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United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

2nd Circuit New York, New York
Official Court Website

About This Court

Located in New York City, this district court has jurisdiction over Manhattan, the Bronx, and six counties in the Hudson Valley region: Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Sullivan. It is one of the oldest and most prominent federal district courts in the United States, having been established by the Judiciary Act of 1789. The court sits primarily in Manhattan and White Plains.

The Southern District of New York is widely regarded as among the most influential federal trial courts in the country given its geographic position as a center of global finance, commerce, and media. It regularly handles complex securities fraud, antitrust, and white-collar criminal matters, as well as significant civil rights and constitutional litigation. The court has produced a substantial number of jurists who have gone on to serve on the Second Circuit and the Supreme Court.

The district operates under the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and follows the Federal Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure. Its docket volume and the complexity of matters before it make it one of the busiest and most closely watched federal courts in the nation.

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, Southern District of New York.

Divisions

Manhattan Division (New York City), White Plains Division (White Plains)

Caseload

The court handles a high volume of complex commercial litigation, securities enforcement actions, significant federal criminal prosecutions including organized crime and public corruption matters, and major intellectual property disputes. Its docket reflects the concentration of financial institutions, media companies, and international business activity in its jurisdiction.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to the bar of the State of New York and apply separately for admission to practice before the Southern District of New York, including payment of an admission fee and compliance with the court's local rules.

Clerk's Office

500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007

(212) 805-0136

Active Judges 46

Name Appointed By Confirmed Law School
Ronnie Abrams Barack Obama 2012 Yale Law School
Richard Berman William J. Clinton 1998 New York University School of Law
Vincent Briccetti Barack Obama 2011 Fordham University School of Law
Vernon Broderick Barack Obama 2013 Harvard Law School
Naomi Buchwald William J. Clinton 1999 Columbia Law School
Valerie Caproni Barack Obama 2013 University of Georgia School of Law
Andrew Carter Barack Obama 2011 Harvard Law School
P. Castel George W. Bush 2003 St. John's University School of Law
Jessica Clarke Joseph R. Biden 2023 Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law
Denise Cote William J. Clinton 1994 Columbia Law School
John Cronan Donald J. Trump 2020 Yale Law School
Paul Crotty George W. Bush 2005 Cornell Law School
George Daniels William J. Clinton 2000 University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
Paul Engelmayer Barack Obama 2011 Harvard Law School
Katherine Failla Barack Obama 2013 Harvard Law School
Jesse Furman Barack Obama 2012 Yale Law School
Paul Gardephe George W. Bush 2008 Columbia Law School
Margaret Garnett Joseph R. Biden 2023 Columbia Law School
Charles Haight Gerald Ford 1976 Yale Law School
Philip Halpern Donald J. Trump 2020 Pace University School of Law (now Elisabeth Haub School of Law)
Alvin Hellerstein William J. Clinton 1998 Columbia Law School
Dale Ho Joseph R. Biden 2023 Yale Law School
Lewis Kaplan William J. Clinton 1994 Harvard Law School
Kenneth Karas George W. Bush 2004 Columbia Law School
John Koeltl William J. Clinton 1994 Harvard Law School
Lewis Liman Donald J. Trump 2019 Yale Law School
Victor Marrero William J. Clinton 1999 Yale Law School
Colleen McMahon William J. Clinton 1998 Harvard Law School
James Oetken Barack Obama 2011 Yale Law School
Loretta Preska George H.W. Bush 1992 Fordham University School of Law
Jed Rakoff William J. Clinton 1995 Harvard Law School
Edgardo Ramos Barack Obama 2011 Harvard Law School
Jennifer Rearden Joseph R. Biden 2022 New York University School of Law
Jennifer Rochon Joseph R. Biden 2022 New York University School of Law
Nelson Román Barack Obama 2013 Brooklyn Law School
Lorna Schofield Barack Obama 2012 New York University School of Law
Cathy Seibel George W. Bush 2008 Fordham University School of Law
Louis Stanton Ronald Reagan 1985 University of Virginia School of Law
Sidney Stein William J. Clinton 1995 Yale Law School
Arun Subramanian Joseph R. Biden 2023 Columbia Law School
Laura Swain William J. Clinton 2000 Harvard Law School
Analisa Torres Barack Obama 2013 Columbia Law School
Jeannette Vargas Joseph R. Biden 2024 Yale Law School
Mary Vyskocil Donald J. Trump 2019 St. John's University School of Law
Kimba Wood Ronald Reagan 1988 Harvard Law School
Gregory Woods Barack Obama 2013 Yale Law School

Local Rules

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

Civil Rules 84

Rule Title
Local Admiralty Rule A.1 Application of Rules
Local Admiralty Rule B.1 Affidavit That Defendant Is Not Found Within the District
Local Admiralty Rule B.2 Notice of Attachment
Local Admiralty Rule C.1 Intangible Property
Local Admiralty Rule C.2 Publication of Notice of Action and Arrest; Sale
Local Admiralty Rule C.3 Notice Required for Default Judgment in Action In Rem
Local Admiralty Rule D.1 Return Date in Possessory, Petitory, and Partition Actions
Local Admiralty Rule E.1 Adversary Hearing After Arrest, Attachment or Garnishment
Local Admiralty Rule E.2 Intervenors' Claims
Local Admiralty Rule E.3 Claims by Suppliers for Payment of Charges
Local Admiralty Rule E.4 Preservation of Property
Local Civil Rule 1.1 Application of Rules
Local Civil Rule 11.1 Form of Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers [Withdrawn]
Local Civil Rule 1.2 Night Depository
Local Civil Rule 12.1 Notice to Pro Se Litigant Who Opposes a Rule 12 Motion Supported by Matters Outside the Pleadings
Local Civil Rule 15.1 Amendment of Pleadings
Local Civil Rule 1.6 Duty of Attorneys in Related Cases
Local Civil Rule 16.1 Exemptions from Mandatory Scheduling Order
Local Civil Rule 16.2 Entry and Modification of Mandatory Scheduling Orders by Magistrate Judges
Local Civil Rule 1.7 Fees of Court Clerks and Reporters
Local Civil Rule 1.8 Electronic Equipment and Recording, Broadcasting, and Streaming of Court Matters
Local Civil Rule 1.9 Acceptable Substitutes for Affidavits [formerly Local Civil Rule 1.10]
Local Civil Rule 23.1 Fees in Class Action and Shareholder Derivative Actions
Local Civil Rule 26.1 Address of Party and Original Owner of Claim to Be Furnished [Withdrawn]
Local Civil Rule 26.2 Assertion of Claim of Privilege
Local Civil Rule 26.3 Uniform Definitions in Discovery Requests
Local Civil Rule 26.4 Cooperation Among Counsel in Discovery [formerly Local Civil Rules 26.5 and 26.7]
Local Civil Rule 26.5 Form Discovery Requests [formerly Local Civil Rule 26.6]
Local Civil Rule 30.1 Counsel Fees on Taking Depositions More Than 100 Miles from Courthouse [Withdrawn]
Local Civil Rule 30.2 Telephonic and Other Remote Depositions [formerly Local Civil Rule 30.3]
Local Civil Rule 30.3 Persons Attending Depositions [formerly Local Civil Rule 30.4]
Local Civil Rule 30.4 Conferences Between Deponent and Defending Attorney [formerly Local Civil Rule 30.6]
Local Civil Rule 33.1 [Intentionally Omitted]
Local Civil Rule 33.2 Standard Discovery in Prisoner Pro Se Actions
Local Civil Rule 33.3 Interrogatories (Southern District Only)
Local Civil Rule 37.1 Verbatim Quotation of Discovery Materials
Local Civil Rule 37.2 Discovery Disputes
Local Civil Rule 37.3 Mode of Raising Discovery and Other Nondispositive Pretrial Disputes with the Court (Eastern District Only) [Withdrawn]
Local Civil Rule 39.1 Custody of Trial and Hearing Exhibits
Local Civil Rule 39.2 Order and Length of Summations
Local Civil Rule 40.1 Trial Scheduling
Local Civil Rule 47.1 Assessment of Jury Costs
Local Civil Rule 5.1 Filing of Discovery Materials [Withdrawn]
Local Civil Rule 5.2 Requirements for Electronic Filing and Service; Electronic Signatures by Pro Se Parties; Duty to Review Underlying Orders
Local Civil Rule 5.3 Service by Overnight Delivery
Local Civil Rule 53.1 Masters
Local Civil Rule 54.1 Taxable Costs
Local Civil Rule 54.2 Security for Costs
Local Civil Rule 54.3 Entering Satisfaction of Money Judgment
Local Civil Rule 55.1 Certificate of Default
Local Civil Rule 55.2 Default Judgment
Local Civil Rule 56.1 Statements of Material Facts on Motion for Summary Judgment
Local Civil Rule 56.2 Notice to Pro Se Litigant Who Opposes a Summary Judgment
Local Civil Rule 58.1 Remand by an Appellate Court
Local Civil Rule 6.1 Service and Filing of Motion Papers
Local Civil Rule 6.2 Orders on Motions
Local Civil Rule 6.3 Motions for Reconsideration
Local Civil Rule 6.4 Computation of Time [Withdrawn]
Local Civil Rule 65.1.1 Security
Local Civil Rule 67.1 Order for Deposit in Interest-Bearing Account
Local Civil Rule 7.1 Form and Length of Briefs, Motions, and Other Papers
Local Civil Rule 7.1.1 Disclosure Statement
Local Civil Rule 7.2 Authorities to Be Provided to Pro Se Litigants
Local Civil Rule 72.1 Proceedings Before Magistrate Judges
Local Civil Rule 72.2 Reference to Magistrate Judge (Eastern District Only) [Withdrawn]
Local Civil Rule 73.1 Consent Jurisdiction Procedure
Local Civil Rule 77.1 Submission of Orders, Judgments and Decrees
Local Civil Rule 81.1 Removal of Cases from State Courts
Local Civil Rule 83.1 Transfer of Cases to Another District
Local Civil Rule 83.10 Plan for Certain § 1983 Cases Against Police Department Employees (Southern District Only)
Local Civil Rule 83.2 Settlement of Actions by or on Behalf of Infants or Incompetents, Wrongful Death Actions, and Actions for Conscious Pain and Suffering of the Decedent
Local Civil Rule 83.3 Habeas Corpus
Local Civil Rule 83.4 Publication of Required Public Notices [formerly Local Civil Rule 83.6]
Local Civil Rule 83.5 Notice of Sale [formerly Local Civil Rule 83.7]
Local Civil Rule 83.6 Contempt Proceedings in Civil Cases [formerly Local Civil Rule 83.9]
Local Civil Rule 83.7 Court-Annexed Arbitration (Eastern District Only) [formerly Local Civil Rule 83.10]
Local Civil Rule 83.8 Court-Annexed Mediation (Eastern District Only) [formerly Local Civil Rule 83.11]
Local Civil Rule 83.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (Southern District Only) [formerly Local Civil Rule 83.12]
Local Civil Rule 87.1 Civil Rules Emergency
Local Social Security Rule 1.1 Application of Rules
Local Social Security Rule 4.1 Motions for Extensions of Time and Scheduling Orders
Local Social Security Rule 5.1 Default Form and Length for Briefs
Local Social Security Rule 7.1 Obligations of Commissioner in Pro Se Cases
Local Social Security Rule 8.1 Opposition and Reply Briefs in Pro Se Cases

Criminal Rules 14

Rule Title
Local Criminal Rule 1.1 Application of Rules
Local Criminal Rule 1.2 Notice of Appearance
Local Criminal Rule 12.4 Disclosure Statement
Local Criminal Rule 16.1 Good Faith Requirement for Discovery Motions
Local Criminal Rule 16.2 Timeline for Expert Discovery
Local Criminal Rule 23.1 Free Press — Fair Trial Directives
Local Criminal Rule 34.1 Post-Trial Motions
Local Criminal Rule 45.1 Computation of Time [Withdrawn]
Local Criminal Rule 47.1 Applications for Ex Parte Orders
Local Criminal Rule 49.1 Motion Deadlines and Reconsideration Motions
Local Criminal Rule 49.2 Pro Se Submissions by a Represented Defendant
Local Criminal Rule 58.1 Petty Offenses — Collateral and Appearance
Local Criminal Rule 59.1 Powers of Magistrate Judges
Local Criminal Rule 62.1 Criminal Rules Emergency

Attorney Rules 4

Rule Title
Local Civil Rule 1.3 Admission to the Bar
Local Civil Rule 1.4 Attorney Appearances; Withdrawal or Displacement of Attorney of Record; Limited-Scope Representation
Local Civil Rule 1.4.1 Law Student Practice
Local Civil Rule 1.5 Discipline of Attorneys

Patent Rules 12

Rule Title
Local Patent Rule 1 Application of Rules
Local Patent Rule 10 Opinion of Counsel
Local Patent Rule 11 Joint Claim Terms Chart
Local Patent Rule 12 Claim Construction Briefing
Local Patent Rule 2 Initial Scheduling Conference
Local Patent Rule 3 Certification of Disclosures
Local Patent Rule 4 Admissibility of Disclosures
Local Patent Rule 5 Discovery Objections Based on Local Patent Rules
Local Patent Rule 6 Disclosure of Asserted Claims and Infringement Contentions
Local Patent Rule 7 Invalidity Contentions
Local Patent Rule 8 Disclosure Requirement in Patent Cases Initiated by Declaratory Judgment
Local Patent Rule 9 Duty to Supplement Contentions

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 2nd Circuit

District of Connecticut New Haven, Connecticut District of Vermont Burlington, Vermont Eastern District of New York Brooklyn, New York Northern District of New York Syracuse, New York Western District of New York Buffalo, New York