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S.D.N.Y. · Judge Roman · Practice Guide

Hon. Nelson S. Roman

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

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

Affidavit with good and specific reasons required; state if prior application made. Local Civil Rule 6.1(d) ↗

Contacting chambers
👤 Judge Roman — standing order

inconsistent with these Individual Practices. 1. Communications with Chambers A. Letters. Except as otherwise provided below, communications with Chambers shall be by letter, with copies simultaneously delivered to all counsel. Unless there is a request to file a letter under seal or a letter contains sensitive or confidential information, all letters shall be filed on ECF. Letters under seal or containing sensitive or confidential information shall be delivered to the Court via email or mail. Do not email and mail the same letter. Correspondence between counsel shall not be sent to the Court or filed on ECF (except as exhibits to an otherwise properly filed document.

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

Memoranda of law in support of or in opposition to a motion limited to 25 pages; reply memoranda limited to 10 pages S.D.N.Y. L.R. 7.1(b) ↗

Opposition

8,750 words maximum for opposition brief. Local Civil Rule 7.1(c) ↗

Reply

3,500 words maximum for reply brief. Local Civil Rule 7.1(c) ↗

AI use & disclosure requirements
👤 Judge Roman — standing order

Disclosure required (added 8-24-2026, Individual Practices Sec. 7, Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence). Any attorney or party who uses an AI tool in preparing a document submitted to the Court -- including pleadings and/or motion papers -- must inform the Court of the AI tool's use and identify which portion of the document was created or generated with it. Counsel are expected to understand the tool's capabilities and limitations (AI tools 'may and have on occasion generated fabricated information, fictitious citations and authority') and are strongly encouraged to verify that AI-generated content is accurate, legally supported, and based on relevant law. Source: NSR Roman Amended Individual Practices in Civil Cases (8-24-2026), Sec. 7. Roman -- ai_disclosure_requirement ↗

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

Opposition due 14 days after service; reply due 7 days after opposition. Local Civil Rule 6.1(b) ↗

Hearing days

Silent on fixed motion hearing days. The joint local rules establish no motion-day calendar. LCR 7.1 governs motion practice (content, formatting, and briefing deadlines) but sets no court hearing dates; any hearing is scheduled at each judge's discretion per their individual practices. Local Civil Rule 7.1 ↗

Proposed orders
🏛 S.D.N.Y. local rule

Proposed orders, judgments, and decrees must be presented as directed by the ECF rules published on the website of each respective court. Local Civil Rule 77.1 ↗

Filing under seal
👤 Judge Roman — standing order

A. Letters. Except as otherwise provided below, communications with Chambers shall be by letter, with copies simultaneously delivered to all counsel. Unless there is a request to file a letter under seal or a letter contains sensitive or confidential information, all letters shall be filed on ECF. Letters under seal or containing sensitive or confidential information shall be delivered to the Court via email or mail.

The Hearing
Oral argument
🏛 S.D.N.Y. local rule

Motions are decided on submission unless the court schedules oral argument; contact chambers to request oral argument S.D.N.Y. L.R. 7.1(b) ↗

Discovery
Discovery referral procedure
🏛 S.D.N.Y. local rule

Must first request informal conference by letter before filing discovery motion. Local Civil Rule 37.2 ↗

Discovery dispute procedure
👤 Judge Roman — standing order

C. Initial Case Management Conference, Personal Injury Case. In any case involving allegations of personal injury - whether physical, psychological, emotional, or otherwise - the plaintiff is to provide the defendant with all necessary medical authorizations at least twenty-one days prior to the initial pretrial conference. If the initial pretrial conference is waived, then the medical authorizations must be provided at least fourteen days prior to the first scheduled conference before the magistrate judge.

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Roman — deviations that burn people
  • §1.A: A. Letters. Except as otherwise provided below, communications with Chambers shall be by letter, with copies simultaneously delivered to all counsel. Unless there is a request to file a letter under seal or a letter contains sensitive or confidential information, all letters shall be filed on ECF. Letters under seal or containing sensitive or confidential information shall be delivered to the Court via email or mail. Do not email and mail the same letter. §1.D: D. Requests for Adjournments or Extensions of Time. All requests for adjournment or extension of time shall be filed on ECF and sent to Chambers by email, stating as follows: (1) the original date(s), (2) the number of previous requests for adjournment or extension. Any request for adjournment or extension of time must be made at least 48 hours prior to the original deadline. §2.A: A. In General. Conferences conducted by Judge Roman will generally take place telephonically. §3.A: A. Pre-Motion Conferences. A pre-motion conference with the Court is required before making any other motion, except motions for admission pro hac vice, motions in limine, and motions for temporary restraining orders. §3.D: D. Courtesy Copies. One courtesy electronic copy of all pleadings shall be submitted via email to Chambers as soon as practicable after filing. One courtesy hard copy of all motion papers shall be submitted via mail to Chambers when served on the other parties. All courtesy copies must be clearly marked as such, bound, and tabbed.
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment
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