judge console · S.D.N.Y.
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. Letters sent to Chambers by fax are preferred. Do not both fax and mail the same letter. Copies of correspondence between counsel shall not be sent to the Court.

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 Roman — standing order

Silent on under_seal_requirements.

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 to the defendant all necessary medical authorizations prior to the initial pretrial conference.

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Roman — deviations that burn people
  • Courtesy copies required. Failure to submit may delay the Court's review.
  • Letters capped at 3 pages — shorter than most SDNY judges. Exceeding this limit is non-compliant.
  • All adjournment and extension requests must be filed on ECF as letter-motions, not as ordinary letters or proposed stipulations.
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment