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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

Northern District of Texas

David C. Godbey, Chief Judge
Karen Mitchell, Clerk of Court

Filing and Serving Pleadings, Motions, or Other Papers

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Civil Rule
5.1
  1. Filing with the Clerk.  A pleading, motion, or other paper that the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure permit or require to be filed, or that the court orders to be filed, that is submitted on paper, must be filed with the clerk’s office for the appropriate division. Unless the presiding judge agrees to accept it for filing, the pleading, motion, or other paper must not be sent directly to the presiding judge.
  2. Original and Judge's Copy Required.  An original and one judge's copy of each pleading, motion, or other paper that is submitted on paper must be filed with the clerk. If a pleading, motion, or other paper is filed by electronic means, the judge's copy must be submitted following procedures set forth in the ECF Administrative Procedures Manual.
  3. Document Containing More Than One Pleading, Motion, or Other Paper.  Except for a proposed order or judgment, a document may contain more than one pleading, motion, or other paper. Any such document must clearly identify each included pleading, motion, or other paper in its title.
  4. Serving by Electronic Means.  [REPEALED]
  5. Electronic Filing Required.  Unless the presiding judge otherwise directs, an attorney —other than a prisoner pro se party— must file any pleading (except a complaint), motion, or other paper by electronic means, subject to the restrictions and requirements of the ECF Administrative Procedures Manual. A party may, for cause, move to be excused from the requirement of electronic filing.
  6. Registration as an ECF User Required.  Unless excused for cause, an attorney—other than a prisoner pro se party— must register as an ECF user within 14 days of the date the attorney appears in a case, following the registration procedures set forth in the ECF Administrative Procedures Manual.