Local Rule 7.1: Conflict Disclosure Statement

Local Rule 7.1 Conflict Disclosure Statement

(a) All parties and amici curiae (including individuals and governmental entities) shall file a Conflict Disclosure Statement, at the time of the filing of the initial pleading, or other Court paper on behalf of that party or as otherwise ordered by the Court, identifying all parent companies, subsidiaries, partners, limited liability entity members and managers, trustees (but not trust beneficiaries), affiliates, or similar entities that could potentially pose a financial or professional conflict for a judge. In emergency or any other situations where filing the Disclosure Statement with the initial pleading, or other Court paper, is impossible or impracticable, it shall be filed within seven days of the date of the original filing, or such other time as the Court may direct. For the purposes of this rule, "affiliate" shall be a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the specified entity; "parent" shall be an affiliate which controls such entity directly, or indirectly through intermediaries; and "subsidiary" shall be an affiliate controlled by such entity directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

(b) The purpose of this Disclosure Statement is to enable the judges of this Court to determine the need for recusal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §455 or otherwise. Counsel shall have the continuing obligation to amend the disclosure statement to reflect relevant changes.

(c) The statement shall identify the represented entity's general nature and purpose and if the entity is unincorporated, the statement shall include the names of any members of the entity that have issued shares or debt securities to the public. No such listing need be made, however, of the names of members of a trade association or professional association. For purposes of this rule, a "trade association" is a continuing association of numerous organizations or individuals operated for the purpose of promoting the general commercial, professional, legislative, or other interests of the membership. The form of the Disclosure Statement is set forth in Appendix A to these Rules.