Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Document Format Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Criminal cases

The required proposed entry must be prepared in Word and uploaded through the e-filing system.

Such proposed entry shall be prepared in Word and uploaded in the e-filing system.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Criminal cases

In every case, the final jury charge must be submitted to the jurors in writing.

The final jury charge is submitted to the jurors in writing in all cases.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Exhibits must be attached, correctly labeled, and complete; inaccurate or omitted exhibit citations will be disregarded, and the Court will not independently locate missing evidence or correct citations.

Please ensure exhibits are attached, labeled correctly and complete. Any citation to an exhibit that is inaccurate or not included will be disregarded. Further, particularly in depositions, the Court will not go searching for the evidence necessary to support or counter any argument, nor reach out to counsel or parties to get the correct citation.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Trial exhibits must be pre-marked, copied, and exchanged before the final pretrial conference, with duplicate exhibits eliminated and authenticity addressed in advance.

Trial Exhibits must be pre-marked, copied, and exchanged prior to the Final Pretrial Conference. Trial counsel are responsible for eliminating duplicate exhibits (and should consider appropriate use of "Joint Exhibit" designations) and discussing formal matters such as authenticity well before the start of trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Without prior leave, the Court may disregard portions of a motion, memorandum, or brief exceeding Local Rule 12's page limits.

In the absence of prior leave to file a long brief, the Court reserves the right to disregard the pages of any motion, memoranda, or brief that go beyond the limits set forth in Local Rule 12.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Trial exhibits must be pre-marked, adequately copied, placed in proper binders, and exchanged before opening statements.

Trial Exhibits must be pre-marked, sufficiently copied, placed in appropriate binders, and exchanged among the parties prior to opening statements.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Before opening statements, provide a copy of the Joint Exhibit Binder to the Court, reporter, staff attorney, and each party, and prepare one copy for the witness stand.

A copy of that binder must be provided to the Court, the 5A Court Reporter, the 5A Staff Attorney and each party prior to opening statements. A single copy of the Joint Exhibit Binder must also be prepared for the witness stand.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Each party's exhibits must be in a separate binder, with copies supplied to the Court, reporter, staff attorney, and parties before opening statements, plus one copy for the witness stand.

Each party’s exhibits must be placed in a separate exhibit binder, and a copy of that binder must be provided to the Court, the 5A Reporter, the 5A Staff Attorney, and each party prior to opening statements. A single copy of each party’s exhibits binder must also be prepared for the witness stand.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Criminal cases

The final jury charge must be submitted in writing to each juror in all cases.

The final jury charge is submitted to each juror in writing in all cases.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Format

DOCX

Each motion should include a separate proposed entry prepared in Word format and uploaded as a separate e-filing rather than attached as a PDF.

All motions should be accompanied by a separate proposed entry. Such proposed entry shall be prepared in Word format and uploaded in the e‑filing system as a separate filing from the motion. Proposed entries attached to motions in pdf format cannot be signed by the Judge.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Format

DOCX

Proposed jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms must be docketed and emailed to the Staff Attorney in Microsoft Word at least 14 days before trial or by the final pretrial order date.

Proposed jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms should be filed to the docket, and emailed to the Staff Attorney in Microsoft Word format, at least 14 days prior to the start of trial or by the date set in the final pre-trial order, if one is entered.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

Jury instructions must be emailed to the Staff Attorney in Microsoft Word format no later than one week before trial.

Jury instructions must be submitted to the Staff Attorney by email in a Microsoft Word format no later than one week before trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Text reproduced as images in motions must not use a font smaller than 12 points.

Do not copy and paste images of documents into motions where the font is less than 12 points.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Format

DOCX

Joint jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms must be submitted in Word format.

Counsel shall confer and attempt to agree upon joint jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms and send them to the staff attorney in Word Format via email three days before trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

The required attorney certification must be submitted in DOCX format.

Judge Cocroft requires the Attorney Certification (DOCX).

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Each filed motion's signature block must include a working email address and phone number.

Counsel shall also include a working email address and phone number in the signature block of each motion filed.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Format

PAPER

Counsel must deliver a hard-copy binder containing the jointly agreed exhibits to the staff attorney one day before trial.

Exhibits: Counsel shall drop off to the court a jointly agreed exhibit binder in hard copy form one day before trial, directed to the staff attorney.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Format

PAPER

For disputed exhibits, counsel must create and deliver a separate hard-copy binder for each party to the staff attorney one day before trial.

If there are exhibits that are not jointly agreed to, counsel shall create a separate hard copy binder per party with disputed exhibits and also drop them off to the court one day before trial, directed to the staff attorney.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

If counsel cannot agree on jury instructions, one draft with highlighted differences must be emailed to the staff attorney one day before trial.

If counsel do not agree upon joint jury instructions, one draft shall be submitted to the staff attorney via email, with differences highlighted, one day before trial.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Electronically filed documents must follow applicable paper-pleading formatting rules and any additional format required by the Court, to the extent practicable.

All electronically filed documents shall, to the extent practicable, be formatted in accordance with the applicable rules governing formatting of paper pleadings and in any other format as the Court may require.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Electronically filed documents, pleadings, and papers must be submitted to the Clerk in PDF, except proposed orders.

All electronically filed documents, pleadings and papers shall be filed with the Clerk in Portable Document Format (PDF) with the exception of proposed orders.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

Proposed orders must be submitted in a Microsoft Word 2007 or higher compatible DOCX format.

Proposed orders shall be submitted in a Microsoft Word 2007 or higher compatible format (.docx)

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Each electronic submission may not exceed 5 MB.

Submissions shall be limited to five megabytes (5MB) in size.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Format

PDF

The combined size of PDF files in a single transmission may not exceed 25 MB.

No combination of PDF files in one transmission may accumulate to more than 25 megabytes (25MB) in size.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Documents prepared for electronic filing must be double-spaced, use Times New Roman or Ariel font, and use at least 12-point type.

Documents created for e-Filing shall be double-spaced, in either Times New Roman or Ariel font style and at least 12-point type.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Format

PDF

A document bearing a nonparty third-party signature must be electronically filed as a hand-signed scanned PDF.

A document containing the signature of a third party who is not a party to the action (i.e., affidavit signed by a doctor, military affidavit signed by a staff member or company representative, etc.) shall be electronically filed only as a hand-signed scanned-in PDF document.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

A Judge or judicial officer may sign an electronic document using a digitized signature image superimposed on the Court seal.

Electronic documents may be signed by a Judge or judicial officer via a digitized image of his or her signature superimposed over the Court seal.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Every motion must be filed in PDF and may use either a scanned handwritten signature or a conformed “/s/ name” electronic signature.

All motions shall be filed in a PDF format, and they may either be signed by hand and scanned- in or they may be signed electronically with the “/s/ name” electronic signature.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

Proposed orders and entries must be filed in DOCX format and may not contain embedded mail-merge fields.

Proposed orders and entries shall be filed in Microsoft word 2007 or higher format (.docx), with no mail merge fields embedded in the documents.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Each proposed instruction and interrogatory must appear on a separate page, be numbered, and include a supporting-authority footnote, while disputed substantive language must be shown in redline.

Each instruction and interrogatory shall be set forth on a separate page and shall be numbered, and shall bear a footnote with a citation of authority in support of the instruction. Any dispute between the parties as to the substance of an instruction shall be noted in redline.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

A proposed entry should provide blank lines for a new final-pretrial date, a new trial date, and any other anticipated deadline changes.

Proposed Entries should contain blank lines for both a new Final Pretrial date and a new Trial date, plus any other deadline changes anticipated.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

The Court may exclude trial exhibits that were not pre-marked and exchanged.

The Court reserves the right to exclude Exhibits not pre-marked and exchanged among trial counsel.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Joint exhibits must be specifically identified and placed in a separate joint-exhibit binder.

Joint Exhibits must be identified as such (e.g., Joint Exhibit 1, Joint Exhibit 2, Joint Exhibit 3, etc.) and placed in a separate Joint Exhibit Binder.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Format

PAPER

The final jury charge ordinarily must be submitted in writing in all cases.

The final jury charge ordinarily is submitted in writing in all cases.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Criminal cases

The proposed entry must be prepared in Word.

Such proposed entry shall be prepared in Word and uploaded in the e-filing system.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Criminal cases

The final jury charge must be submitted in writing to every juror.

The final jury charge is submitted to each juror in writing in all cases.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Format

DOCX

Proposed jury instructions, verdict forms, and interrogatories should be emailed in Microsoft Word format before trial to the Staff Attorney in civil cases or the Bailiff in criminal cases.

Proposed jury instructions, verdict forms and/or interrogatories should be emailed in Microsoft Word format before the start of trial to the Staff Attorney (civil cases) or Bailiff (criminal cases).

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Counsel using electronic presentations must ensure compatibility with courtroom equipment before trial.

Counsel intending to use electronic presentations shall ensure compatibility with courtroom equipment in advance of trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Exhibits filed in multiple parts must be clearly labeled to identify the part of the submission they contain.

If filed in multiple parts, exhibits shall be clearly marked to identify which part of the submission they contain (Ex: “Exhibits A through J – Part 1 of 3”).

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Format

PDF

Exhibits must be filed in PDF format and, when possible, should be filed with the related motion or brief.

All exhibits shall be filed in PDF format and shall, to the extent possible, be filed along with the motion or brief to which they apply.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Exhibits previously filed in other cases generally must not bear the case numbers from those prior cases unless necessary to the argument.

To avoid confusion, and unless necessary to the argument being made, exhibits previously filed in other cases shall not bear any case numbers associated with the previous cases.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Format

PAPER

When ordered by the court, deposition transcripts must also be filed on paper in condensed Min-U-Script format with two-sided copying.

If ordered by the Court, deposition transcripts shall also be filed in paper using condensed Min-U-Script® format, and two- sided copying.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Format

DOCX

Joint proposed jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms must be submitted to the staff attorney in MS Word format.

The joint proposed jury instructions, interrogatories and verdict forms shall be submitted to the staff attorney in MS Word format no later than one week prior to the trial date.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Format

DOCX ?

A document that needs to be signed by an unrepresented/pro se party but that also needs to be signed by the Judge shall be filed in word format, with the “/s/ name” signature for the pro se party, as so signed by the filing party.

Summary: A document requiring both an unrepresented party's and the Judge’s signature must be filed in Word format with a conformed electronic signature for the pro se party.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Format

PAPER ?

Unless otherwise ordered, all documents that are covered by a protective or other order requiring that they be filed under seal shall be submitted to the Clerk for filing in a securely sealed envelope.

Summary: Unless the Court orders otherwise, documents required to be sealed must be submitted to the Clerk in a securely sealed envelope.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Format

PAPER ?

The face of the envelope containing such documents shall contain a conspicuous notation that it contains “DOCUMENTS UNDER SEAL” or the equivalent. It shall also contain the case caption, a descriptive title of the document (unless such information has been included among the information ordered sealed), and the date of any order or reference to any statute permitting the item to be sealed.

Summary: A sealed-document envelope must display a conspicuous sealing notation, case caption, document title, and the sealing order date or statutory authority, subject to the stated title exception.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Format

PDF

The Clerk will then scan-in and upload in PDF format the submitted documents on the pro se party’s behalf.

Summary: The Clerk must scan mailed documents submitted by a pro se party and upload them in PDF format.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Format

PDF

The Clerk shall then scan the paper documents, save them in a PDF format, and return the paper copies to the pro se litigant.

Summary: The Clerk must scan an in-person pro se filer’s paper documents into PDF and return the paper copies.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Format

PAPER ?

The Clerk’s file stamp and appropriate related information or markings shall be made on the face of the envelope.

Summary: The Clerk’s file stamp and related markings must appear on the face of the sealed-document envelope.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Civil cases

Format

DOCX ?

Pursuant to the Nineth Amended Administrative Order, the motion should be accompanied by separately filed proposed order in word document format.

Summary: The proposed order accompanying a continuance motion should use a Word document format.