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United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina

4th Circuit Raleigh, North Carolina
Official Court Website

About This Court

Established in 1872, this federal district court serves the eastern portion of North Carolina and sits within the Fourth Circuit. Its jurisdiction covers a broad geographic area that includes the Research Triangle region, the coastal plain, and the Outer Banks, encompassing major urban centers such as Raleigh, Wilmington, and Fayetteville as well as extensive rural territory.

The district includes a significant military presence, with Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and other installations located within its boundaries. This concentration of military installations influences the character of the court's docket, particularly in areas of criminal law and civil litigation involving service members and veterans.

The court operates divisional offices across its territory to serve litigants throughout the district. It handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters, including cases arising under federal statutes, constitutional claims, and disputes between citizens of different states meeting the jurisdictional threshold.

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, Eastern District of North Carolina.

Divisions

Eastern Division (Raleigh), Northern Division (Elizabeth City), Southern Division (Wilmington), Western Division (New Bern)

Caseload

The court's docket reflects a notable volume of drug trafficking and firearms cases tied to the district's military corridors and interstate transportation routes. Federal civil rights litigation and cases involving military personnel and their families also appear with regularity given the concentration of major installations in the district.

Bar Admission

Attorneys seeking admission to practice before this court must be admitted to the bar of the state of North Carolina or admitted pro hac vice for a specific matter. Applicants must also comply with the court's local rules governing admission and attorney conduct.

Clerk's Office

310 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27601

(919) 645-1700

Active Judges 5

Name Appointed By Confirmed Law School
Terrence Boyle Ronald Reagan 1984 American University, Washington College of Law
William Britt Jimmy Carter 1980 Wake Forest College School of Law
James Dever George W. Bush 2005 Duke University School of Law
Louise Flanagan George W. Bush 2003 University of Virginia School of Law
Richard Myers Donald J. Trump 2019 University of North Carolina School of Law

Local Rules

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

Civil Rules 109

Rule Title
Rule 100.3 Civil Contempt
Rule 10.1 Forms of Pleadings, Motions, and Documents
Rule 10.2 Form of Exhibits to Motions
Rule 10.3 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 1.1 Scope and Citation of Local Civil Rules
Rule 11.1 Sanctions
Rule 11.2 Disclosure Statements
Rule 1.2 Definitions
Rule 12.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 13.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 14.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 15.1 Amended Pleadings
Rule 16.1 Final Civil Pretrial Conference
Rule 17.1 Minors or Incompetent Parties
Rule 18.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 19.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 20.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 2.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 21.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 22.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 23.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 24.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 25.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 26.1 Discovery
Rule 27.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 28.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 29.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 30.1 Deposition Exhibits
Rule 3.1 Subsequent Litigation by Parties Proceeding In Forma Pauperis
Rule 31.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 3.2 Denial of In Forma Pauperis Applications
Rule 32.1 Depositions for Use at Trial
Rule 33.1 Form of Interrogatories, Responses, and Objections
Rule 34.1 Requests for Production
Rule 35.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 36.1 Requests for Admission
Rule 37.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 38.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 39.1 Preparations for Trial
Rule 39.2 Late Developments in the Case
Rule 39.3 Opening Statements
Rule 39.4 Closing Arguments
Rule 40.1 Court Schedule and Conduct of Business
Rule 40.2 Electronic Designation of Judges
Rule 40.3 Related Cases
Rule 4.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 41.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 42.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 43.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 44.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 45.1 Witnesses
Rule 46.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 47.1 Jurors
Rule 48.1 Taking Verdicts and Polling the Jury
Rule 49.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 50.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 5.1 Filing and Service of Papers
Rule 51.1 Requests for Jury Instructions
Rule 5.2 Appearances in Civil Cases
Rule 52.1 Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
Rule 5.3 Removal and Post-Removal Procedure
Rule 53.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 54.1 Application for Costs
Rule 54.2 Taxation of Juror Costs
Rule 55.1 Entry of Default and Default Judgment
Rule 56.1 Motions for Summary Judgment
Rule 57.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 58.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 59.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 60.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 6.1 Motions for an Extension of Time to Perform Act
Rule 61.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 62.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 63.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 64.1 Seizure of Person or Property
Rule 65.1 Sureties
Rule 66.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
[Rule 67.1] [Deposit of Registry Funds in Interest Bearing Accounts]
Rule 68.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 69.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 70.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 7.1 Motion Practice
Rule 71.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 7.2 Memoranda
Rule 72.1 Magistrate Judges: Standards of Performance
Rule 72.2 Magistrate Judges: Assignments of Matters
Rule 72.3 Authority of Magistrate Judge
Rule 72.4 Review and Appeal
Rule 7.3 Disclosure of Corporate Affiliations and Other Entities with a Direct Financial Interest in Litigation
[Rule 73.1] [Consent of Parties to Civil Trial Jurisdiction of Magistrate Judges]
Rule 7.4 Ex Parte Motions
Rule 74.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 75.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 76.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 77.1 Court in Continuous Session
Rule 77.2 Orders and Judgments
Rule 78.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 79.1 Exhibits
Rule 79.2 Sealed Documents
Rule 80.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 8.1 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 81.1 Civil Rights Actions by Prisoners
Rule 81.2 Habeas Corpus Actions
Rule 81.3 Naturalization
Rule 82.3 Reserved for Future Purposes
Rule 83.10 Courtroom Technology
Rule 83.5 Correspondence
Rule 83.9 Jurisdiction
Rule 9.1 Reserved for Future Purposes

General Rules 5

Rule Title
Rule 100.1 Court Libraries
Rule 100.2 Jurisdictional Agreements with Other Courts
Rule 100.4 Standing Orders
Rule 83.4 Release of Information to News Media
Rule 83.6 Photographing and Reproducing Court Proceedings

Attorney Rules 15

Rule Title
Rule 83.1 Attorneys
Rule 83.2 Student Practice Rule
Rule 83.3 Change of Address
Rule 83.7 Purpose of Disciplinary Rules
Rule 83.7a Attorneys Convicted of Crimes
Rule 83.7b Discipline Imposed by Other Courts
Rule 83.7c Disbarment on Consent or Resignation in Another Court or Before a State Bar
Rule 83.7d Standards for Professional Conduct
Rule 83.7e Disciplinary Proceeding
Rule 83.7f Disbarment on Consent While Under Disciplinary Investigation or Prosecution
Rule 83.7g Reinstatement
Rule 83.7h Service of Papers and Other Notices
Rule 83.7i Appointment of Counsel
Rule 83.7j Duties of the Clerk
Rule 83.7k Publicity

Appellate Rules 1

Rule Title
Rule 83.8 Bankruptcy Appeals

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 4th Circuit

District of Maryland Baltimore, Maryland District of South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina Eastern District of Virginia Alexandria, Virginia Middle District of North Carolina Greensboro, North Carolina Northern District of West Virginia Clarksburg, West Virginia Southern District of West Virginia Charleston, West Virginia Western District of North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina Western District of Virginia Roanoke, Virginia