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Pro Se Electronic Filing

Pro se parties are not permitted to open or initiate a civil case electronically in CM/ECF. However, pursuant to Local Civil Rule 5.4(b)(2), a pro se non-prisoner who is a party to an existing PUBLIC civil action assigned to a judge may request leave of Court to file subsequent documents electronically (e-file) and receive notice of other case documents via CM/ECF.

PLEASE NOTE: E-FILING IS NOT PERMITTED IN COMPLETELY SEALED CASES.

Whether leave of Court to e-file should be granted is within the discretion of the judge to whom the case is assigned. To obtain leave of Court, the pro se party must file a written motion entitled "Motion for CM/ECF User Name and Password," describing the party's access to the internet, confirming the capacity to file documents and receive filings electronically on a regular basis, and certifying that he or she either has successfully completed the entire Clerk’s Office on-line ECF tutorial or has been permitted to file electronically in other federal courts. [LCvR 5.4(b)(2)]

Prior to submitting a motion in your case, you should confirm that you meet the case and system requirements referenced above and review the ECF User’s Manual and ECF Filing Pointers found here.

If granted electronic filing access in a case, you are also consenting to be served with all documents electronically, in accordance with the provisions of FRCvP (5)(b)(2)(D), and you will no longer receive documents filed with the Court or by the Court in the mail.

E-filing is granted on an individual case-by-case basis by the assigned judge. It is not granted by the Clerk, nor does it carry over to additional cases.

Registering for a PACER account is required if you are granted electronic filing privileges. A PACER account is free to sign up. (www.pacer.gov)

If granted by the assigned judge, a pro se party can then register for e-filing via PACER. See instructions HERE.

If you are unable to or are denied electronic filing access, you must submit all documents to the court in person, by mail, or by email, and include a Certificate of Service [FRCP 5(d)].