Local Rule LCR 10: FORM OF PLEADINGS, MOTIONS AND OTHER FILINGS
W.D. Wash. — Civil rule
LCR 10
FORM OF PLEADINGS, MOTIONS AND OTHER FILINGS
(a) Reserved
(b) Reserved
(c) Reserved
(d) Size
Page size of all pleadings, motions and other filings shall be 8 ½ x 11 inch.
(e) Format
All pleadings, motions or other filings should include the following:
(1) Margins and Fonts. No less than three inches of space should be left at the top of the first page. All other margins must be at least one inch wide, although formatted lines and numbering, attorney information, the name of the judge(s) to whom copies should be sent, and footers may be placed in the margins. Examples of correctly formatted pages are attached as Appendix A. The text of any typed or printed brief must be 12 point or larger and must, with the exception of quotations, be double spaced or exactly 24 points. Footnotes must be 10 point or larger and may be single spaced. A proportionally spaced font must be used on all typed filings.
(2) Title. Each pleading, motion or other filing shall contain the words "United States District Court, Western District of Washington" on the first page and, in the space below the docket number, a title indicating the purpose of the paper and the party presenting it.
(3) Bottom Notation. At the left side of the bottom of each page, an abbreviated title of the pleading, motion or other filing should be repeated, followed by the case number. The page number should be placed after the abbreviated title or in the middle of the bottom of each page. At the right side of the bottom of each page, the law firm (if any), mailing address and telephone number of the attorney or party preparing the paper should be printed or typed.
(4) Dates and Signature Lines. All pleadings, motions and other filings shall be dated and signed as provided by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11, LCR 11, and the court's Electronic Filing Procedures. If an original document is required to be filed with the court, any required signature thereto must also be original. The court might not consider improperly signed or unsigned documents.
(5) Numbered Paper. Each pleading, motion or other filing shall bear line numbers in the left margin, leaving at least one-half inch of space to the left of the numbers.
(6) Citation to the Record. In all cases where the court is to review the proceedings of an administrative agency, transcripts, deposition testimony, etc., the parties shall, insofar as possible, cite the page and line of any part of the transcript or record to which their pleadings, motions or other filings refer. Citations to documents already in the record, including declarations, exhibits, and any documents previously filed, must include a citation to the docket number and the page number (e.g., Dkt. # __ at p. __) and citations to legal authority must include page numbers.
(7) Proposed Orders. Any document requiring the signature of the court shall bear the signature of the attorney(s) presenting it preceded by the words "Presented by" on the left-hand side of the last page and shall provide as follows:
"Dated this ___ day of (Insert Month), (Insert Year).
"_______________________________________
"UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE [or UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE]"
(8) Electronic Filing of Documents. All documents filed with the court shall be in accordance with the Electronic Filing Procedures for Civil and Criminal Cases adopted by General Order of the court. The Electronic Filing Procedures are available on the court's web site at www.wawd.uscourts.gov and from the Clerk's Office.
(9) Courtesy Copies. Courtesy copies are not required unless otherwise ordered by the Court. Parties should consult their assigned judge's web page at www.wawd.uscourts.gov for standing orders and guidance regarding courtesy copies.
(10) Marking Exhibits. All exhibits submitted in support of or opposition to a motion must be clearly marked with divider pages. References in the parties' filings to such exhibits should be as specific as possible (i.e., the reference should cite specific page numbers, paragraphs, line numbers, etc.). All exhibits must be marked to designate testimony or evidence referred to in the parties' filings. Acceptable forms of markings include highlighting, bracketing, underlining or similar methods of designations but must be clear and maintain the legibility of the text.
Filing parties shall submit only those excerpts of the referenced exhibits that are directly germane to the matter under consideration, or necessary to provide relevant context. Excerpted material must be clearly and prominently identified as such. Parties who file excerpts do so without prejudice to their right to timely file additional excerpts of the exhibit with reply briefs if otherwise appropriate. Responding parties may also timely file additional excerpts of the exhibit that they believe are directly germane.
(11) Format of Hard Copy or Paper Originals. Originals of documents filed with the court shall not contain double-sided pages or items other than 8 ½ x 11 inch paper, unless double-sided or larger original documents are being filed as exhibits. If an original document is required to be filed with the court, any required signature thereto must also be original.
(12) Hyperlinks. Electronically filed documents may contain hyperlinks to other portions of the same document, to other documents, or to a website that contains a source document for a citation. Hyperlinks may not be used to link to sealed or restricted documents, and hyperlinks may not directly open other software. To preserve the integrity of the court record, parties wishing to include hyperlinks in court filings shall continue to use the traditional citation method for the cited authority, in addition to the hyperlink. Neither a hyperlink, nor any site to which it refers, is considered part of the record. Hyperlinks are simply convenient mechanisms for accessing material cited in an electronically filed document.
(f) Name and Address of Parties and Attorneys
Any attorney representing any party or any party not represented by an attorney must file a notice with the court of any change in address, telephone number or email address. Such notice must be received by the Clerk's Office within ten days of the change. All subsequent pleadings, motions or other filings shall reflect the new address, telephone number, and email. The address, telephone number, and email of the party or its attorney, noted on the first pleadings, motions or other filings or as changed by individual notice, shall be conclusively taken as the last known address and telephone number of said party or attorney.
(g) Stipulated Motions
If the parties seek a court order related to their stipulation, they should file a stipulated motion pursuant to LCR 7(d)(1). If a stipulated motion would alter dates or schedules previously set by the court, the parties shall clearly state the reasons justifying the proposed change. Such stipulated motions should rarely be necessary, and are disfavored by the court. Stipulations and stipulated motions shall be binding on the court only if adopted by the court through an order. An order based upon a stipulation shall be sufficient if the words "It is so ordered," or their equivalent, are endorsed on the stipulation at the close thereof and if this endorsement is signed by the court.