Western District of Washington Local Rules and Judge Filing Requirements

Local counsel must review/sign all filings, ensure compliance with local rules, and remind pro hac vice counsel of professionalism standards.

The arbitrator’s award must be written and signed by the arbitrator.

Video depositions must be submitted on USB or DVD to Chambers and parties by deadline.

A proposed order must be attached as an exhibit to motions, except for ex parte or stipulated motions.

Party must pay court reporter fees for depositions.

Initial inquiries should be directed to Courtroom Deputy Kadya Peter.

A pro se party must keep the court and opposing parties updated on current contact addresses, and failure to provide an updated address within 60 days after returned mail or email may result in dismissal without prejudice.

Clerk cannot provide legal advice, interpret rules, or communicate with judges.

Do not fax the Court because Chambers has no fax machine.

Electronic devices may be used for calls, email, texts, and internet in courthouse environs.

Audio/video exhibits must be playable in Windows Media Player.

The first page should leave at least three inches at the top; other margins must be at least one inch, subject to the stated permitted margin placements.

All exhibits must be pre-marked by counsel with cause number, exhibit number, and admitted status (left blank) per the specified format.

Audio/video exhibits must be playable in Windows Media Player.

Three judge court cases require special labeling and quadruplicate filings

Supplemental, non-agreed proposed jury instructions, jury questionnaire, and verdict form must be filed no later than 10 days before trial.

Motions for summary judgment and lien avoidance must be filed and served at least 28 days before the hearing.

Motions for relief from a deadline and motions for protective order are noted at least 14 days after filing, with opposition due within 9 days and reply due within 14 days; the noting-date rule does not apply when a party is under confinement.

Motions in limine must be filed as a joint brief at least 5 business days before the pretrial conference.

Motions in limine must be filed 35 days before trial, noted for 21 days from filing; opposition due 15 days after filing; no reply without court order.

If the movant omits the certification, the court may deny the motion without reaching the merits.

Opposition papers for 28-day motions must be filed within 21 days.

Non-compliant motions in limine may be summarily stricken without prior permission.

Pro se parties exempt from meet and confer requirement.

The Court will deny or strike a discovery motion if the parties fail to meet and confer in good faith.

Parties are encouraged to obtain a ruling on a motion to seal well before filing an underlying motion that relies on the sealed documents.

Motion to seal must include meet-and-confer certification with date, manner, and participants.

Personal identifiers must be redacted before filing per LCR 5.2(a), with specific redaction rules for dates of birth, minor children's names, SSNs, financial accounts, and other sensitive information.

When sealing an exhibit within a public document, insert a blank page reading "Exhibit __: FILED UNDER SEAL".

The Court expects strict compliance with Local Civil Rule 5(g).

Replies to motions for reconsideration are limited to 5 pages.

Same-day motions limited to 2,100 words or 6 pages.

Disputed jury instructions limited to 2 pages per party per instruction.

Motions for default judgment are limited to 8,400 words.

The initial moving party’s combined opposition and reply brief may not exceed 10,500 words.

If the parties cannot agree on arrangements for a deposition of a person in custody, the noticing party must serve notice on the specified recipients at least 14 days before the proposed deposition.

Service on UST for ex parte applications may be made by fax or email to specified address.

A Doe or fictitiously named defendant must be identified and served within 90 days after filing or will be dismissed.

Parties must notify third parties of discovery procedures, and third parties must comply.

A party seeking to file a document another party claims is confidential must give the other parties at least 7 days’ notice, allowing the sealing proponent to prepare and file a motion to seal when the document is submitted.

In the specified emergency circumstances, the parties may instead use the telephonic-motion procedure in LCR 7(i).

Moving party can renote own motion before response; after response requires stipulation or court order.

Out-of-county counsel may request remote appearance for status conferences and non-dispositive motions with 5 days advance notice.

Initial case schedule deadlines may be extended by contacting the Courtroom Deputy, without filing a stipulation.

Extension motions must be filed at least 3 business days before deadline.

Defense trial briefs due 17 days before trial.

Statements of material facts or opposing statements of facts may not be filed separately from summary-judgment motion papers.

Motion to consolidate should be filed in earliest case with notice in later cases; if unable to file in earliest case, may file in own case; motion heard by judge of earliest case; court may transfer cases to same judge.

Motions in limine must be filed early enough to be ruled on before pretrial conference.

All motions must be filed before pretrial motions deadline.

The courtesy-copy requirement does not apply to pleadings filed under seal.

Multiple sets of exhibits and witness lists must be provided to courtroom deputy on first day of trial.

Trial exhibits must be delivered to chambers 5 days before trial.

Judge Creatura may request hard copy or CD of Administrative Record for specific cases

Courtesy copies required for pleadings over 50 pages or trial exhibits.

Pro se parties who opt not to e-file should, if possible, bring emergency motions to court during normal business hours rather than mail them.

Non-trial exhibits must be filed electronically and linked to the related pleading.

For claims arising in the listed counties, mail the completed forms, originals, and all copies to the Seattle Clerk’s office address provided.

The Court prefers proposed jury instructions to be filed on ECF and a Word version to be emailed to the specified address.

Notices of unavailability are not required and should not be filed because they do not affect the schedule or deadlines.

No filing fee is required for § 2255 motions or habeas petitions filed with an in forma pauperis application.

Individual chapter 7 debtor may file waiver application (Form B 103B) with petition for waiver of filing fee.

Submit the $400 filing fee or an in forma pauperis application with a certified prisoner-account copy.

Experienced attorneys may supplement junior lawyers' arguments if needed.

Court encourages junior attorneys and Rule 9 interns to argue, permits multiple attorneys per party.

Court encourages Rule 9 interns and junior attorneys to argue, permits multiple attorneys to argue for one party.

Attorneys must have at least 7 years of bar membership or judicial experience to serve as neutrals.

Each side limited to 20 minutes for oral argument plus 5 minutes for rebuttal.