United States District Court
Eastern District of Virginia
Electronic Case Filing
Policies and Procedures
Revised May 14, 2025
Introduction - Basic Requirements
Basic Filing users should have the following basic requirements:
Requirements
• Working knowledge of an ECF-compatible web browser and access to the
Internet,
• Adobe Acrobat (or equivalent software) with which to create and read
portable document files (PDF), and
• A PACER account. (See http://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account.)
Browser Compatibility:
It is important to note that the NextGen CM/ECF filing system is not compatible with
Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Attorneys are strongly advised to use Mozilla
Firefox or Safari for optimal performance and compatibility. use of incompatible
browsers may result in errors, including the inability to file documents such as
motions or new civil cases.
By adhering to these requirements, attorneys can ensure smooth and efficient
electronic filing within the court's filing system.
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EDVA Electronic Case Filing Policies and Procedures Manual 111/01/2010; Revised: 5/14/2025
Policies and Procedures – Sealed Documents
Criminal Case ALL sealed documents in criminal cases are exempt from electronic filing.
Sealed Unless otherwise provided by law or Court rule, no document may be filed
Documents under seal without an order entered by the court in accordance with Local
Criminal Rule 49.
Filing users who wish to motion the Court to file a sealed document or seal a
pending criminal case must do the following:
• File the motion, the required non-confidential supporting documentation,
and the Local Criminal Rule 49(D) Notice electronically.
• Submit to the clerk’s office in a sealed envelope the document to be sealed
and any confidential memorandum in support, if filed, as instructed in Local
Criminal Rule 49.
Civil Case Documents filed in sealed civil cases are exempt from electronic filing.
Sealed Sealed filings in these cases must be filed in paper form in a sealed envelope
Documents marked “Under Seal” in accordance with Local Civil Rule 5(E).
Sealed documents filed in public civil cases are to be electronically filed by
registered filing users in accordance with Local Civil Rule 5 and procedures
set forth in Chapter 8, Electronic Filing of Sealed Documents in Civil Cases,
of this manual.
Filing users who wish to motion the Court to file a sealed document or seal a
pending civil case must electronically file the motion to seal, the required
non-confidential supporting documentation, LCvR 5(C) Notice and the sealed
document.
Important Notice: If you receive a NEF for any Sealed Documents
electronically filed, please do not try to open the document. If you select
the View button, it will take you to a placeholder and charge you for
looking at NEF. Below is the Warning Message you will receive.
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EDVA Electronic Case Filing Policies and Procedures Manual | 1/11/2016 Revised 9/26/2025
Policies and Procedures - Civil Case Exceptions
Civil Case Exceptions to electronic case filing must be filed as unbound paper
Exceptions documents. The following are the civil case exceptions to electronic filing:
Document Type Manner of Processing
The following initiating documents: • Submitted on paper by filer
• Cases to be filed under seal. and
• Qui Tam Cases • Scanned by clerk's office
• Receiverships. staff.
• Cases filed by pro se litigants.
Consent Orders should be an attachment to a • Submitted on paper by filer,
motion or notice but never filed as the main • Submitted by clerk's office
document. staff to chambers for judge's
signature, and then
• Scanned by clerk's office
staff.
• Documents filed by • Submitted on paper by filer
► prisoner pro se litigants, and
► other pro se litigants, • Scanned by clerk's office
► other agencies (e.g., USMS). staff.
• Documents in Sealed Cases, Submitted on paper by filer and
• In camera documents, not made available
• Registrar Certificates, electronically.
• Trial exhibits,
• Offers ofjudgment (unless filed with an acceptance
of the offer ofjudgment), and
• State court records.
Any other document that the Court orders not to be Submitted on paper by filer and
electronically filed, imaged, or maintained in the ECF not made available
system. electronically.
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EDVA Electronic Case Filing Policies and Procedures Manual 110/3/2016; Revised 4/25/2024
Policies and Procedures - Criminal Case Exceptions
Criminal Case Exceptions to electronic case filing must be filed as unbound paper documents.
Exceptions The following are the criminal case exceptions to electronic filing:
Document Type Manner of Processing
Initiating documents, such as complaints, informations, • Submitted on paper by filer and
indictments, or superseding indictments. • Scanned by clerk's office staff.
Please Note that Consent Orders should be an • Submitted on paper by filer,
attachment to a motion or notice but never filed as the • Submitted by clerk's office
main document. staff to chambers for judge's
signature, and then scanned
by clerk's office staff.
• CJA Forms. • Submitted on paper by filer and
• Documents filed by an attorney as a first appearance by • Scanned by clerk's office staff.
an interested party. All subsequent filings on behalf of
the interested party should be done electronically.
• Documents filed by
► prisoner pro se litigants,
► other pro se litigants,
► other agencies (e.g., USMS).
• Sealed documents, Submitted on paper by filer and
• In camera documents, not made available electronically.
• Grand jury documents,
• Search warrants; Seizure warrants,
• Pen registers; Wire taps,
• Extradition matters,
• Reports of medical or mental evaluations, and
• Trial exhibits
Any other document that the Court orders not to be Submitted on paper by filer and
electronically filed, imaged, or maintained in the ECF not made available electronically.
system.
Note: For criminal cases filed before March 26, 2007 (paper cases) where a fugitive
defendant is apprehended, that defendant's case will be converted to an electronic (e-filing)
case no matter what date the case originated. Thereafter, all documents pertaining to that
defendant only must be electronically filed, with the exceptions noted in this manual.
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