judge console · S.D.N.Y.
S.D.N.Y. · Judge Garnett · Practice Guide

Hon. Margaret M. Garnett

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 Garnett — standing order

B. Communications with Chambers. 1. Letters. Except as otherwise provided below, communications with the Court shall be by letter. Letters must be filed electronically on ECF. Letters seeking relief should be filed on ECF as letter-motions, not as ordinary letters. Letters may not exceed three pages in length (single-spaced, with standard font and margins) without prior permission from Chambers. Letters solely between parties or their counsel or otherwise not addressed to the Court may not be filed on ECF or otherwise sent to the Court (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) ↗

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 Garnett — standing order

§I.D.1: Redactions Not Requiring Court Approval..................................................................... 3 2. Redactions Requiring Court Approval, Generally. ......................................................... 3 3. Redactions Requiring Court Approval in Civil Cases. ................................................... 3 i. Meet and Confer. .................................................................................................... 3 ii. Redacted Document(s). ........................................................................................... 4 iii. Sealed Document(s). ............................................................................................... 4 iv. Submissions by Alternative Method. ...................................................................... 4 4. Redactions Requiring Court Approval in Criminal Cases. ............................................. 4 i. Redacted Document(s). ........................................................................................... 4 Last updated: March 28, 2025 ii ii. Sealed Exhibit(s). .................................................................................................... 5 iii. Sealed Entire Document(s). .................................................................................... 5 iv. Letter-Motion. ......................................................................................................... 5 v. Emailing Chambers. ................................................................................................ 5 5. Delayed Docketing.......................................................................................................... 5 E. Policy on the Use of Electronic Devices........................................................................... 6 II. INDIVIDUAL RULES & PRACTICES IN CIVIL MATTERS ...................................... 7 A. Conferences and Discovery. ............................................................................................. 7 1. In-Person Conferences. ................................................................................................... 7 2. Telephone and Video Conferences (“Remote Conferences”). ....................................... 7 3. Attendance by Principal Trial Counsel. .......................................................................... 7 4. Participation by Junior Attorneys. .................................................................................. 7 5. Initial Case Management Conference. ............................................................................ 8 6. Discovery Disputes. ........................................................................................................ 8 7. Post-Fact-Discovery Conference. ................................................................................... 9 B. Motions............................................................................................................................... 9 1. Pre-Motion Letters and Conferences. ............................................................................. 9 2. Memoranda of Law. ........................................................................................................ 9 3. Courtesy Copies. ............................................................................................................. 9 4. Letter-Motions. ............................................................................................................. 10 5. Oral Argument on Motions. .......................................................................................... 10 6. Motions to Dismiss. ...................................................................................................... 10 7. Motions for Leave to Amend a Pleading. ..................................................................... 11 8. Motions to Exclude the Testimony of Experts. ............................................................ 11 9. Mo

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 Garnett — standing order

§II.A.6: Discovery Disputes. Parties must follow Local Civil Rule 37.2 with the following modifications. Any party wishing to raise a discovery dispute with the Court must first confer in good faith at least once with the opposing party—in person, by videoconference, or by telephone—to resolve the dispute. If the meet-and-confer process does not resolve the dispute, the party seeking discovery must submit a letter-motion to the Court via ECF, no longer than three pages (single spaced, with standard font and margins), explaining the nature of the dispute and why the party is entitled to relief. The initial letter-motion must state: (1) the date(s), time(s), and duration of each meet-and-confer conference; (2) the names of the attorneys who participated; and (3) that the moving party informed the adversary during the last conference that the moving party believed the parties to be at an impasse and that the moving party would be requesting relief from the Court. If the opposing party wishes to respond, it must do so in a letter not to exceed three pages within two business days, and should promptly advise Chambers by email (following the instructions for email correspondence with the Court detailed in Rule I(B)(3), supra) that a responsive letter will be forthcoming. Reply letters are not permitted. If the Court schedules a conference, counsel should be prepared to discuss the matters raised by such letters, as the Court will seek to resolve discovery disputes quickly. Last updated: March 28, 2025 9 7. Post-Fact-Discovery Conference. The Court will generally schedule a post- fact-discovery conference approximately 25 to 30 days after the close of fact discovery. No later than seven days after the deadline for a summary judgment letter has passed, see Rule II(B)(9) infra, the parties shall submit to the Court a joint letter, not to exceed three pages in length (single-spaced, with standard font and margins), as directed and outlined in greater detail in the Civil Case Management Plan and Scheduling Order, with brief descriptions of various aspects of the status of the case.

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Garnett — deviations that burn people
  • Telephone calls to Chambers are prohibited (Rule I(B)(2)). Faxes to Chambers are not permitted (Rule I(B)(4)). Initial conference scheduled approximately six weeks from the filing of the Complaint (Rule II(A)(5)) -- earlier than most SDNY judges. Motions to Dismiss: plaintiff may amend the complaint within 14 days of a motion to dismiss without prior Court permission; defendant must answer, file new motion, or rely on prior motion within 14 days of the amended complaint (Rule II(B)(6)). Summary Judgment: requires pre-motion conference requested within 14 days after close of fact discovery; motion not generally available in non-jury cases (Rule II(B)(9)). Courtesy copies due at time reply is served, in specific three-ring binder format (Rule II(B)(3)). Electronic devices must be submitted three business days before trial or hearing for Courthouse entry (Rule I(E)).
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment