At a Glance
S.D.N.Y. — Quick-reference summary of the most frequently needed rules for the Southern District of New York.
Quick-reference summary of the most frequently needed rules for the Southern District of New York.
| Topic | Rule | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Font size (body) | Rule 7.1(b) | 12-point minimum |
| Font size (footnotes) | Rule 7.1(b) | 10-point minimum |
| Line spacing | Rule 7.1(b) | Double-spaced; headings, footnotes, and block quotes may be single-spaced |
| Margins | Rule 7.1(b) | 1 inch on all sides |
| Word limit (main brief) | Rule 7.1(c) | 8,750 words — footnotes and endnotes count; certificate of compliance required |
| Word limit (reply) | Rule 7.1(c) | 3,500 words |
| Word limit (reconsideration) | Rule 6.3 | 3,500 words (main) / 1,750 words (reply) |
| ECF mandatory | Rule 5.2 | Yes — all counsel must use ECF; highly sensitive documents filed in hard copy per district-specific order |
| Operating model | Rule 6.1 | Submission court — court rules on papers; oral argument granted at court's discretion, heavily judge-specific |
| Opposition due | Rule 6.1(b) | 14 days after service |
| Reply due | Rule 6.1(b) | 7 days after service of opposition |
| Letter-motions | Rule 7.1(e) | Permitted for extensions, adjournments, premotion conferences, and nondispositive matters |
| Motions in limine — conferral | Rule 6.4 | Certification of good-faith conferral required |
| Discovery premotion conference | Rule 37.2 | Required before any discovery motion will be heard — request by letter; motion not heard until request denied or dispute unresolved at conference |
| Discovery motion papers | Rule 37.1 | Must specify and quote verbatim each request and response at issue |
| Interrogatories — initial scope (SDNY only) | Rule 33.3 | Restricted to witness names, damages, document custodians, insurance, and similar basics; broader interrogatories require showing of practicality; applies only to SDNY, not EDNY |
| Contention interrogatories | Rule 33.3 | Permitted only ≥30 days before discovery cutoff |
| Uniform discovery definitions | Rule 26.3 | Deemed incorporated into all discovery requests; defined terms include communication, document, identify, person, concerning |
| Remote depositions | Rule 30.2 | Presumptively granted for adverse parties |
| Rule 56.1 statement required | Rule 56.1(a) | Yes — separate, short, concise statement in numbered paragraphs with citations; does not apply to APA or FOIA claims |
| Deemed-admitted rule | Rule 56.1(c) | Each numbered paragraph deemed admitted unless specifically denied in a correspondingly numbered response |
| 56.1 electronic format | Rule 56.1(e) | Attorney-represented opposing party must file interleaved version — movant's paragraphs with responses directly beneath each; separate response document will be stricken |
| Pro se notice (SJ) | Rule 56.2 | Required when moving for summary judgment against unrepresented party |
| Pro hac vice | Rule 1.3(i) | By motion; requires certificate of good standing (within 30 days) and affidavit disclosing felony convictions, discipline history, and pending proceedings |
| PHV — DOJ attorneys | Rule 1.3(l) | May appear without PHV motion; must request e-filing privileges via PACER |
| PHV — other federal agency attorneys | Rule 1.3(l) | PHV motion required but fee waived; good standing certificate window extended to 1 year (not 30 days) |
| Night depository | Rule 1.2 | Available at Pearl Street Courthouse (SDNY); ECF filings may NOT use the depository |
| January 2026 restyling | Committee notes | Major renumbering effective January 2, 2026 — pre-2026 rule citations stale; committee notes in the current edition identify rules renumbered or withdrawn |
| Ex parte applications | Rule 6.1(d) | Require clear and specific showing by affidavit plus disclosure of any prior application for similar relief |