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

Hon. Sidney H. Stein

Verified 2026-06-25verify at the court's site ↗

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 Stein — standing order

H. STEIN UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK United States Courthouse 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York 10007 Unless otherwise ordered by Judge Stein, civil matters before Judge Stein shall be conducted in accordance with the following practices:

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 Stein — standing order

5. Electronic Filing Under Seal in Civil and Miscellaneous Cases A. Sealing/Redactions Not Requiring Court Approval. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 describes sensitive information that must be redacted from public court filings without seeking prior permission from the Court.

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 Stein — standing order

F. Oral Argument on Motions. Parties may request oral argument by letter at the time their moving or opposing or reply papers are filed. The Court will determine whether argument will be heard and, if so, will advise counsel of the argument date.

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Stein — deviations that burn people
  • 2. Motions & Pleadings
  • A. Courtesy Copies of a New Complaint. After a civil case has been electronically filed and assigned to Judge Stein, the filing attorney shall submit a paper copy of the initiating pleadings to chambers within five business days of the filing. The paper copy shall be submitted in accordance with SDNY policies regarding mail deliveries.
  • B. Pre-Motion Conferences in Civil Cases. Pre-motion conferences are not required.
  • E. Courtesy Copies. The moving party shall furnish a complete set of courtesy copies to chambers as soon as is practical after a motion has been fully briefed. Courtesy copies shall be marked as such and submitted in accordance with SDNY policies regarding mail deliveries.
  • G. Discovery Disputes. Any party wishing to raise a discovery dispute with the Court must first meet and confer in good faith with the opposing party, in person if the attorneys practice in New York, in an effort to resolve the dispute. If this meet-and-confer process does not resolve the dispute, any party may submit a letter to the Court via ECF, no longer than three pages, explaining the nature of the dispute and requesting an informal conference. Such letter must include a representation that the meet-and-confer process occurred and was unsuccessful. If the opposing party wishes to respond to the letter, it must do so within two business days.
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment