accessible from the menu bar at the top of the
opening screen:
Civil select Civil to electronically file pleadings and other documents in civil or
miscellaneous cases. Be sure to select case type “cv” for civil filings and “mc” for
miscellaneous filings.
Criminal select Criminal to electronically file pleadings and other documents in criminal
or magistrate cases. Be sure to select case type “cr” for criminal filings, “mj” for
magistrate filings, and “po” for petty offense filings.
Query select Query to obtain information by specific case number, party name, or nature
of suit.
Reports select Reports to retrieve docket sheets and cases-filed reports, as well as a
listing of civil and criminal events. You may be subject to PACER fees to view certain ECF
reports.
Utilities select Utilities to maintain the secondary email recipients in your account.
Search select Search to search for a CM/ECF menu or event. Only letters and numbers
may be searched. Note: The “Search” feature is not available to PACER users.
Help select Help for a description of these menu items.
Logout select Logout to exit from ECF and prevent any further filing with your password
until the next time you log in.
Manipulating the Screens
Each screen has the following two buttons: and
The button clears all characters entered in the box(es) on that screen.
The or Submit button accept the entry just made and displays the next entry screen,
if any.
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Filing Documents in ECF
After logging in, there are eleven basic steps involved in e-filing a document:
1. Select the Case Type from the menu bar at the top of your screen (Civil or Criminal).
2. Select the type of document to file (e.g. motion, etc.).
3. Enter the Case Number in which the document is to be filed.
4. Select the Defendant (in criminal filings only)
5. Select the parties for whom the pleading or document is being filed.
6. Select the main document for filing.
7. Add attachments, if any, to the document being filed.
8. Modify docket text as necessary.
9. Submit the document to ECF.
10. Retain Notification of Electronic Filing (NEF).
11. Mail paper copies of pleading to any non-registered party.
For purposes of describing the Electronic Filing process and the ECF screens, this
section of the User Manual describes the process for filing a Civil Motion in ECF.
After successfully logging into ECF, follow these steps to file a pleading. Below is a step-
by-step guide for filing a motion and displaying a docket sheet.
1. Select the Case Type
Select Civil from the menu bar at the top of the ECF screen. The Civil Event window opens
displaying all of the events from which you may choose for your filing. This section of the
User Manual describes the process for filing a Motion in ECF. The process is similar for
filing other pleadings in ECF.
2. Select the Type of Document to File.
Click on Motions, under Motions and Related Filings. The Motions screen appears and
displays an Available Events field with a scroll bar next to it. Scroll through the menu until
you find the type of motion or relief you wish to file. If the type of motion you are filing is not
listed, you may select Miscellaneous Relief 1 and text in the type of motion.
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Note: To select more than one relief within a motion, click on each relief from the
Available Events list. They will move to the Selected Events list. To remove an event
selected by mistake simply click on it.
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For demonstration purposes, highlight Preliminary Injunction and click on [Next].
Note: A Filing User who wishes to file a document other than a motion or application
should make the appropriate selection from the Civil Events menu. The process for
other filings is very similar to what has been described in this manual for filing a motion.
3. Enter the Case Number in which the Document is to be filed.
The next screen will populate with a Case Number field. Enter the number of the case for
which you are filing a motion.
If the number is entered incorrectly, click the [Clear] button to re-enter the case number,
then click the [Next] button.
The case number can be entered in two different formats.
a) If the entire case number is known it may be entered in the format:
<office>:<case year>-<case type>-<case number> (i.e. 1:03-cv-33) where:
Office = 1: Bangor cases
2: Portland cases
Case Type = cv-civil cases
mc-miscellaneous cases
md-multi-district litigation cases
cr-criminal cases
mj-magistrate cases
po-petty offense cases
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b) Enter the case year–case number (i.e. 03-33). To find the appropriate case, click
on “Find this Case”.
c) The system may identify more than one case with that number. Select the
appropriate case by clicking on the box next to the case number.
The next screen will display the case number and name. The case number and name will
be a hyperlink. Only click the link if you wish to return to PACER to view the docket. If this is
the correct case, click [Next].
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4. Select the Defendant (in criminal cases only).
Very Important: In criminal cases, if there is more than one defendant in the case, the
system will display a Select Case screen. Select case for the defendant for whom the
motion applies. The Defendant for whom the motion applies may not necessarily be the
same as the filer of the motion. For example, in a multi-defendant case, the Government
may file a motion for a psychiatric examination as to one of the defendants.
Click [Next]
The next screen will display the case number and name. The case number and name will
be a hyperlink. Only click the link if you wish to return to PACER to view the docket. If this is
the correct case, click [Next].
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5. Select the Party(s) for whom the Document is being Filed.
Highlight in the “Select the Party” box, the name of the party or parties for whom you are
filing the motion. If you represent more than one party, you may select multiple parties by
holding down the control key while pointing and clicking on each party name.
After highlighting the parties to the motion, click on the [Next] button.
Note: If your party does not appear, see the section of this manual titled Add/Create
New Party.
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6. Select the Main Document for Filing
ECF accepts the party or parties you selected and refreshes the screen to display a new
Motions screen. ECF displays a field for locating and entering the PDF file of the document
(pleading) you are filing in ECF.
Note: Each document that you intend to file MUST be in PDF format with a .PDF
extension. Otherwise, ECF will not accept the document.
Click the [Choose File] button. A Dialog box will pop-up.
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Navigate to the appropriate directory and file name to select the PDF document you wish
to file.
Click once on the file to highlight it. To verify that you have selected the correct document,
right mouse click on the highlighted file name to open a quick menu and left click on
[open]. Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader will launch and open the PDF document that
you selected. You should view it to verify that it is the correct document.
Once you have verified the document is correct, close or minimize the document.
Returning to the dialog box, right click on the document then click [Select]. ECF closes the
dialog box and inserts the PDF.
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If there are no attachments to the motion, click on [Next]. The next window will display an
automatically generated Response Deadline. Go to Step 8, “Modify the docket text as
necessary”, to proceed with your filing.
7. Add attachments, if any, to the document being filed
If you have Attachments to your motion, you will move to the “Attachments” section of the
screen depicted below. Click on [Choose File] to search for the document file name of the
attachment.
The filer MUST describe each attachment fully by clicking in the Description box and
typing a clear and concise description of the attachment, as shown above.
Notice that as you add an attachment, a second attachment line appears on the screen.
Additional lines will appear as needed until you have completed all your attachments.
Repeat the sequence for each additional attachment.
After adding all the desired PDF documents as attachments, click on [Next]. The next
window will display an automatically generated Response Deadline.
Note: you do NOT need to select anything from the Category dropdown. Feel free to
ignore this feature.
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8. Modify Docket Text as Necessary
Click on the button shown here to open a modifier drop-down list. Select a modifier if
appropriate. It is not required to make a selection.
If necessary, click in the open text area to type additional text for the description of the
pleading. Please do not add text that is repetitive or duplicate.
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9. Submit the Document
Click on the [Next] button. The final approval screen appears with the complete text for the
docket entry.
Read the docket text to determine if any text needs correcting. Also, review the name of the
Course Document Path to make sure the correct documents were attached. If you need to
modify text on the previous screen, click the [Back] button on the browser toolbar. If
anything else requires correcting you will need to start over.
If the text is correct, click on the [Next] button to file the document.
Note: The screen depicted above contains the following warning.
Pressing the [Next] button on this screen commits this transaction. You will have no
further opportunity to modify this transaction if you continue.
At any time prior to this step, you can abort the ECF filing by clicking on any hyperlink on
the ECF menu bar. Unless modifying final docket text it is not advised to click the [Back]
button on the Web Browser, as this can result in filing errors.
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10. Retain Notification of Electronic Filing (NEF).
After a pleading is electronically filed, ECF will electronically transmit the Notice of
Electronic Filing to the filing user and users of record who have registered as ECF Filing
Users.
Note: The example above is one screen. However, you have to scroll down to view all
the information available.
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The screen depicted above provides confirmation that ECF has registered your transaction
and the pleading is now an official court document. It also displays the date and time of
your transaction and the number that was assigned to your document. You should note
this number on the document’s PDF file on your system. You should also note the date
and time as this is the official time that your document was filed with the Court.
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Individuals who receive electronic notification of the filing are permitted one "free look” at
the document by clicking on the associated hyperlinked document number embedded in
the Notice of Electronic Filing. The filer is permitted one free look at the document
(except transcripts and certain restricted documents). The free look period for accessing
documents via the Notice of Electronic Filing is fifteen days. Viewing attachments and
subsequent retrieval of the case docket sheet or document from ECF must be made
through your PACER account and is subject to regular PACER fees.
In a criminal case, only attorneys of record can view documents filed prior to November
1, 2004. Public users will be allowed to view all non-sealed and non-private criminal case
documents filed on or after November 1, 2004 in the same manner as they have been able
to view civil case documents.
Individuals who receive electronic notification of a filing in a criminal case are permitted
one "free look” at the document (except transcripts, and certain restricted documents) by
clicking on the associated hyperlinked document number embedded in the Notice of
Electronic Filing.
11. Mail Paper Copies of Pleading to any Non-Registered Party.
The ECF filing report also displays the names and addresses of individuals who will not be
electronically notified of the filing. It is the filer’s responsibility to serve hard copies of the
pleading to attorneys and pro se litigants who are not yet registered for electronic
notification.
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Other Options in ECF
Add/Create a New Party
In rare cases, you may need to add a party to the ECF system. If the party you represent is
not listed in the “Select the filer” screen, click on New Filer. The screen depicted below
will appear.
Before adding any party, you must search for the party name to see if your party is already
on the ECF system. Type a wildcard (*) and the first few letters of the party’s last name or
the first few letters of the company name in ALL CAPS. Click [Search].
If a match is found, ECF will display a list of party names. If the name of the party you
represent appears in the list, click on it and then click [Select Party]. Review the party
information and select the party’s role in this filing. Click [Submit]. If a match is not
found, or your party does not appear in the list, click [Create New Party].
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ECF displays the following screen.
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For a company, enter the entire company name in the Last Name field. Choose the
appropriate Role from the drop-down list. Leave all other fields blank. Click [Add Party].
For an individual, fill out the Last Name, First Name, Middle Name, Generation and Title
fields IN ALL CAPS as appropriate. Choose the appropriate Role from the drop-down list.
Leave all other fields blank. Click [Add Party]
When entering party information, please note that:
• Parties should be entered in the manner in which they are captioned on the
document being filed.
• Always enter all party names in ALL CAPS.
• Never start the last name field with “THE”.
• DO NOT use PUNCTUATION when adding parties with the exception of hyphens,
apostrophes and commas (i.e. do not include a period after the middle initial).
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Linking Documents (refer to Existing Event)
Some pleadings such as Briefs should be “linked” to their related documents in the
case. When filing these documents you will be presented with the following screen.
An “event” in CM/ECF is anything that has been filed in a case. To link the document
you are currently filing to a previously filed document, check the box in front of “Should
the document you are filing link to another document in this case” and click [Next].
You are now presented with a list of documents to link to. In this example, we have
linked to a complaint.
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Attorney/Party Association
If this is an attorney’s first filing in a case CM/ECF will display the following screen:
To tell the system that you are counsel of record for this party, place a check in the box
at the left of the attorney’s name as shown above.
DO NOT uncheck the Notice box. If this box is unchecked the attorney will not receive
Notices of Electronic Filings.
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Menu Bar Features
Query Feature
Registered participants should use this feature to query the ECF system for specific case
information. To enter the Query mode, click on Query from the ECF menu bar.
Remember, access to web based documents and reports via the ECF/PACER system will
generate an $.10 per page charge with a cost ceiling of $3.00 per document. Transcripts of
court proceedings are not available for viewing via the ECF/PACER system for a period of
90 days after they are filed. Charges are not capped at 30 pages as they are for other court
documents. They will accrue for the entire transcript.
Payment of PACER Fees is waived each quarter if the total charge is under $30.
PACER users are not billed for accessing a written opinion document itself but will be
charged for the report or query used to identify the document.
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If you know the number that the Court has assigned to the case, enter it in the Case
Number field and click on the [Run Query] button.
You may also query the ECF database by the name of a party or an attorney to the case.
Enter the last name of the party or attorney in the appropriate field. If more than one
person with that name is in the database, ECF returns a screen from which to select the
correct name. If the individual is a party to more than one case, ECF will open a screen
listing all of the party’s cases. Click on the case number hyperlink.
You may also query a case by the nature of suit. You must enter a range for either the filed
date or the last entry date in order for the query to run. To search for all cases of a certain
type, use the date 1/1/1990 as the "beginning of time”.
After querying the database by case number, name, or nature of suit, ECF opens the Query
window for the specific case you selected.
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At the top of the window, ECF displays the case number, the case title, presiding Judge,
date that the case was filed, and date of last filing for the case. You may choose specific
case information from a large list of query options by clicking on the appropriate
hyperlinked name on the screen. The following paragraphs describe several of the
available case-specific query options.
Attorney
Displays the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the attorneys who represent
each of the parties to the case.
Deadlines/Hearings
Produces a screen that allows you to query the database by various means to obtain
hearing and other schedule deadlines. If you query as illustrated below, ECF opens the
Deadlines/Hearings screen depicted below.
Click on [Run Query] to display the Deadlines/Hearings information screen.
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If you click on the document number, ECF will display the actual document that created
the deadline.
If you click on the button to the right of the document number, ECF will display the Notice
of Electronic Filing (NEF).
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Docket Report
When you select Docket Report, ECF opens the Docket Sheet screen as depicted below.
You may select a date range for your docketing report as well as a range of docketing
numbers. If you leave the range fields blank, ECF will default to print the entire docketing
report. Place a checkmark in the box to Include links to Notice of Electronic Filing if you
wish to view them from the docket sheet. After you have selected the parameters for your
report, click on the [Run Report] button. ECF will run your custom docketing report and
display it in a window as depicted.
The document numbers in the middle column are hyperlinks to PDF files of the actual
documents. Place your pointer on the silver button next to the document number and click
to display the Notice of Electronic Filing for the document.
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Viewing all Documents for a Single Docket Entry
PACER users may view all the documents for a single docket entry at the same time from
the docket sheet. **To view all the documents:
