(a) Electronic Case Filing ("CM/ECF").
The district court uses an electronic case filing ("CM/ECF") system
("System"). Failure to comply with CM/ECF procedures may result in
sanctions on an attorney or party. Information about CM/ECF is on the
court's website at
https://www.ned.uscourts.gov/attorney/electronic-case-filing.
(1) Public Access to the System.
Public remote electronic access to the System for viewing purposes
is limited to subscribers of the Public Access to Court Electronic
Records ("PACER") system, https://www.pacer.psc.uscourts.gov.
The Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule, which includes
information about free access and exemptions, is available on the
United States Courts website at https://www.uscourts.gov/services-
forms/fees/electronic-public-access-fee-schedule.
(A) Restrictions on Remote Access.
(i) Sealed Documents.
A sealed case or document is placed on the System
but is not remotely accessible to the public or available
at the terminals in the clerk's office unless the court
orders the case or document unsealed. See NECivR
7.5; NECrimR 12.5.
(ii) Restricted Access Documents.
Remote access to documents containing personal
identifying information protected by the E-Government
Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899 (Dec.
17, 2002) (codified at 5 U.S.C. §§ 3701-3707 and
scattered sections) ("E-Government Act"), is restricted
to case participants and court users. Public access to
Effective December 1, 2025 Nebraska General Rules
these documents is not allowed at terminals in the
clerk's office. See NECivR 5.3; NECrimR 49.1.1.
(iii) Administrative Documents and Records.
Public access will not be available to the court's internal
administrative documents and records filed on the
System.
(2) Electronic Orders and Judgments.
All court orders, judgments, and proceedings are filed under these
rules, resulting in entry on the clerk's docket. Court personnel file
signed orders electronically. Any order or other court-issued
document filed electronically with an electronic signature has the
same effect as an originally signed, nonelectronically filed document.
Orders issued as "text-only" docket entries (i.e., without an attached
.pdf document) are also official and binding.
(A) Oral Orders.
Copies of oral orders are distributed electronically as minutes,
text-only orders, or .pdf documents.
(B) Notice to Unregistered Users.
The clerk mails paper copies of orders to parties who are not
registered users of the System. A paper copy is accompanied
by an NEF.
(3) Filing Errors.
Once a document is submitted and becomes part of the case docket,
only the clerk may correct the document. The System does not allow
the filing party to change a document or its docket entry once a
transaction is accepted. If an error is discovered, the filing party
should immediately contact the clerk with the relevant case and
document numbers. If necessary, the clerk notifies a party to refile a
document or file a motion to strike.
(4) Striking .PDF Documents and Text-Only Entries.
The clerk may enter an order striking a .pdf document filed
electronically and note in the docket entry of the stricken document
Effective December 1, 2025 Nebraska General Rules
that the document is "STRICKEN" if the document is (A) a duplicate
of a document already filed electronically in the same case; (B) filed
in the wrong case; (C) empty, upside down or illegible; or (D) related
to an application to clerk for refund under NEGenR 1.2(e)(2). The
stricken document or entry remains visible and electronically
available on the docket unless otherwise ordered by the court. The
clerk may also enter an order striking a text-only entry if a court
employee uploaded the entry in error.
(5) Technical Failures.
A filing party whose filing is made untimely as the result of a technical
failure may seek appropriate relief from the court.
(b) Registration for CM/ECF.
(1) District Court Registration.
Before electronically filing a document with the court, an attorney or
a pro se party (i.e., one not represented by an attorney) to a pending
civil case must register for electronic filing with PACER at the
following web address: https://www.pacer.gov/. See NECivR 5.1;
NECrimR 49.1. Electronic filing registration constitutes a party's
consent to electronic service and waiver of the right to service by
personal service or first class mail. Once registration is complete, a
login and password are issued by PACER and serve as part of the
user's electronic signature on documents filed on the System. See
NECivR 11.1; NECrimR 49.2.
(A) An attorney must not knowingly facilitate the use of the
attorney's password by anyone other than an authorized
agent. If an attorney believes that a password's security is
compromised and that a threat to the System exists, the
attorney must immediately change the password.
(B) Once registered, an attorney is responsible for all documents
filed with the attorney's password.
(C) An attorney admitted pro hac vice must register for a
password with PACER at https://www.pacer.gov/.
(D) If a pro se party retains an attorney who appears in a pending
action, only the attorney receives future NEFs.
Effective December 1, 2025 Nebraska General Rules
(2) Withdrawal from System.
A registered user may withdraw from the System by sending the clerk
a written notice of withdrawal, either on paper or electronically. Upon
receipt, the clerk immediately terminates access in the System.
Withdrawal does not constitute authorization to file cases or
documents nonelectronically.
(c) Privacy Policy.
Federal rules support compliance with the E-Government Act. See Fed. R.
Civ. P. 5.2; Fed. R. Crim. P. 49.1. Parties and their attorneys are
responsible under the rules for preventing the disclosure of certain
confidential information in case filings. The clerk does not review case filings
for compliance or independently redact or seal noncomplying filings.
(d) Attorney Appearances.
An attorney appears in a case by (1) filing a written entry of appearance or
signed pleading or (2) personally appearing at a hearing. An attorney who
orally enters an appearance must promptly file and serve a written
appearance. A written appearance or pleading signed by an attorney must
show the attorney's bar number, office address, telephone number, fax
number, and e-mail address.
(e) Change of Address, Telephone, Fax, or E-Mail.
An attorney whose address, telephone number, fax number, or e-mail
address changes during a pending case must file and serve notice of the
change within 30 days.
(f) Withdrawal of Appearance.
An attorney of record may withdraw upon showing good cause, but is
relieved of duties to the court, the client, and opposing attorneys only after
(1) filing a motion to withdraw, (2) providing proof of service of the motion
on the client, and (3) obtaining the court's leave to withdraw.
(g) Proceedings by Persons Without an Attorney (Pro Se).
Unless stated otherwise, parties who proceed pro se are bound by and must
comply with all local and federal procedural rules.
(h) Attorney Appointments.
Effective December 1, 2025 Nebraska General Rules
Any indigent pro se civil litigant may file a motion requesting appointment of
an attorney. If filed with an original complaint, the motion must be a separate
document. Attorneys are appointed under statute, court rule, or in the court's
discretion. If an appointed attorney moves to withdraw, the court may
appoint a substitute attorney. This rule does not limit the court's authority to
appoint an attorney on its own motion.
(i) Communication with Court.
Once an attorney is appointed or retained, all further documents and other
communications with the court must be submitted through the attorney,
unless the court permits otherwise. Any further pro se documents or other
communications submitted to the court may be (1) returned unfiled to the
sending party or (2) forwarded to the sending party's attorney.
