Judge Nicholas Straley
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
All filings
Court-wide- Chambers Drop Off
Deposition Designations
Court-wide- Email • As Directed In Pretrial Order
Filings >= 500 pages
Court-wide- Hand Delivery
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Court-wideChambers
Document Format Requirements3 rules
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Proposed orders in Word format are required as well.
Summary: Proposed orders must be submitted in Word format.
DOCX
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
“Attachments or exhibits to any filed document, in excess of 25 pages, including motions, oppositions, replies, briefs, declarations, and affidavits, whether in paper or electronic form, shall be numbered consecutively on the bottom center or right-hand corner of each document to aid the court and the parties in navigating through the document. The number shall not restart for each attachment but shall run consecutively through all the attachments to the document.”
Summary: Attachments or exhibits exceeding 25 pages must be numbered consecutively (without restarting) on the bottom center or right-hand corner of each page.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
Please make sure Judge Straley’s name and the case information is clearly marked.
Summary: Working papers must clearly mark Judge Straley's name and the case information.
Document Filing Requirements17 rules
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026Mandatory
If ADR with a neutral third party was not accomplished, the confirmation must explain why and identify arrangements to complete ADR before trial, and failure may lead to sanctions.
If ADR with a neutral third party WAS NOT accomplished, you must provide a detailed explanation and identify what arrangements have been made to complete ADR before trial. Counsel/party(ies) may be sanctioned for failure to comply with this requirement.
Document Type
Confirmation
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026Note
If the parties cannot confirm jointly, each party must file a separate confirmation.
If parties are unable to confirm jointly each party is required to file a separate confirmation.
Document Type
Confirmation
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026Note
The confirmation must state the name, mailing address, and telephone number of any unrepresented party.
If any party is not represented by counsel, state that party’s name, current mailing address, and telephone number.
Document Type
Confirmation
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026Note
If counsel has another trial at the same time, the confirmation must identify the case name, cause number, venue, and trial dates.
If counsel has another trial scheduled at the same time, identify name, cause number, venue of case, and dates of trial.
Document Type
Confirmation
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
The moving party shall provide a proposed order that includes the required findings.
Summary: The moving party on a motion to seal must submit a proposed order containing the required findings.
Document Type
Motion To Seal
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
All motions, oppositions, replies, and briefs shall cite to these page numbers. A party may include other citation information, such as exhibit numbers, corresponding exhibit pages or paragraph numbers, in addition to the consecutive page cite.
Summary: Motions, oppositions, replies, and briefs must cite to the consecutive attachment page numbers (other citation information may be added in addition).
Document Type
Motion Opposition Reply Brief
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
If a party would like to request oral argument, the motion should be noted pursuant to the applicable court rules, simply noting in the upper right-hand corner of the working papers “Oral Argument Requested.”
Summary: To request oral argument on a non-dispositive motion, a party must note 'Oral Argument Requested' in the upper right-hand corner of the working papers.
Document Type
Working Papers
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
A certification by counsel that the conference requirements of these rules have been met is required, and should set out with particularity the nature, extent, and time of the conference.
Summary: A certification of the meet-and-confer conference, setting out with particularity its nature, extent, and time, is required with the motion.
Document Type
Discovery Motion
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Submission of the following information is required by Judge Straley, in every case.
Summary: Judge Straley requires submission of the witness examination estimate information in every case.
Document Type
Estimate Of Witness Examinations
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
In addition to providing the certification, ordinarily, Judge Straley will expect that the moving party provide a copy of all correspondence between the parties relevant to the motion as part of the moving party’s initial filing.
Summary: The movant on a motion to compel discovery should attach all relevant correspondence between the parties to the initial filing.
Document Type
Discovery Motion
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
In preparation for trial, the parties should submit a joint confirmation of trial readiness form and comply with the case schedule provided by the Clerk's Office and the pretrial order.
Summary: Before trial, parties should submit a joint confirmation of trial readiness form and comply with the case schedule and pretrial order.
Document Type
Joint Confirmation Of Trial Readiness Form
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
The moving party should also include an explanation of all the efforts that the moving party has undertaken to seek compliance with a subpoena before filing the motion for contempt.
Summary: A contempt motion must explain all efforts undertaken to seek compliance with the subpoena before filing.
Document Type
Contempt Motion
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
Briefing and proposed orders should fully and clearly include the title of the documents in question.
Summary: Sealing briefing and proposed orders must fully and clearly identify the title of the documents to be sealed.
Document Type
Motion To Seal
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
Judge Straley will also expect copies of all such correspondence from a party moving for an order of contempt pursuant to CR 45(g).
Summary: A party moving for contempt under CR 45(g) must also provide copies of all relevant correspondence.
Document Type
Contempt Motion
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
For estimates, please use 15 minute increments. Note that a typical trial day is 9:00 am to noon, 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm. Both morning and afternoon sessions have a 15 minute break. This results in five (5) hours of trial every day.
Summary: Witness examination time estimates must be given in 15 minute increments, based on a typical trial day of five hours of trial time.
Document Type
Estimate Of Witness Examinations
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
If there are additional parties, each party should create and complete the required information for that party’s witnesses.
Summary: Each additional party must create and complete the witness examination estimate information for that party's own witnesses.
Document Type
Estimate Of Witness Examinations
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Note?
You may use this form, or create one of your own, as long as it includes the requested information.
Summary: Counsel may use the court's form or create their own form for the witness examination estimate, provided it includes all requested information.
Document Type
Estimate Of Witness Examinations
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Attorneys must e-file documents and promptly register to accept e-service via the Clerk's e-filing application unless a waiver is obtained.
Counsel should review LGR 30, which requires e-filing of documents and requires attorneys to “promptly register to accept e-service via the Clerk’s e-filing application” unless a waiver is obtained.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Electronic Filing and Service by Attorneys – LGR 30
When ordered, parties must electronically upload all trial exhibits via Case Center, which is used for trial when required by a pretrial conference order.
If ordered, parties must upload all exhibits into Case Center no later than five court days before the scheduled trial date. Case Center is a program that allows exhibits to be electronically transferred, viewed, and filed with the Court for purposes of hearings and trial.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Trial exhibits
Working copies may not be submitted by email unless the Court has given prior authorization.
The Court does not accept working copies via email, absent prior authorization.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Non-Dispositive Motions – KCLCR 7(b)
The estimate of witness examinations must not be filed with the clerk's office; instead, a copy must be forwarded to the bailiff via email.
DO NOT FILE THIS DOCUMENT WITH THE CLERK’S OFFICE. Please forward a copy to the bailiff via email.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Estimate of Witness Examinations
Department 4 is paperless and prefers that working copies be submitted via eWorking Copies.
Department 4 is a paperless Court and prefers working copies via eWorking Copies.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Non-Dispositive Motions – KCLCR 7(b)
Self-represented parties may optionally use the e-filing and e-service services.
Unrepresented parties have the option of utilizing these services.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Electronic Filing and Service by Attorneys – LGR 30
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
In every case, the parties must provide the Court a Witness Examination Estimate sheet no later than 5 days before the pretrial conference.
Judge Straley also requires the parties in every case to provide the Court with a Witness Examination Estimate sheet no later than 5 days before the pretrial conference.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Trial Preparation
Exhibits must be uploaded into Case Center no later than five court days before the scheduled trial date when ordered.
If ordered, parties must upload all exhibits into Case Center no later than five court days before the scheduled trial date.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Trial exhibits
Sealing & Redaction Procedures
Unredacted materials must be sent as hardcopy to the Judges' mailroom (516 3rd Ave, Rm C-203, Seattle, WA 98104) and are not accepted over email.
Unredacted materials (hardcopy) should be sent to the Court via the Judges mailroom (516 3rd Ave, Rm C-203 Seattle, WA 98104). We do not accept unredacted materials over email.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Motions to seal
Motions to seal must comply with GR 15, LGR 15, and controlling caselaw; party agreement alone cannot justify sealing or redaction.
Motions to seal must comply with GR 15, LGR 15 and controlling caselaw. The agreement of the parties alone is not a sufficient basis for the sealing or redaction of court records.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Motions to seal
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Before motions to compel discovery or for contempt, counsel must hold a meet-and-confer conference in person or by telephone — email is not a substitute.
Please pay careful attention to the “meet and confer” requirements of LCR 37(e) and CR 26(i). The conference of counsel must be held in person or by telephone. Email is not a substitute for a dialogue on these issues.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Motion for Order Compelling Discovery – CR 37, KCLCR 37 – or for an Order of Contempt – CR 45(g)
Parties must confer with opposing counsel to confirm date availability before scheduling any hearing.
Judge Straley requires that you check with opposing counsel before scheduling any hearing to make sure that the date works for all counsel.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Dispositive Motions
Counsel must confer with each other no later than 5 calendar days before the pretrial conference hearing to determine cross-examination time estimates and prepare the witness examination estimate document.
Counsel are to confer not later than five (5) calendar days prior to the pretrial conference hearing to determine estimations for cross-examination time for each party’s witnesses and prepare this document.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Estimate of Witness Examinations
Chambers Communication Rules
Dispositive motion hearing dates are requested by emailing the bailiff with the case name, cause number, and type of hearing; dispositive motions are heard Friday mornings and slots are limited.
To request a hearing date, please email the bailiff and include the case name, cause number, and type of hearing requested. The bailiff will respond with the court's availability.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Dispositive Motions
Parties must confirm their scheduled hearing date with the bailiff.
Please confirm your hearing date with the bailiff.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.
Page 1 | Dispositive Motions