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

Hon. Jennifer H. Rearden

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 Rearden — standing order

D. Amended or Corrected Filings. Any amended or corrected filing (including but not limited to amended pleadings) shall be filed with a redline showing all differences between the original and revised filing. Any motion to amend a pleading shall similarly be filed with a redline showing all differences between the operative pleading and the proposed amended pleading.

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 Rearden — standing order

C. Filing of Motion Papers. Motion papers shall be filed promptly after service. Motion papers shall be accompanied by a letter no longer than three pages outlining the substantive argument advanced in the papers. Such letters shall accompany opening memoranda of law and opposition memoranda of law.

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 Rearden — standing order

bers, shareholders, partners, and/or trustees. C. Discovery Disputes. Follow Local Civil Rule 37.2 of the S.D.N.Y. Local Rules, with the following modifications: Any party wishing to raise a discovery dispute with the Court must first confer in good faith with the opposing party—in person, virtually, or by telephone—in an effort to resolve the dispute. Conferring in writing does not satisfy this requirement. If the dispute is not resolved, the party may file a letter- motion on ECF pursuant to Rule 5.I below, not to exceed six double-spaced pages, explaining the nature of the dispute and requesting an informal conference. Such a letter-motion must include a representation that the parties engaged in a good faith meet-and-confer process that proved unsuccessful. If the opposing party wishes to respond to the letter-motion, it should promptly send an e-mail to Chambers, copying all counsel of record, to advise that a responsive letter will be forthcoming. Any such responsive filing shall not exceed six double-spaced pages and must be filed on ECF within three business days of the filing of the letter-motion. Consistent with Local Civil Rule 5.1, any letter-motion or responsive filing shall quote or attach only those portions of the depositions, interrogatories, requests for documents, requests for admissions, or other discovery or disclosure materials, together with the responses 4 and objections thereto, that are the subject of the discovery dispute or are otherwise cited in the party’s filing. No other documents shall be submitted absent further order of the Court.

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Rearden — deviations that burn people
  • Pre-motion letter or conference required before filing most motions. Filing without the required pre-motion step will likely result in the motion being returned.
  • All adjournment and extension requests must be filed on ECF as letter-motions, not as ordinary letters or proposed stipulations.
  • Motions are generally decided on papers without oral argument. Requesting argument is appropriate only when genuinely necessary.
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment