(a) Requirement of Membership in Local Bar. In order to appear in and/or practice before
this Court, a person must be a member of the Bar of this Court unless these Local Rules
expressly provide otherwise.
A person who is not a member of the Bar of this Court may not sign any pleading or
motion filed on behalf of a party unless these Local Rules expressly provide otherwise.
(b) Exceptions to Requirement of Membership. Notwithstanding the provisions of
subsection (a), the following individuals may appear and/or practice before this Court:
(1) Attorneys for the United States. An attorney who is a member in good standing
of the bar of another federal district court and each jurisdiction in which that
attorney has been admitted to practice may appear and practice in this Court as an
attorney for the United States or for any agency of the United States or for an
officer of the United States in his or her official capacity.
(2) Pro Hac Vice Counsel. An attorney who satisfies the requirements of LR Gen
204(b) may appear and practice in this Court if admitted as pro hac vice counsel
in accordance with the provisions of LR Gen 204.
(3) Attorneys in Removal Cases. An attorney who is a member of the bar of the
Rhode Island Supreme Court, and who represents a party in a case removed
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1441 et seq other than a party joining in the removal
request, may appear and practice in this Court in that case, unless that attorney has
been suspended or disbarred as a member of the bar of this Court.
(4) Parties Appearing Pro se. An individual who is not represented by counsel and
who is a party to a pending case may appear on his or her own behalf subject to
the limitations set forth in LR Gen 205. A pro se party shall be subject to and
required to comply with all other applicable provisions of these rules.
(5) Attorneys in Transferred Cases. An attorney who is a member in good standing
of the bar of another federal district court, and who represents a party in a case
transferred to the District of Rhode Island from another district, may appear and
practice in this Court in that case.
(6) Law Student Counsel. A Senior Law Student who is eligible to appear pursuant
to LR Gen 206(e) may appear in this Court as a Law Student Counsel subject to the
limitations in LR Gen 206(e).
U.S. DISTRICT COURT LOCAL RULES – GENERAL/ATTORNEY RULES
(7) Federal Defenders. An attorney employed in the Federal Defender’s Office in
this District may appear and practice as an attorney pursuant to a court
appointment or on behalf of his or her office.
(8) Law Professors. An attorney who is employed by a law school in Rhode Island
and is a member in good standing of the bar of another state bar or federal district
court and each jurisdiction in which that attorney has been admitted to practice,
may appear and practice in this Court as an attorney.
Effective 4/1/24: §(b)(7) and (8) added. Effective 12/1/18: §(b)(6) amended. Effective 1/15/13: §(b)(6) added.
Effective 1/3/11: §(b)(5) added. Effective 3/17/08: §(b)(3) amended.
CROSS-REFERENCES
See LR Gen 204 (pro hac vice counsel) and LR Gen 205 (pro se parties).
See also LR Gen 304(d) (Eligibility, Registration, and Passwords for electronic case filing.)
U.S. DISTRICT COURT LOCAL RULES – GENERAL/ATTORNEY RULES
