United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

3rd Circuit Newark, New Jersey

About This Court

The District of New Jersey is a single-district federal court covering the entire state of New Jersey, seated within the Third Circuit. It handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters arising from one of the most densely populated states in the country, with courthouses in Newark, Trenton, and Camden serving different regions of the state.

The district has a long history as one of the busier federal trial courts in the nation, given New Jersey's size, population, and its position between the major metropolitan areas of New York City and Philadelphia. The court regularly handles complex commercial litigation, securities cases, pharmaceutical patent disputes, and significant federal criminal prosecutions including organized crime and public corruption matters.

New Jersey is home to a substantial pharmaceutical and life sciences industry, which contributes to a notable volume of patent and intellectual property litigation filed in this district. The court also sees significant immigration, civil rights, and products liability dockets.

Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey.

Divisions

Newark vicinage (Newark), Trenton vicinage (Trenton), Camden vicinage (Camden)

Caseload

The District of New Jersey consistently handles one of the larger federal dockets in the Third Circuit, with notable concentrations in pharmaceutical patent litigation, securities fraud, public corruption prosecutions, and complex civil matters. Its proximity to major financial and corporate centers contributes to a high volume of commercial and white-collar criminal cases.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the District of New Jersey by filing an application, paying the required fee, and meeting the court's character and fitness standards; admission to the New Jersey bar or the bar of another federal district court may be considered. Local rules govern admission requirements, including provisions for pro hac vice appearances.

Clerk's Office

Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, 50 Walnut Street, Newark, NJ 07102

(973) 645-3730

Active Judges 27

Name	Appointed By	Confirmed	Law School
Madeline Arleo	Barack Obama	2014	Seton Hall University School of Law
Renée Bumb	George W. Bush	2006	Rutgers School of Law -- Newark
Georgette Castner	Joseph R. Biden	2022	Rutgers School of Law -- Camden
Claire Cecchi	Barack Obama	2011	Fordham University School of Law
Stanley Chesler	George W. Bush	2002	St. John's University School of Law
Mary Cooper	George H.W. Bush	1992	Villanova University School of Law
Michael Farbiarz	Joseph R. Biden	2023	Yale Law School
Katharine Hayden	William J. Clinton	1997	Seton Hall University School of Law
Noel Hillman	George W. Bush	2006	Seton Hall University School of Law
Edward Kiel	Joseph R. Biden	2024	University of Notre Dame
Robert Kirsch	Joseph R. Biden	2023	Fordham University School of Law
Robert Kugler	George W. Bush	2002	Rutgers School of Law -- Camden
William Martini	George W. Bush	2002	Rutgers School of Law -- Newark
Brian Martinotti	Barack Obama	2016	Seton Hall University School of Law
Kevin McNulty	Barack Obama	2012	New York University School of Law
Julien Neals	Joseph R. Biden	2021	Emory University School of Law
Christine O'Hearn	Joseph R. Biden	2021	Temple University School of Law (now James E. Beasley School of Law)
Evelyn Padin	Joseph R. Biden	2022	Seton Hall University School of Law
Zahid Quraishi	Joseph R. Biden	2021	Rutgers School of Law -- Newark
Joseph Rodriguez	Ronald Reagan	1985	Rutgers School of Law -- Camden
Esther Salas	Barack Obama	2011	Rutgers School of Law -- Newark
Jamel Semper	Joseph R. Biden	2023	Rutgers School of Law -- Newark
Peter Sheridan	George W. Bush	2006	Seton Hall University School of Law
Michael Shipp	Barack Obama	2012	Seton Hall University School of Law
Anne Thompson	Jimmy Carter	1979	Howard University School of Law
Susan Wigenton	George W. Bush	2006	William and Mary Law School
Karen Williams	Joseph R. Biden	2021	Temple University School of Law (now James E. Beasley School of Law)

Local Rules

101 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 73

Rule	Title
Civ. RULE 10.1	FORM OF PLEADINGS
Civ. RULE 105.1	EXTRAJUDICIAL STATEMENTS
Civ. RULE 1.1	RULES OF PROCEDURE; SCOPE OF THESE RULES
Civ. RULE 11.1	SIGNING OF PLEADINGS
Civ. RULE 11.2	VERIFICATION OF PETITIONS AND INITIAL CERTIFICATIONS
Civ. RULE 11.3	APPLICATIONS FOR FED. R. CIV. P. 11 SANCTIONS
Civ. RULE 1.2	DEFINITIONS
Civ. RULE 12.1	DEFENSES AND OBJECTIONS: WHEN AND HOW PRESENTED
Civ. RULE 12.2	MOTION TO DISMISS FEWER THAN ALL CLAIMS
Civ. RULE 15.1	MOTIONS TO FILE AMENDED PLEADINGS
Civ. RULE 16.1	PRETRIAL CONFERENCES; SCHEDULING; CASE MANAGEMENT
Civ. RULE 201.1	ARBITRATION
Civ. RULE 24.1	NOTICE OF CLAIM OF UNCONSTITUTIONALITY
Civ. RULE 24.2	STATUTORY COURT
Civ. RULE 26.1	DISCOVERY
Civ. RULE 27.1	DEPOSITIONS FOR USE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY
Civ. RULE 28.1	LETTERS ROGATORY
Civ. RULE 301.1	MEDIATION
Civ. RULE 33.1	INTERROGATORIES
Civ. RULE 34.1	REQUESTS FOR PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
Civ. RULE 36.1	REQUESTS FOR ADMISSION
Civ. RULE 37.1	DISCOVERY MOTIONS
Civ. RULE 37.2	APPLICATIONS FOR FED. R. CIV. P. 37 SANCTIONS
Civ. RULE 38.1	JURY DEMAND
Civ. RULE 40.1	ALLOCATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF CASES
Civ. RULE 401.1	RESTRICTIONS OF ALL BROADCASTING, PHOTOGRAPHING, VIDEO OR VOICE RECORDING
Civ. RULE 4.1	SERVICE OF PROCESS
Civ. RULE 41.1	DISMISSAL OF INACTIVE CASES
Civ. RULE 42.1	CONSOLIDATION OF CASES
Civ. RULE 44.1	SEAL
Civ. RULE 47.1	PETIT JURORS
Civ. RULE 47.2	ASSESSMENT OF JURY COSTS
Civ. RULE 48.1	CIVIL JURY
Civ. RULE 48.2	TAKING OF CIVIL VERDICT
CIV. RULE 501.1	POSSESSION AND USE OF ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
Civ. RULE 5.1	SERVICE AND FILING OF PLEADINGS AND OTHER PAPERS
Civ. RULE 5.2	ELECTRONIC SERVICE AND FILING DOCUMENTS
Civ. RULE 52.1	ORAL OPINIONS
Civ. RULE 5.3	CONFIDENTIALITY ORDERS AND RESTRICTING PUBLIC ACCESS UNDER CM/ECF
Civ. RULE 54.1	COSTS
Civ. RULE 54.2	COMPENSATION FOR SERVICES RENDERED AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES
Civ. RULE 54.3	PREPAYMENT OF CLERK'S AND MARSHAL'S FEES
Civ. RULE 56.1	SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTIONS
Civ. RULE 58.1	ENTRY OF JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS
Civ. RULE 6.1	EXTENSIONS OF TIME AND CONTINUANCES
Civ. RULE 65.1	APPLICATIONS FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF
Civ. RULE 65.1.1	SECURITY AND SURETIES
Civ. RULE 66.1	RECEIVERSHIPS
Civ. RULE 67.1	DEPOSIT IN COURT AND DISBURSEMENT OF COURT FUNDS
Civ. RULE 69.1	MARSHAL'S VOUCHERS
Civ. RULE 7.1	APPLICATION AND MOTION PRACTICE
Civ. RULE 7.1.1	DISCLOSURE OF THIRD-PARTY LITIGATION FUNDING
Civ. RULE 7.2	AFFIDAVITS AND BRIEFS
Civ. RULE 72.1	UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGES
Civ. RULE 73.1	CIVIL TRIALS BY CONSENT BEFORE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGES
Civ. RULE 77.1	COURT SESSION
Civ. RULE 78.1	MOTION DAYS AND ORAL ARGUMENT
Civ. RULE 79.1	CUSTODY OF ORIGINAL PAPERS, RECORDS AND EXHIBITS
Civ. RULE 79.2	BRIEFS PART OF PUBLIC RECORD
Civ. RULE 79.3	ENTRY OF SATISFACTION OF JUDGMENTS AND DECREES
Civ. RULE 79.4	FILING OF MANDATE
Civ. RULE 79.5	CLERK TO MAINTAIN LIST OF OFFICIAL NEWSPAPERS
Civ. RULE 80.1	TRANSCRIPTS
Civ. RULE 8.1	PLEADING DAMAGES
Civ. RULE 81.1	NATURALIZATION
Civ. RULE 81.2	PETITIONS FOR HABEAS CORPUS AND MOTIONS UNDER 28 U.S.C. § 2255 IN NON-DEATH PENALTY CASES
Civ. RULE 81.3	PETITIONS FOR HABEAS CORPUS AND MOTIONS UNDER 28 U.S.C. § 2255 IN DEATH PENALTY CASES
Civ. RULE 83.1	ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF LOCAL RULES
Civ. RULE 83.2	RELAXATION OR MODIFICATION OF LOCAL RULES
Civ. RULE 83.3	PROCEDURE IN THE ABSENCE OF RULE OR STATUTORY PROVISION
Civ. RULE 85.1	TITLE
Civ. RULE 9.1	SPECIAL MATTERS - REVIEW OF SOCIAL SECURITY MATTERS
Civ. RULE 9.2	SPECIAL MATTERS - ADMIRALTY AND MARITIME RULES FOR THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

Criminal Rules 16

Rule	Title
Cr. RULE 101.1	EXTRAJUDICIAL STATEMENTS IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
Cr. Rule 1.1	SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY
Cr. RULE 12.1	MOTIONS UNDER FED. R. CRIM. P. 12
Cr. RULE 18.1	ASSIGNMENT OF CRIMINAL CASES
Cr. RULE 24.1	SELECTION AND IMPANELMENT OF TRIAL JURORS
Cr. RULE 32.1	PROBATION
Cr. RULE 41.1	MOTIONS UNDER FED. R. CRIM. P. 41
Cr. RULE 44.1	FORMAL WRITTEN APPEARANCE - CRIMINAL MATTERS
Cr. RULE 46.1	RELEASE FROM CUSTODY
Cr. RULE 5.1	UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGES
Cr. RULE 53.1	CONDUCT IN THE COURTROOM
Cr. RULE 55.1	RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Cr. RULE 55.2	CUSTODY AND DISPOSITION OF EXHIBITS
Cr. RULE 58.1	PROCEEDINGS IN MISDEMEANOR AND PETTY OFFENSE CASES
Cr. RULE 60.1	TITLE
Cr. RULE 7.1	GRAND JURORS

Attorney Rules 4

Rule	Title
Civ. RULE 101.1	ADMISSION OF ATTORNEYS
Civ. RULE 102.1	WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE
Civ. RULE 103.1	JUDICIAL ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Civ. RULE 104.1	DISCIPLINE OF ATTORNEYS

Patent Rules 1

Rule	Title
L. Civ. R. 9.3	SPECIAL MATTERS - LOCAL PATENT RULES FOR THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

Appellate Rules 7

Rule	Title
CIV. RULE 601.1	BANKRUPTCY COURT RULES; LOCAL RULES
CIV. RULE 601.2	APPEALS TO THE DISTRICT COURT
CIV. RULE 601.3	PROSECUTING APPEAL
CIV. RULE 601.4	OTHER GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OF APPEALS
CIV. RULE 601.5	BRIEFS & APPENDICES
CIV. RULE 601.6	DISCLOSURE OF CORPORATE AFFILIATIONS AND FINANCIAL INTEREST
CIV. RULE 601.7	MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE A BRIEF

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 3rd Circuit

District of Delaware Wilmington, Delaware District of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Eastern District of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Middle District of Pennsylvania Scranton, Pennsylvania Western District of Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania