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N.D. Ga. · Judge Story · Practice Guide

Hon. Richard W. Story

Verified 2026-06-26verify at the court's site ↗

All local rules for N.D. Ga., integrated with this judge's published requirements.

Before You File
Ex parte applications
🏛 N.D. Ga. local rule

Prior notice to adversary required before chambers conference; emergency situations and FRCP-authorized ex parte motions are excepted N.D. Ga. LR 7.5(B) ↗

Drafting the Motion
Length limits — motion, opposition, reply
🏛 N.D. Ga. local rule
Motion

Briefs in support of or in response to a motion limited to 25 pages absent prior court permission N.D. Ga. LR 7.1(D) ↗

Opposition

Briefs in support of or in response to a motion limited to 25 pages absent prior court permission N.D. Ga. LR 7.1(D) ↗

Reply

Reply brief may not exceed 15 pages N.D. Ga. LR 7.1(D) ↗

Filing & Scheduling
Briefing schedule & hearing date
🏛 N.D. Ga. local rule
Notice period

Response due not later than 14 days after service of the motion; MSJ response due 21 days after service N.D. Ga. LR 7.1(B) ↗

Hearing days

Motions decided without oral hearing unless a hearing is ordered by the Court N.D. Ga. LR 7.1(E) ↗

Proposed orders
🏛 N.D. Ga. local rule

Orally announced orders must be prepared in writing by prevailing party and submitted within 7 days; all courtesy copies of proposed orders must be clearly marked N.D. Ga. LR 7.3 / LR 7.5(A) ↗

The Hearing
Oral argument
🏛 N.D. Ga. local rule

Motions decided without oral hearing unless a hearing is ordered by the Court N.D. Ga. LR 7.1(E) ↗

Discovery
Discovery referral procedure
🏛 N.D. Ga. local rule

Motions to compel must include certification of good-faith conferral under FRCP 37(a) and quote verbatim each discovery request at issue N.D. Ga. LR 37.1(A) ↗

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Story — deviations that burn people
  • Proposed orders required for consent/unopposed/joint motions AND extension of time motions AND page limit extension motions -- Word version must be emailed to Ms. Kemp separately from the CM/ECF filing.
  • Discovery disputes: oral meet-and-confer required (phone, video, or in person); email or letter alone does not satisfy.
  • Boilerplate and general objections in discovery responses are PROHIBITED and will be disregarded.
  • If you object but still respond, you MUST state whether additional information would have been provided but for the objection -- 'subject to and without waiving' is impermissible without this disclosure.
  • MSJ: simultaneously file the original transcript of each deposition cited; also attach the specific referenced pages; cite page and line numbers in the brief immediately after each deposition reference.
  • TRO/PI embedded in the complaint will not be considered -- must be a separate motion; contact Ms. Kemp after filing.
  • Motions in limine and Daubert motions due 14 days before pretrial conference; responses due 7 days before.
  • Junior lawyer policy: Court SHALL grant oral argument if a lawyer < 7 years out of law school will argue a substantial issue (mandatory, not discretionary).
  • Sitting in Gainesville Division (Room 140, 121 Spring Street SE) -- not the Atlanta courthouse.
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment
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