(a) Habeas Corpus and 28 U.S.C. § 2255 Motions. The clerk may require that petitions for
a writ of habeas corpus and motions filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 be filed on a set of
standardized forms approved by this court and supplied, upon request, by the clerk without
cost to the petitioner. Petitioners who do not proceed in forma pauperis must pay a $5.00
filing fee. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). There is no filing fee for Section 2255 motions filed
by prisoners in federal custody.
(b) Page Limitation for Petitions for a Writ of Habeas Corpus and 28 U.S.C. § 2255
Motions. Absent leave of court, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241 and 2254 habeas corpus petitions and
28 U.S.C. § 2255 motions and the initial responsive pleadings thereto, shall not exceed
thirty pages in non-death penalty cases, and one hundred pages in death penalty cases,
excluding attachments. Replies and sur-replies, along with all other motions and responses
thereto, shall not exceed fifteen pages in length in non-death penalty cases and thirty pages
in length in death penalty cases, excluding attachments. Documents that exceed ten pages
in length must include a table of contents and table of authorities, with page references.
Tables and certificates of service and conference are not counted against the applicable
page limit.
(c) Motions for Stay of Execution. A motion for stay of execution filed on behalf of a
petitioner challenging a sentence of death must be filed at least seven days before the
petitioner’s scheduled execution date or recite good cause for any late filing.
(d) Page Limitations in Civil Rights Lawsuits. Absent leave of court, complaints and the
initial responsive pleadings thereto filed in civil rights proceedings shall not exceed thirty
pages, excluding attachments. Documents that exceed ten pages in length must include a
table of contents and table of authorities, with page references. Tables and certificates of
service and conference are not counted against the applicable page limit.
