Electronic Filing of New Civil Cases

Beginning April 18, 2011, attorneys may electronically file new civil cases which are initiated with a Complaint, Notice of Removal, Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, and Petition to Quash IRS Summons. Step by step instructions to help guide you on how to electronically open a civil case and instructions for searching and adding parties are posted here for reference. If you make an error during the case opening process during normal business hours, please contact the Clerk's Office for assistance. Do not attempt to open another case. Any questions or requests for assistance outside business hours, please send an email to QualityControl@ctd.uscourts.gov and someone will respond during business hours.

When opening your case, you will be prompted to pay the filing fee electronically through pay.gov, a secure web-based application that interfaces with CM/ECF. 

Electronic Filing of Notices of Appeal and Motions for Admission of Visiting Attorneys in Civil Cases

Beginning April 18, 2011, attorneys may electronically file motions for admission pro hac vice and notices of appeal in civil cases. When efiling, you will be prompted to pay the filing fee electronically through pay.gov.

Important Change in Requesting Summons Forms

Effective February 14, 2011, counsel will no longer request summons in paper form. Counsel will request that a summons be issued using the event Request to Issue Summons under the Service of Process group in CM/ECF. The Clerk's Office will issue the summons and counsel will receive a Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) with the summons attached in PDF format. Upon receiving the NEF, counsel for plaintiff or removing defendant shall be responsible for serving the summons and complaint on all parties to the action in accordance with Fed R. Civ. P. 4. This new procedure does not affect the following types of civil cases: pro se and prisoner cases.

Filing of Appearances

You may not file an appearance on behalf of another attorney. The attorney filing the appearance must be the attorney that is logged into CM/ECF.

Electronic Signatures

All efiled documents must contain either an electronic signature(s) or a scanned image of a signature(s). Please see Section XI B of the Policy and Procedures Administrative Order for more information on signatures.

Reminder Re: Courtesy Copies

Reminder to Counsel: Please submit courtesy copies in compliance with each Judge's Electronic Filing Order.

Adobe Acrobat Reader in CM/ECF

Due to the various versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader that are available, some users may have experienced opening a PDF document and seeing a blank page. If this occurs, please use the following corrective measure:

After receiving the blank screen from a Query, click the Back button in your browser. Under Document Options you will need to select the check box labeled, Include Headers When Displaying PDF Documents. Click Run Report again and the page will display correctly.

Also, it is possible to set this as a default setting. Log into your CM/ECF account and select Utilities. Click on Maintain Your Account and check off the box Add Headers to PDF Documents.

Notice to the Bar Re: Paper Filings

Effective January 5, 2004, all paper filings shall be accompanied by a disk or CD containing a Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the filing. This requirement will apply in all cases unless or until the court designates the case for electronic filing pursuant to the Electronic Filing Policies and Procedures Manual, Section 1. D., Selection of Cases. Disks or CDs will be returned if a self-addressed, postage-paid mailer is provided; otherwise, disks or CDs will be disposed of by the clerk’s office.

Counsel should familiarize themselves with the Electronic Filing Policies and Procedures Manual. Attention should be paid to Section I. F., General Format of Documents to be Filed Electronically, particularly file size restrictions and format. If the document to be filed cannot be reduced to PDF format due to size or other reasons, refer to the Electronic Filing Policies and Procedures Manual, Section VIII, Manual Filings.

Counsel are encouraged to register for access to the CMECF system. Counsel registered with the system will receive electronic notice of filings and will no longer receive hard copies of court rulings, except in sealed cases. If counsel experience problems viewing or downloading documents sent electronically, counsel should refer to the PACER Service Center website (http://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov) or contact the PACER Service Center trouble desk (1-800-676-6856).