Local Rule Civil Rule 5.1: Form; Paper; Legibility; Nature of Documents to be Filed

Civil Rule 5.1 Form; Paper; Legibility; Nature of Documents to be Filed a. Legibility. Each document filed, including exhibits where practicable, must be in English, plainly written, or typed in double space on one side of the document, line numbered in the left margin with not more than 28 lines per page, and letter size. Documents filed in paper format must be flat and unfolded, without backing sheet, double spaced on one side of the paper or printed or prepared by means of a duplicating process on opaque, unglazed white paper. Quotations in excess of three lines must be indented and single spaced. Typewritten text must be no less than 10-point type in the Courier font or equivalent, spaced 10 characters per horizontal inch. Printed text, produced on a word processor or other computer, may be proportionally spaced allowing 28 lines on one side of the document, provided the type is no smaller than 14-point standard font (e.g. Times New Roman). The text of footnotes and quotations must also conform to these font requirements. Approved templates are available on the Court's website (www.casd.uscourts.gov) and may be amended by the Court over time as deemed appropriate. b. Original; Copies. The original of a document must be labeled as the original. All copies are to be clearly identified as such. The case number must appear in the lower right corner of each page, although it is not required on the title page or on the complaint, petition or other document which opens the case. The typed number must be inserted in the following format: year, case type, four-digit case number with leading zeros if necessary (96cv0010). Case types are as follows: civil = cv, criminal = cr, magistrate judge = mj, miscellaneous = mc. c. Interlineations. There must be no erasures or interlineations on a document unless they are noted by the Clerk or judge by marginal initials at the time of filing. d. Pre-Punching and Attachments. All documents presented for filing or lodging in paper format must be pre-punched with two (2) normal-size holes (approximately 3" diameter), centered 2" apart, 2" from the top edge of the document. No pages of any document should have any attachment affixed thereto. All pages must be firmly bound at the top. e. Exhibits. Except where compliance is impracticable, exhibits must be paged in consecutive numerical order and each page must show the exhibit number either immediately above or below the page number. Unless the physical nature of the exhibit renders it impracticable, exhibits must be attached to the documents to which they belong and must be readable without detaching the exhibit from the accompanying document. Each document containing exhibits must have, as a cover page to the exhibits, a table of contents indicating the page number of each of the succeeding exhibits. If exhibits are tabbed, the tabs must be at the bottom and not at the sides. f. Compliance. Absent Court Order, the Clerk must not refuse to file a paper solely because it is not in the form prescribed by these rules or by a local rule or practice. g. Party Filing Document. Except as provided in the federal rules, or by leave of court, no document will be filed in any case by any person not a party thereto. h. Copies: 1. The original of all documents, including exhibits attached thereto, must be filed together with one legible conformed copy for the Court's use, except motions filed under Criminal Local Rule 47.1.b.1. 2. The original and three copies must be filed in a three-judge case. 3. In a consolidated proceeding the original and one copy will be filed in the low-numbered case or the lead case as may be designated by the Court. The case number of each consolidated case must appear on each pleading following the lead case number. 4. If parties presenting documents for filing request the Clerk to return a conformed copy by U.S. Mail, an extra copy must be submitted for this purpose and must be accompanied by a self-addressed envelope bearing sufficient postage. 5. The original and two copies of all substitutions of attorneys must be filed. i. Title Page. The first page of every document must contain the following information which may be single spaced: 1. The name, address and telephone number of the attorney appearing for a party or of an individual appearing pro se, must be printed or typewritten in the space to the left of the page's center and beginning at line one. Attorneys appearing pro hac vice and attorneys employed or retrained by the United States or its agencies and authorized to practice in this court pursuant to Civil Local Rule 83.3.c.3, will list their bar numbers for the states of which they are active members. Attorneys appearing for a party must also include their California State Bar Number. The space to the right of the page's center must be reserved for the Clerk's filing stamp. 2. The title of the Court must commence at or below line eight of the first page. 3. Below and to the left of the title of the Court, the title of the action must be inserted. In the event the parties are too numerous for all to be named on the first page, the names of the parties may be carried onto the successive page(s). In the space to the right of center the following will appear: The number of the action, a brief designation of the document's nature, mention of any motion or affidavits or memorandum in support and "Demand for Jury Trial", if any. 4. The following information must appear on the cover page of each motion, and any opposition and reply, in the space opposite the caption below the case number: name of judicial officer, courtroom number and the date and time of hearing. 5. Names must be typed below signatures on document. j. Paragraphing Pleadings. Averments in any pleading which seeks relief must be made in numbered paragraphs, each of which must be limited, as far as is practicable, to a statement of a single set of circumstances. Responsive pleadings must contain numbered paragraphs, each of which corresponds to the paragraph to which it is directed. k. Citations. When citing Acts of Congress or sections of them, counsel must include the corresponding appropriate U.S.C. citations. When counsel cite regulations, counsel must supply the appropriate citations to the Code of Federal Regulations, including code number, page, section and the date of the regulation's promulgation. l. Captions. All documents submitted for filing must be filed and captioned separately. Sentencing memoranda may be filed together with motions for departure, or may be filed separately from motions for departure. Objections to presentence reports must be filed separately. Sentencing summary charts must be filed. Double captions are required for cross- and counter-complaints, third party complaints, and their responses.