Frequently Asked Questions

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  • If I receive a jury summons and have already served, what do I do?

    If you have served within the past two years, send the court that has summonsed you a copy of the proof of service or certificate of attendance you received from the court you served at. However, if you were only a telephone standby juror, and never had to physically appear for jury service, you may still be eligible to serve at the court who is summoning you to appear now.

  • Is ECF filing mandatory?

    Yes, as of August 2, 2004, electronic case filing is mandatory for all civil cases other than pro se cases and for all criminal cases.

  • Is there a dress code for jurors?

    Proper court attire is mandatory. No jeans, shorts, tank tops, sweats or other very casual attire is permitted. Dress "business casual" or "business" for your appearance.

  • Is there a way to limit the number of e-mail notifications (NEFs) received per day by an Attorney?

    Counsel has the option to receive an e-mail as each filing is made, or to receive only one summary listing of all e-filings at the end of each day. To request a change in this option, send e-mail to support@nyed.uscourts.gov

    Whichever option is selected, Counsel must check e-mail notification for document filings and other case-related information.

  • My attorney was admitted pro hac vice in a matter, however the attorney does not appear to be included in notices. How can I resolve this?

    Please have the attorney file a Notice of Appearance using their ecf login and password.

  • My case is now on appeal. Do I continue to submit my vouchers to the District Court for processing?

    No. Vouchers for all appellate work should be mailed to the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 40 Foley Square, New York, NY 10007.

  • My client needs clothes, a haircut and personal items so s/he looks presentable when appearing at court. I already purchased them and would like to be reimbursed. Can I claim these as expenses on my voucher?

    No. These are items of a personal nature and are not reimbursable under the Criminal Justice Act.

  • My client was involved in two separate cases. Can I submit one voucher including both case numbers?

    No. Separate vouchers/worksheets are required for each case.

  • My corporation has been sued, can I file papers in Court on behalf of the corporation?

    No. Only individuals can appear pro se In other words, a person who is not an attorney may appear pro se but may not represent a corporation, even if the person is the sole owner of the corporation. The corporation must be represented by a lawyer.

  • My papers are due today, but I can't get to the courthouse until after 5:00pm, what can I do?

    If you cannot submit your papers during the Court’s normal business hours, you may place them in the District Court’s Night Deposit Box located near Security in the lobby of the Courthouse.  You must have the papers date and time stamped at the machine near Security.  So long as the papers are stamped on or before 11:59pm, they will be deemed submitted on that date.  If the papers are stamped at 12:00am (midnight) or later, they will be deemed submitted the next day.

  • The complaint that I filed was signed by multiple attorneys, however it only added my name. How do I go about adding the other attorneys to the case?

    Associating the Filing Attorney with the Filing Party Once you have identified the party filing the case-initiating document, you must identify the attorney who represents that party. However, your options are limited.
    At case opening, the system allows only the attorney whose CM/ECF login and password are being used to file the case-initiating document to be associated with the case.
    Once the case-initiating document is filed, additional attorneys who wish to appear on the docket as counsel of record may file a “Notice of Appearance” after the judge assignment has been completed by the Clerk’s Office.

  • The name/address on my summons is wrong. What do I need to do?

    Please Update your address on the Juror Response Form at the bottom of your summons, and mail the form back to the court as soon as possible.

  • What are the appropriate settings for my scanner when preparing a document for filing on CM/ECF?

    Scanned documents filed via CM/ECF must meet NARA Acceptable IMage Quality Specifications:

    Scanned images of textual records transferred to NARA must meet the following minimum requirements for scanning resolution and pixel (bit) depth to support archival preservation and continued use.

    Bitonal (1-bit) scanned at 300-600 ppi.
    This is appropriate for documents that consist exclusively of clean printed type possessing high inherent contrast (e.g., laser printed or typeset on a white background). Scanning at 600 ppi is recommended.
     
    Gray scale (8-bit) scanned at 300-400 ppi.
    This is appropriate for textual documents of poor legibility because of low inherent  contrast, staining or fading (e.g., carbon copies, thermofax, or documents with handwritten annotations or other markings), or that contain halftone illustrations or
    photographs. Scanning at 400 ppi is recommended.
     
    Color (24-bit RGB [Red, Green, Blue]) scanned at 300-400 ppi.
    Color mode (if technically available) is appropriate for text containing color information important to interpretation or content. Scanning at 400 ppi is recommended.

    If your document was created using a word processor, then it should be printed to pdf. Do not print, scan and pdf your document. Your ecf login and password is your signature. Please refer to page 4 of the ecf user guide for more information. 

  • What are the ecf contact telephone numbers?
    • CM/ECF Registration 
      718-613-2312 Brooklyn and 631-712-6036 Central Islip
    • CM/ECF Filing 
      718-613-2610 Brooklyn and 631-712-6010 Central Islip
    • CM/ECF Training 
      718-613-2312 Brooklyn and 631-712-6011 Central Islip
    • CM/ECF Technical Help Desk 
      718-613-2290
  • What are the operating hours for the court?

    The court is open 8:30AM to 5:00PM on Monday - Friday, except for Federal Holidays. Last admittance to the Clerk's Office is 4:45.

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