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LOCAL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT
OF NEBRASKA
i
LOCAL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT
OF NEBRASKA
__________
TABLE OF RULES |
Page |
I. Scope of the Rules -One Form of Action
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .1
1.1 Scope of the Rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
(a) Scope of Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
(b) Rule of Construction and Definitions. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
1.2 Availability of the Local Rules . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .2
2.1 One Form of Action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
II. Commencement of Action; Service of Process,
Pleadings, Motions and Orders . . . . . .2
3.1 Civil Cover Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
3.2 Prepayment of Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(a) Filing Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(b) Miscellaneous Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
3.3 Appearance of Counsel . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .3
(a) Appearance, Civil Case. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
(b) Appearance, Criminal Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
(c) Change of Address or Telephone Number. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .3
(d) Withdrawal of Appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
3.4 Proceedings by Persons Without Counsel
(Pro Se) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
(a) Scope of Rule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
(b) Compliance with Other Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
(c) Filing of Cases by Institutionalized Persons; Assignment to
Judge . . . . .4
(d) Responsibilities of Clerk and Magistrate Judge . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .5
(1) Complaints for Which the Filing Fee Has Been Paid . . . .
. . . . . .5
(2) Complaints Accompanied by a Request to Proceed In
Forma Pauperis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .6
3.5 Applications to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
Generally; Persons
Institutionalized; Payment of Partial Filing Fee; Appointment
of
Counsel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
(a) Financial Affidavit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 2
2 Page 3
4
ii
(b) Objections to Trust Account Statement. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
(c) Order that Applicant Pay Portion of Fee . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
(d) Rescission of Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .10
(e) Consent to Apply Portion of Recovery to Payment of Fees
and Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
(f) Abuse of Privilege to Proceed In Forma Pauperis . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .11
(g) Appointment of Counsel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
(h) Expenses of Litigation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
4.1 Service of Process . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .12
(a) Manner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
(b) Prepayment of Fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
4.2 Schedule of Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
5.1 Restrictions on Filing Discovery . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
5.2 Certificate of Service when Service is Required by Rule 5
of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or Rule 49 of the Federal Rules
of Criminal Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
(a) Form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
(b) Amendment of Certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
5.2.1 Filing by Facsimile or Other Electronic Means . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
6.1 Enlargements of Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
7.1 Motion Practice. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .15
(a) Making of Motions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
(b) Opposing of Motions . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
(c) Replying to Opposing Briefs and Evidence . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .18
(d) Procedures for Motions for Summary Judgment . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .18
(e) Oral Argument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
(f) Oral Testimony. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
(g) Submission of Motions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
(h) Extensions of Time for Filing or Responding to Motions . .
. . . . . . . . .19
(i) Discovery Motions--Prerequisite. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
(j) Form of Discovery Motions . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
(k) Conference Telephone Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
(l) Certificate of Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
7.2 Preparation and Filing of Orders . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
7.3 Agreements and Stipulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
7.4 Motions in Criminal Cases. . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.21
8.1 General Rules of Pleading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
9.1 Pleading Special Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
(a) Social Security Number in Social Security Cases. . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .21
(b) Procedure for Notification of Any Claim of Unconstitutionality.
. . . . .21
9.2 Request for Three-Judge Court . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
10.1 Form of Pleadings . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .23
(a) Copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 3
3 Page 4
5
iii
(b) Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.23
(c) Form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
(d) Attachments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
(e) Identification of Pleading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
(f) Identification of Attorney . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
(g) Copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
(h) Certificate of Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
11.1 Signing of Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers; Representations
to Court; Sanctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
12.1 Defenses and Objections--When and How Presented--By
Pleading or Motion--Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings . . .
. . . . . . . . . .24
13.1 Counterclaim and Cross-Claim. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
14.1 Third-Party Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
15.1 Form of a Motion to Amend and Its Supporting Documentation
. . . . . . . . .25
16.1 Scheduling Orders Required by Rule 16. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
16.2 Pretrial Procedures in Civil Cases
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.27
(a) Matters to Be Completed Before Final Pretrial Conference .
. . . . . . . .27
(b) Representation Required. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
(c) "Impeachment Purposes" Defined . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
17.1 Parties Plaintiff and Defendant; Capacity
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
18.1 Joinder of Claims and Remedies. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
19.1 Joinder of Persons Necessary for Just Adjudication . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
20.1 Permissive Joinder of Parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
21.1 Misjoinder and Nonjoinder of Parties. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
22.1 Interpleader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
23.1 Designation of "Class Action" in the Caption. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
23.1.1 Derivative Actions by Shareholders
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
23.2.1 Actions Relating to Unincorporated Associations. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
24.1 Intervention. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
25.1 Substitution of Parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
26.1 General Provisions Governing Discovery; Duty of Disclosure
. . . . . . . . . . .34
27.1 Depositions Before Action or Pending Appeal. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
28.1 Persons Before Whom Depositions May be Taken. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .34
29.1 Discovery Stipulations. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .35
30.1 Depositions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
(a) Certificate of Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
(b) Filing and Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
(c) Certificate as to Fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
31.1 Depositions Upon Written Questions. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
32.1 Use of Depositions in Court Proceedings
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
33.1 Interrogatories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 4
4 Page 5
6
iv
34.1 Production of Documents and Things and
Entry Upon Land for
Inspection and Other Purposes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
35.1 Physical and Mental Examination of
Persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
36.1 Requests for Admission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
37.1 Failure to Make Disclosure or Cooperate in Discovery; Sanctions
. . . . . . . .37
38.1 Notation of "Jury Demand" in the Pleading . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
39.1 Opening Statements and Closing Arguments
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
(a) Opening Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
(b) Closing Argument. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
39.2 Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
(a) Trial Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
(b) Motion Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
(c) Briefs on Submitted Cases and Pursuant to Briefing Schedules
. . . . . .39
(d) Briefs in Habeas Corpus Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
(e) Service of Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
39.3 Use of Exhibits at Trial . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .39
40.1 Assignment of Civil and Criminal Cases
by Place of Trial and
to Judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
(a) Determination of Place of Trial . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
(1) Civil Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
(2) Criminal Cases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
(3) Calendaring of Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .41
(b) Assignment of Cases to District Judges and Magistrate Judges
. . . . . .41
(c) Sanctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
40.2 Trial Calendar . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . .44
41.1 Dismissal of Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
42.1 Consolidation; Separate Trials . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
43.1 Taking of Testimony . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .45
44.1 Proof of Official Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
44.1.1 Determination of Foreign Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
45.1 Subpoenas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
(a) Civil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
(b) Criminal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
46.1 Exceptions Unnecessary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
47.1 Jury Selection . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . .46
(a) Voir Dire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
(b) Impanelment of Jury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
(c) Peremptory Challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
(d) Waiver of Peremptory Challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
48.1 Jury Deliberation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
(a) Number of Jurors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
(b) Recess During Jury Deliberations . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
(c) Availability of Counsel During Jury Deliberations . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .47 5
5 Page 6
7
v
(d) Absence of Counsel on Receipt of Verdict
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
49.1 Special Verdicts and Interrogatories . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
50.1 Judgment as a Matter of Law in Actions Tried by Jury; Alternative
Motion for New Trial; Conditional Rulings . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
51.1 Instructions to Jury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
(a) When Submitted and Served. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
(b) Supporting Memorandum or Authority .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
(c) Form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
52.1 Proposed Findings in Civil Cases . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
53.1 Masters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
53.2 Arbitration/Alternative Dispute Resolution . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
54.1 Taxation of Costs . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .54
(a) Procedure for Taxation in Civil Cases . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
(b) Procedure for Taxation in Criminal Cases . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .54
(c) To Whom Payable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
(d) Waiver of Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
(e) Costs Defined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
54.2 Jury Cost Assessment . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .55
54.3 Award of Attorney's Fees and Non-Taxable Expenses . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .55
54.4 Fee Application Guidelines . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .56
(a) As to Services Performed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
(b) As to Expenses Incurred. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
(c) As to Rates of Compensation Requested. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .57
55.1 Default Judgments by the Clerk . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.57
56.1 Summary Judgment Procedure . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
(a) Moving Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
(b) Opposing Party. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
57.1 Declaratory Judgments . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .59
58.1 Satisfaction of Judgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
59.1 New Trials; Amendment of Judgments . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
60.1 Relief from Judgment or Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
61.1 Harmless Error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
62.1 Stay of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
63.1 Inability of a Judge to Proceed . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
64.1 Seizure of Person or Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
65.1 Injunctions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
65.1.1 Security; Proceedings Against Sureties . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
66.1 Receiverships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
67.1 Bonds and Other Sureties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
(a) General Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
(b) Unacceptable Sureties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
(c) Corporate Surety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
(d) Personal Surety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 6
6 Page 7
8
vi
(e) Cash Bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
(f) Cost Bonds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
(g) Insufficiency--Remedy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
67.2 Deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
(a) Order Directing the Investment of Funds. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .63
(b) Time for Investing Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
(c) Fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
67.3 Withdrawal of a Deposit Pursuant to
Rule 67 Fed. R. Civ. P.. . . . . . . . . . . .64
67.4 Federal Practice Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
68.1 Settlement Procedures. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .65
69.1 Execution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
70.1 Judgment for Specific Acts; Vesting Title . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
71.1 Process in Behalf of and Against Persons Not Parties . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
71A.1 Condemnation of Property. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .65
72.1 Magistrate Judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
(a) Duties under 28 U.S.C. § 636. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
(b) Disposition of Misdemeanor Cases -18 U.S.C. § 3401 .
. . . . . . . . . . .66
(c) Prisoner Cases under 28 U.S.C. §§ 2254 and 2255
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
(d) Prisoner Cases under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
(e) Special Master References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
72.2 Referral of Matters to Magistrate Judge
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
(a) Criminal Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
(b) Civil Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
(c) General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
72.3 Appeal of Nondispositive Matters .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
(a) Scope of Rule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
(b) Statement of Appeal and Briefs. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
(c) Evidence on Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
(d) Scope of Review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
(e) Stay Pending Appeal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
72.4 Objections to Recommendations in Dispositive
Matters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
72.5 Review of Magistrate Judge's Orders
in Specific Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
(a) Detention Matters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
(b) Special Master Reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
73.1 Magistrate Judges: Trial by Consent
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
(a) Civil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
(b) Criminal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
73.2 Procedures Before Magistrate Judges:
Trial by Consent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
(a) Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
(b) Execution of Consent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
(c) Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
74.1 Appeal to District Judge in Consent Cases . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
(a) Civil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 7
7 Page 8
9
vii
(b) Criminal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
75.1 Procedure on Appeal to District Judge in Consent Cases .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
(a) Civil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
(b) Criminal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
76.1 Bankruptcy Cases . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .74
(a) Reference to Bankruptcy Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
(b) Withdrawal of Reference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
(c) Appeal from Bankruptcy Judge Decisions . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .76
(d) Jury Trials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
77.1 Orders and Judgments Grantable by the
Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
77.2 Sessions of Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
77.3 Release of Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
77.4 Official Station of Clerk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
78.1 Motion Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
79.1 Custody of Files and Exhibits. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .78
(a) Temporary Withdrawal of Files and Papers . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .78
(b) Permanent Withdrawal of Files and Papers . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .78
(c) Custody of Exhibits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
(d) Withdrawal or Destruction of Exhibits in Civil Cases . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .78
(e) Withdrawal or Destruction of Exhibits in Criminal Cases. .
. . . . . . . . .79
80.1 Court Reporting Fees . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .79
81.1 Applicability in General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
81.2 Removed Cases, Demand for Jury Trial. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
82.1 Jurisdiction and Venue Unaffected. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
83.1 Free Press-Fair Trial Provisions. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.80
(a) Statement Not to be Made . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
(b) Statements Which May be Made. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
83.2 Courtroom and Courthouse Decorum .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
(a) Counsel's Standing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
(b) Counsel's Examination of Witnesses . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
(c) Counsel's Moving About the Courtroom. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .82
(d) Colloquy Between Counsel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
(e) Counsel's Leaving the Courtroom. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
(f) Addressing and Referring to Witnesses and Parties . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .83
83.3 Public Security and Conduct in Courthouse
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
(a) General Conduct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
(b) Entering and Leaving Building, Courtroom or Corridor . . .
. . . . . . . . .83
(c) Weapons and Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
(d) Seating of Spectators and News Media . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .84
(e) Food, Drink and Tobacco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
(f) Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
(g) Exemption from or Interpretation of this Rule. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .84
83.4 Bar Admission. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .85 8
8 Page 9
10
viii
(a) Bar of the Court . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
(b) Ethical Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
(c) Admission by Oral or Written Application.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
(d) Oath of Admission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
(e) Admission for a Particular Case. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
(f) Appointment of Counsel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
(g) Annual Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
83.5 Attorney Discipline . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .87
(a) Attorneys Convicted of Crimes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
(b) Discipline Imposed by Other Courts . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
(c) Disbarment on Consent or Resignation
in Other Courts. . . . . . . . . . . .91
(d) Standards for Professional Conduct. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
(e) Discipline Proceedings in Instances of Conduct Other Than
That Which May be Treated as Contempt of Court . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .92
(f) Disbarment on Consent While Under Disciplinary
Investigation
or Prosecution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
(g) Reinstatement . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.94
(h) Attorneys Specially Admitted . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
(i) Service of Papers and Other Notices . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
(j) Appointment of Counsel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
(k) Duties of the Clerk . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
(l) Jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .99
83.6 Clinical Legal Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
(a) Limited Admission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
(b) Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
(c) Restrictions. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.100
(d) Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
(e) Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
(f) Supervising Attorney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
83.7 Nonresident Attorneys; Association
of Resident Attorney . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
83.8 Rules Governing Photography and Broadcasting
of Court Proceedings . . . 102
(a) Recording and Broadcasting Devices . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .102
(b) Cameras, Video Tape and Television. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .103
83.9 Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
83.10 Distribution of Copies of Rules Concerning
Proceeding Pro Se,
Proceeding In Forma Pauperis, and the Exhaustion of Administrative
Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
83.11 Rules Applicable to Criminal Cases Only. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
(a) Issuance of Warrant of Arrest by Clerk . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .105
(b) Attendance of Defendants and Witnesses . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .105
83.12 Complaints Against Judges and Magistrate
Judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
83.13 Local Rule Making . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
84.1 Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 9
9 Page 10
11
ix
85.1 Title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . .107
86.1 Effective Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
(a) Effective Date of Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
(b) Effective Date of Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .107 10
10 Page
11 12
1
I. SCOPE OF THE RULES -ONE FORM OF ACTION
1.1 Scope of the Rules.
(a) Scope of Rules. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 83 and Fed. R.
Crim. P. 57, these rules
shall govern all applicable proceedings brought in this court
after they take effect. They also shall
apply to all proceedings pending at the time they take effect,
except to the extent that in the opinion
of the judge deciding the issue the application of them would
not be feasible or would work injustice,
in which event the former rule shall govern.
(b) Rule of Construction and Definitions.
(1) United States Code, Title 1, Sections 1 to 5 shall, as far
as applicable, govern
the construction of these rules.
(2) The following definitions shall apply:
(A) "Judge" without further description shall mean any
Article III judge
or magistrate judge assigned or designated for service in the
District of Nebraska.
(B) "Court" shall mean "judge" unless by its
context it is determined to
mean the judges of the United States District Court for the District
of Nebraska
collectively.
(C) "Clerk" without further description shall mean the
Clerk of this court
or any of his or her deputies.
(D) "Marshal" shall mean the United States Marshal of
this district or any
of his or her deputies. 11
11 Page 12
13
2
1.2 Availability of the Local Rules.
Copies of these rules, and the amendments and appendices to them,
shall be available from
the Clerk's office for a reasonable charge to be determined by
the court.
2.1 One Form of Action.
[Reserved.]
II. COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS,
PLEADINGS, MOTIONS AND ORDERS
3.1 Civil Cover Sheet.
A completed civil cover sheet on a form available from the Clerk
must be submitted with
every complaint or other document initiating a civil action. This
requirement is solely for
administrative purposes, and matters appearing on the civil cover
sheet have no legal effect in the
action.
3.2 Prepayment of Fees.
(a) Filing Fees. The party commencing an action or the party removing
an action from
a st ate court shall pay to the Clerk the statutory filing fee
before the case may be docketed and
process issued. Excepted from the operation of this rule are proceedings
in forma pauperis as
governed by various statutory provisions or local rules (See NELR
3.5). 12
12 Page 13
14
3
(b) Miscellaneous Fees. Prepayment of all other fees collectible
by the Clerk and
prescribed by statute or by the Judicial Conference of the United
States shall be required by the Clerk
before furnishing the service. To this end the Clerk may require
advance deposit of sums reasonably
estimated to be required for the furnishing of the service requested;
and, upon the termination of the
proceeding or the completion of the service requested, any sums
so deposited and not required in
payment of fees chargeable to the person making the deposit shall
be promptly returned to that
person.
3.3 Appearance of Counsel.
(a) Appearance, Civil Case. An attorney making an appearance in
a civil case shall
cause, either by filing a written appearance or by signature to
the first pleading filed by him or her,
the Clerk's record to reflect clearly the office address and telephone
number of the attorney and the
party for whom appearance is made.
(b) Appearance, Criminal Case. An attorney appearing for a defendant
in a criminal
case shall promptly file a written appearance with the Clerk and
serve a copy thereof upon the United
States Attorney. The appearance shall show the office address
and telephone number of the attorney.
(c) Change of Address or Telephone Number. An attorney whose address
or
telephone number has changed from that of the initial appearance
shall timely file a notice of a change
of address or telephone number with the Clerk of the court and
serve a copy of the notice on all other
parties.
(d) Withdrawal of Appearance. An attorney who has appeared of
record in a case
may withdraw for good cause shown, but shall be relieved of his
or her duties to the court, the client, 13
13 Page 14
15
While these rules were being drafted, the President signed into
law the Prison Litigation
Reform Act of 1996" (PLRA), Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321
(1996). To the extent that the Local
Rules of the United States District Court for the District of
Nebraska (NELR) conflict with that act,
t he PLRA will govern. Any discrepancies bet ween the NELR and
the PLRA will be handled by order
of the court.
4
and opposing counsel, only after service of notice of withdrawal
on all other parties and on the client,
filing with the Clerk of the court notice and proof of service
thereof, and ent ry of an order aut horizing
the withdrawal.
3.4 Proceedings by Persons Without Counsel (Pro Se). 1
(a) Scope of Rule. This rule shall apply to all cases involving
litigants who are not
attorneys authorized to appear before this court and who are proceeding
pro se.
(b) Compliance with Other Rules. Except as provided in NELR 15.1,
all litigants
proceeding pro se shall be bound by and comply with all local
rules of this court, and the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
(c) Filing of Cases by Institutionalized Persons; Assignment to
Judge. Proceedings
under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 shall be filed in the city in which
the sentencing judge sits or sat at the time
of sentencing. Petitions for writs of habeas corpus and civil
rights complaints from persons
incarcerated or institutionalized in Douglas, Sarpy, Washington
and Dodge counties shall be filed with
the Clerk's office in Omaha. All other such cases shall be filed
with the Clerk's office in Lincoln.
Such cases shall be assigned in accordance with NELR 40.1(b).
(d) Responsibilities of Clerk and Magistrate Judge. Upon the receipt
of a complaint
filed pro se, the Clerk shall present the complaint and any accompanying
documents to the magistrate
judge assigned to review such complaints, in accordance with the
following provisions: 14
14 Page 15
16
5
(1) Complaints for Which the Filing Fee Has Been Paid. Upon receipt
of the
complaint, the Clerk shall inform the plaintiff of the court's
practice of reviewing pro se
complaints, and offer the plaintiff the choice of whether he or
she wishes the review process
to be completed prior to or following the issuance of summons.
The Clerk shall abide by the
preference stated by the plaintiff. After the filing of the complaint,
the Clerk shall deliver the
file to the magistrate judge in Lincoln, noting thereon whether
summonses have been issued
to the plaintiff for service upon the defendants. Upon receipt
of a complaint for which
summons has been issued, the magistrate judge may grant the defendant(s)
an extension of
t ime t o respond to the complaint until the initial review process
has been completed. The
magistrate judge shall proceed to review the pro se complaint
and after such review, may, in
addition to the actions authorized by NELR 72.1:
(A) Order the Clerk to issue summons for service upon one or more
of the
defendants, if summons has not theretofore been issued, or alternatively,
if summons
has been issued, order some or all of the defendants to respond
to some or all of the
claims in the complaint; following such action, the case shall
proceed in the ordinary
course;
(B) Report to the court if the complaint or petition fails to
establish subject
matter jurisdiction under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) or fails to
state a claim upon
which relief may be granted under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), and
thereupon
recommend dismissal;
(C) Order the respondent to answer in cases filed under 28 U.S.C.
§ 2254
or § 2255; 15
15 Page 16
17
6
(D) Grant the plaintiff or petitioner leave to file an amended
pleading in
accordance with the directives of the magistrate judge. (The amended
pleading, if
filed, shall be forwarded by the Clerk to the magistrate judge
for review); AND/OR
(E) Order the matter stayed in accordance with the provisions
of NELR
83.9.
(2) Complaints Accompanied by a Request to Proceed In Forma Pauperis.
Upon the receipt of a complaint or petition accompanied by an
application to proceed in
forma pauperis, the Clerk shall present the complaint to the magistrate
judge locally assigned
to review the plaintiff's application, in accordance with NELR
3.5. The magistrate judge shall
review the pleading presented and the financial information provided
by the applicant. The
final review of the application may be delayed pending the receipt
of additional financial
information, and may be combined with the initial review of the
sufficiency of the pleading.
Pending final approval or denial of the application to proceed
in forma pauperis in accordance
with NELR 3.5, the complaint shall be filed and regarded as if
the application had been
granted. Once the matter is filed, the Clerk shall present the
file to the magistrate judge in
Lincoln, who shall review the complaint or petition. The magistrate
judge may, in addition
to the actions authorized by NELR 72.1:
(A) Upon the granting of leave to proceed in forma pauperis, order
the
Clerk to issue summonses for service upon the defendants;
(B) Grant the defendants an extension of time in which to respond
to the
pleading until after the completion of the initial review process;
16
16 Page 17
18
See NELR 3.4, supra note 1, at 4.
7
(C) Order some or all of the defendants to respond to some
or all of the
claims in the pleading;
(D) Report to the court if the pleading fails to establish subject
matter
jurisdiction under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1), fails to state a
claim upon which relief
may be granted under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), or is legally frivolous
or malicious
under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (d), and thereupon recommend dismissal;
(E) Order the respondent to answer in cases filed under 28 U.S.C.
§ 2254
or § 2255;
(F) Grant the plaintiff or petitioner leave to file an amended
pleading in
accordance with the directives of the magistrate judge (The amended
pleading, if
filed, shall be forwarded by the Clerk to the magistrate judge
for review); AND/OR
(G) Order the matter stayed in accordance with the provisions
of NELR
83.9.
3.5 Applications to Proceed In Forma Pauperis Generally; Persons
Institutionalized;
Payment of Partial Filing Fee; Appointment of Counsel. 2
(a) Financial Affidavit. All applications to proceed in forma
pauperis shall be
accompanied by a financial affidavit substantially in the form
prescribed by the court, which shall
disclose the applicant's income, assets, expenses, and liabilities,
as applicable. In addition, such
applications received from incarcerated or institutionalized persons
shall also be accompanied by a
statement from the institution or the appropriate governmental
entity certifying the amount of funds 17
17 Page 18
19
8
held in the applicant's trust account at the institution and for
the six months preceding the submission
of the application. (If the applicant has been at the institution
for less than six months, the statement
shall show the account's activity for such period.) If the required
trust account information does not
accompany the application, the court may provisionally allow the
applicant to proceed in forma
pauperis, and the Clerk shall request such information from the
institution and/or the applicant. The
filing of an applicat ion t o proceed in forma pauperis shall
constitute the consent of the applicant for
the institution to release the required trust account information
to the Clerk. If the action for which
leave to proceed in forma pauperis is being requested is being
brought by more than one person as
plaintiffs or petitioners, each person who is a plaintiff or petitioner
shall file an application and
affidavit, and shall provide the required trust account information.
(b) Objections to Trust Account Statement. When the trust account
statement is
received from the institution, the applicant shall be provided
an opportunity to comment and correct
any misleading information in the trust account statement or demonstrate
special circumstances
justifying fee waiver or payment of a fee lower than that allowed
by this rule. When the trust account
statement accompanies the application to proceed in forma pauperis,
the applicant's comments must
also accompany the application. In the event the institution in
which the applicant resides refuses to
furnish the court with a statement of the applicant's trust account,
the court shall proceed to consider
the application on the basis of the information contained therein
and the applicant's comments, if any.
Thereafter, however, any party associated with that institution
shall not be permitted to challenge the
applicant 's eligibilit y to proceed in forma pauperis as of the
time of filing of the case. If the applicant
refuses to provide the trust account statement, even though it
is available to him or her, the
application to proceed in forma pauperis shall be denied. 18
18 Page 19
20
9
(c) Order that Applicant Pay Portion of Fee. If, following review
of the application,
the trust account statement, and the applicant's comments, if
any, the court finds, applying the factors
set forth below, that the applicant should be required to pay
all or part of the filing fee, an order to
that effect may be entered in accordance with the following:
(1) Any part ial filing fee required shall not exceed 30 percent
of the average
monthly income (total of deposits) to the trust account for the
six months (or other applicable
period) preceding the filing of t he act ion, or, alt ernat ively,
30 percent of t he account balance
at the time of filing, whichever is greater.
(2) In the event leave to proceed in forma pauperis in the same
case is requested
by more than one person, any partial filing fee shall be comput
ed for each person individually
under the provisions of this rule, provided that the partial filing
fees required from such
persons shall not, in the aggregate, exceed the full filing fee
charged by t he Clerk for t hat t ype
of action. In the event that the partial filing fees required
from such persons would exceed,
in the aggregate, the full filing fee when computed under this
rule, the fees shall be
proportionately reduced to the amount of the full filing fee.
(3) If the partial filing fee required is based upon the current
balance of the
applicant's trust account, the court may require a higher partial
filing fee if the applicant has
withdrawn funds from the account to avoid payment of the filing
fee, but in that event, the
court shall make specific findings to that effect, after affording
the applicant an opportunity
to explain the withdrawal. 19
19 Page 20
21
10
(4) In calculating the average monthly income, gifts of $5.00
or less shall be
excluded unless the applicant has received a sufficient number
of such gifts that it is
reasonable to include them in the applicant's average income.
(5) No partial filing fee in an amount less than $2.00 shall be
required.
(6) If a partial filing fee is required, the applicant may, in
the discretion of the
court, be granted up to three months to pay the filing fee to
the Clerk. Installment payments
shall not be accepted. During the interim period before the filing
fee is paid, the applicant
shall be allowed provisionally to proceed in forma pauperis, and
the case shall proceed as
other cases. The failure of the applicant to pay the fee before
the expiration of the time
granted therefor shall be cause for dismissal of the case.
(d) Rescission of Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. The court
may, either on its
own motion or the motion of any party made in accordance with
this rule, review and rescind, wholly
or in part, leave to proceed in forma pauperis if the party to
whom leave was granted becomes
capable of paying the complete filing fee or on any other lawful
ground, as, for example, when the
court determines the case is frivolous, or that the applicant
has wilfully misstated information in his
or her application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis.
(e) Consent to Apply Portion of Recovery to Payment of Fees and
Costs. An
application for leave to commence or proceed with any civil action
without being required to prepay
fees or costs or give security for costs, shall constitute consent
of the applicant and counsel that a
portion of any recovery, as directed by the court, shall be paid
to the Clerk, who will pay therefrom
all unpaid fees and costs, including attorney fees, taxed against
the applicant. 20
20 Page 21
22
11
(f) Abuse of Privilege to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. The court
may limit an
applicant's opportunities to proceed in forma pauperis if the
court finds that the applicant has abused
the privilege to so proceed.
(g) Appointment of Counsel.
(1) Any person proceeding under this rule may request the court
to appoint
counsel to represent him or her during the pendency of such proceeding.
Request for
appointment of counsel shall be made at the time of the filing
of the original complaint or
petition, or at such other time as the court shall determine.
In a case in which counsel has
been appointed, all further pleadings and other communications
with the court shall be made
exclusively through counsel, unless otherwise specifically permitted
by the court. Any further
pro se pleadings or other communications submitted to the court
shall be returned, unfiled,
to the sending party or, alternatively, may be forwarded to counsel
for the sending party.
(2) In the event that appointed counsel files a motion to withdraw,
the court may,
but need not, appoint substitute counsel for the person formerly
represented.
(3) Nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed as
a limitation on the
authority of the court to appoint counsel on its own motion.
(h) Expenses of Litigation. The granting of an application to
proceed in forma
pauperis does not waive the applicant's responsibility to pay
the expenses of litigation which are not
waived by 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Likewise, the appointment of
counsel pursuant to the above subsection
does not waive the pro se litigant's ultimate responsibility for
such expenses. See NELR 83.4,
concerning counsel's duties and the availability of funds from
the Federal Practice Fund. 21
21 Page 22
23
12
4.1 Service of Process.
(a) Manner. Service of all papers requiring service may be made
in the manner
specified in the Federal Rules of Procedure, both Civil and Criminal,
or as required or permitted by
statute. The party seeking service of papers shall be responsible
for completing the summons and
arranging the service. The Clerk is authorized to sign orders
specially appointing persons to serve
process.
(b) Prepayment of Fees. Except as may be otherwise provided by
statute or order, the
person requested to make service may require prepayment of fees
before serving any papers.
4.2 Schedule of Fees.
[Reserved. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1821, 1911.]
5.1 Restrictions on Filing Discovery.
Disclosures pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)-(3), depositions,
interrogatories, answers and
objections to interrogatories, requests for admissions, answers
and objections to requests for
admissions, requests to produce or inspect, and responses to requests
to produce or inspect shall not
be filed until they are needed for trial or resolution of a motion
or on order of the court. Upon
request of a member of the public made to the Clerk's office,
non-filed documents shall be made
available by the parties for inspection, subject to the power
of the court to enter protective orders
under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and other applicable
provisions of law. 22
22 Page 23
24
13
5.2 Certificate of Service when Service is Required by Rule 5
of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure or Rule 49 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
(a) Form. Except as otherwise provided in the Federal Rules
of Procedure, both Civil
and Criminal, or by order of the court or statute, the certificate
of service filed with any pleading,
motion or other paper required to be served may consist of a certificate
of counsel, written receipt
of the opposing party or his or her attorney, affidavit of the
person making service, return of the
United States Marshal or other proof satisfactory to the court.
The certificate of service shall show
the name and address of each person served and shall be personally
signed by one of the counsel of
record.
(b) Amendment of Certificate. Failure to file the certificate
of service will not affect
the validity of the service, and the court may at any time allow
the certificate of service to be amended
or supplied, unless it clearly appears that to do so would result
in material prejudice to a substantial
right of any party.
5.2.1 Filing by Facsimile or Other Electronic Means.
[Reserved.]
6.1 Enlargements of Time.
(a) One enlargement of time, not to exceed thirty days after the
defendant's initial
answer date or the plaintiff's initial reply date, to serve an
answer to the complaint, or to serve a reply
to a counterclaim contained in the answer, or to serve a motion
under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b) or (e) to
the complaint or to a counterclaim contained in the answer, may
be granted by an order signed by the 23
23 Page 24
25
14
Clerk, if the party seeking the enlargement moves to obtain it
before the expiration of the time
originally allotted to answer or reply. All motions for enlargement
under this subdivision shall state
the date upon which the answer or reply was originally to be served
and shall be accompanied by a
proposed order granting the motion and setting forth the extended
service date. A sample form of
the order is as follows: 24
24 Page 25
26
15
7.1 Motion Practice.
All motions, applications, requests and petitions of a miscellaneous
nature shall be filed and
considered in accordance with this rule. Except as otherwise stated
in this rule, failure of a party to
observe the requirements of the rule may be deemed an abandonment
in whole or in part of that
party's position on the pending motion.
(a) Making of Motions. Any party making a motion shall provide
an extra copy of the
motion to the Clerk. The moving party shall set forth in the motion
the basis for the motion and the
specific relief requested.
(1) Supporting Briefs. Every motion raising a substantial issue
of law shall be
supported by a brief. The brief shall contain a concise statement
of the reasons for the motion
and a cit at ion of authorities relied upon. The brief shall not
include recitations of fact not
supported as provided in subparagraph (2) below. At the time of
the filing of the motion, the
original only of the brief shall be delivered to the district
judge to whom the matter has been
assigned or to the magistrate judge to whom the matter has been
referred by order or rule,
and a copy shall be served on each other party. The brief shall
not be filed with the Clerk.
For cases to be tried in North Platte, delivery of the brief shall
be to the magistrate judge in
Lincoln.
Briefs are not required when the motion raises no substantial
issue of law and relief
is within the court's discretion. Examples may include motions
to which all parties are shown 25
25 Page 26
27
16
to consent, to submit a reply brief, to withdraw as counsel to
a party, for an extension of time,
or for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. In the event the court
concludes that the motion
raises a substantial issue of law, the failure to submit a brief
may be treated as an
abandonment of the motion.
(2) Evidence and Evidence Index--Civil Cases Only. Except as to
discovery
motions provided for in subparagraph (j) below, if a motion requires
consideration of matters
not established by the pleadings, the moving party at the time
of delivery and service of its
supporting brief shall file with the Clerk such evidentiary materials,
including discovery
materials and affidavits, as are being relied upon and have not
previously been filed, and shall
serve a copy of them upon each other party; such documents shall
not be attached to the brief.
Any materials filed with the Clerk in support of a motion shall
be accompanied by an index
separately listing each item of evidence then being filed and
identifying the motion to which
it relates. All materials accompanying an index that are printed
on 8½ by 11 inch or 8½ by
14 inch paper must be bound together by fasteners or placed in
a binder. All materials not
amenable to binding must be submitted in an envelope or other
closeable container.
Documents must be identified and authenticated by affidavit. Each
affidavit must be made
on personal knowledge, set forth such facts as would be admissible
in evidence, show
affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the
matters stated therein, and identify
the motion in connection with which the affidavit is filed.
(b) Opposing of Motions.
(1) Opposing Briefs. Any brief opposing a motion shall contain
a concise statement
of the reasons for opposing the motion and a citation of authorities
relied upon. The brief 26
26 Page 27
28
17
shall not include recitations of fact not supported as provided
in subparagraph (2) below. The
original only of an opposing brief shall be delivered to the district
judge to whom the matter
has been assigned or to the magistrate judge to whom the matter
has been referred by order
or rule, and a copy shall be served on each other party. The brief
shall not be filed with the
Clerk. For cases to be tried in North Platte delivery of the opposing
brief shall be to the
magistrate judge in Lincoln. No "answer," or "opposition,"
or "response" to a motion, or any
similarly titled "pleading" in opposition to a motion
shall be filed, delivered or served. Any
opposing brief may be delivered and served no later than ten days
after service of the motion
and supporting brief, except as to a motion to dismiss or for
summary judgment, with respect
to which the opposing brief may be delivered and served no later
than twenty days after
service of the motion and supporting brief. Failure to deliver
and serve an opposing brief shall
not be considered to be a confession of the motion.
(2) Evidence and Evidence Index--Civil Cases Only. The non-moving
party may,
at the time of delivery and service of its opposing brief, file
with the Clerk such additional
evidentiary materials as are being relied upon, and have not previously
been filed, and shall
serve a copy of them upon each other party. Any materials filed
with the Clerk in opposition
to a motion shall be accompanied by an index separately listing
each item of evidence then
being filed and identifying the motion to which it relates. Documents
must be identified and
authenticated by affidavit. Each affidavit must be made on personal
knowledge, set forth such
facts as would be admissible in evidence, show affirmatively that
the affiant is competent to
testify to the matters stated therein, and identify the motion
in connection with which the
affidavit is filed. 27
27 Page 28
29
18
(c) Replying to Opposing Briefs and Evidence. No reply brief or
evidence shall be
permitted, except upon order of the court.
(d) Procedures for Motions for Summary Judgment.
See NELR 56.1.
(e) Oral Argument. Oral argument on any motion shall be held only
upon order of the
court. A request for oral argument may be made by the moving party
by separate statement at the
conclusion of the motion or by an opposing party by a separate
motion filed at the time the opposing
brief is delivered and shall be included in the title of the motion.
(f) Oral Testimony. A party at the time of serving its supporting
or opposing brief
may file with the Clerk and serve on all other parties a request
that the party be permitted to present
oral testimony in support of or opposition to the motion. Failure
to file and serve such request shall
constitute an assent to a submission without oral testimony. Oral
testimony shall be permitted only
upon order of the court.
(g) Submission of Motions. Unless oral argument or oral testimony
is ordered, a
motion shall be deemed submitted and shall be decided by the court
on the briefs delivered and served
and the evidence filed and served, if any, at the expiration of
the time limits specified in this rule.
Briefs delivered and served without leave of court after a motion
has been submitted may or may not
be considered in the discretion of the judge to whom the matter
has been assigned or referred.
(h) Extensions of Time for Filing or Responding to Motions.
See NELR 6.1.
(i) Discovery Motions--Prerequisite. To curtail undue delay in
the administration of
justice, this court shall refuse to consider any and all motions
relating to discovery unless moving 28
28 Page 29
30
19
counsel, as part of the motion, shall make a written showing that
after personal consultation with
counsel for opposing parties and sincere attempts to resolve differences,
they are unable to reach an
accord. This showing shall recite, additionally, the date, time
and place of such conference and the
names of all persons participating in them. As used in this subparagraph,
"counsel" includes parties
who are acting pro se.
(j) Form of Discovery Motions. A discovery motion shall include
in the motion or
in an attachment a verbatim recitation of each interrogatory,
request, answer, response, and objection
that is the subject of the motion.
(k) Conference Telephone Calls. Hearings on any motion may be
conducted by
telephone conference, in the discretion of the judge.
(l) Certificate of Service. Whenever service is required under
this rule, a certificate
of service shall be made upon the original, as required by NELR
5.2(a).
7.2 Preparation and Filing of Orders.
At the time of filing a motion for which no supporting brief is
required, the moving party shall
submit to the judge a proposed order granting the motion and setting
forth the requested relief. Only
the original of the proposed order need be submitted.
See also NELR 7.1(a)(1); 55.1.
7.3 Agreements and Stipulations.
An agreement, stipulation or consent between parties or counsel
shall be binding only if (a)
reduced to writing and signed by the parties or their counsel,
or if oral, made a part of the record, and 29
29 Page 30
31
20
(b) approved by appropriate order or ruling of the court if such
approval is required. For discovery
stipulations, see NELR 29.1.
7.4 Motions in Criminal Cases.
The filing and consideration of motions in criminal cases shall
be in keeping with the
provisions of NELR 7.1-7.3, as may be modified by progression
orders entered in the case.
The filing and consideration of motions filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 2255 shall be as
provided in the Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings in the
United States District Courts and
the progression order(s) entered in respect to the particular
motion.
8.1 General Rules of Pleading.
[Reserved.]
9.1 Pleading Special Matters.
(a) Social Security Number in Social Security Cases. Any person
seeking judicial
review of a decision of the Commissioner of Social Security under
Section 205(g) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 405 (g)) shall provide, on a separate
paper attached to the copy of the
complaint served on the Commissioner of Social Security, the social
security number of the worker
on whose wage record the application for benefits was filed. The
person shall also state, in the
complaint, that the social security number has been attached to
the copy of the complaint served on
the Commissioner of Social Security. Failure to provide a social
security number to the 30
30 Page 31
32
21
Commissioner of Social Security may be grounds for sanctions,
not including dismissal of the
complaint.
(b) Procedure for Notification of Any Claim of Unconstitutionality.
In any action,
suit or proceeding in which the United States or any agency, officer
or employee thereof is not a party
and in which the constitutionality of an Act of Congress is drawn
in question or in any action, suit or
proceeding in which a State or any agency, officer or employee
thereof is not a party and in which
the constitutionality of any statute of the State is drawn in
question, the party raising the
constitutional issue shall notify the court of the existence of
the question either by checking the
appropriate box on the civil cover sheet or by stating on the
pleading that alleges the
unconstitutionality, immediately following the title of the pleading,
"Claim of Unconstitutionality."
Any party raising the claim of unconstitutionality at any time
after the complaint shall file a pleading
entitled "Notice of Claim of Unconstitutionality."
9.2 Request for Three-Judge Court.
(a) In any action or proceeding which a party believes is required
to be heard by a three-
judge district court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2284 or any
other provision of federal law, the words
"Three-Judge District Court Requested" or the equivalent
shall be included immediately following
the title of the first pleading in which the cause of action requiring
a three-judge court is pleaded.
Unless the basis for the request is apparent from the pleading,
it shall be set forth in the pleading or
in a brief statement attached thereto.
(b) In any action or proceeding in which a three-judge court is
requested, parties shall
file the original and three copies of every pleading, motion,
notice, or other document with the Clerk 31
31 Page 32
33
22
until it is determined either that a three-judge court will not
be convened or t hat t he t hree-judge court
has been convened and dissolved, and the case remanded to a single
judge. The parties may be
permitted to file fewer copies by the order of the court.
(c) A failure to comply with this local rule is not a ground for
failing to convene or for
dissolving a three-judge court.
10.1 Form of Pleadings.
(a) Copies. All copies of papers served shall be clear and legible
and not subject to
unusual fading or deterioration.
(b) Size. The paper used for pleadings presented for filing shall
be standard 8½ x 11
inches in size, white and of standard weight. A two inch margin
shall be left at the top of the first
page of any paper filed with the Clerk so that the filing stamp
of the Clerk can be applied.
(c) Form. All pleadings shall be presented without backs and shall
be legibly
typewritten, mimeographed, photostatically reproduced, printed,
or if necessary, handwritten, without
erasures or interlineations materially defacing them. Exhibits
attached to pleadings shall be similarly
typewritten, mimeographed, printed, photostatically reproduced,
or if necessary, handwritten, in clear,
legible, and permanent form and not subject to unusual fading
or deterioration.
(d) Attachments. Any materials filed with the Clerk regarding
a motion shall be
accompanied by an index listing each item attached. If not pre-bound,
such as a transcript or book,
all attachments to the index that are printed on 8½ by
11 inch or 8½ by 14 inch paper must be bound
together by fasteners. All materials not amenable to binding must
be submitted in an envelope or
other closeable container. 32
32 Page 33
34
23
(e) Identification of Pleading. A pleading offered for filing
shall plainly show the
caption of the case, a description or designation of its contents,
and the party or person/entity on
whose behalf it is filed. All pleadings subsequent to the pleading
initiating a proceeding shall also
show the proper docket number. Any demand for jury trial, designation
of a class action, claim of
unconstitutionality of a statute or request for a three-judge
court shall be noted in the title of the
pleading as set out in NELR 9.1, 9.2, 23.1, or 38.1.
(f) Identification of Attorney. The name, address, telephone number,
and a bar
number shall be typed under the signatures of each attorney appearing
on each pleading.
(g) Copies. Upon request parties shall forthwith furnish to the
Clerk clear and legible
copies of any pleading, order, judgment, exhibit, or any other
matter of record, to enable the Clerk
t o comply with the provisions of any statute or rule. This direction
includes but is not limited to
requirements for service of process and preparation of records
on appeal.
(h) Certificate of Service. See NELR 5.2 for the form of the certificate
of service.
11.1 Signing of Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers; Representations
to Court; Sanctions.
[Reserved.]
12.1 Defenses and Objections--When and How Presented--By Pleading
or Motion--Motion
for Judgment on the Pleadings.
[Reserved.] 33
33 Page 34
35
24
13.1 Counterclaim and Cross-Claim.
[Reserved.]
14.1 Third-Party Practice.
[Reserved.]
15.1 Form of a Motion to Amend and Its Supporting Documentation.
A party who moves for leave to amend a pleading (including a request
to add parties) shall
attach to the motion an unsigned copy of the proposed amended
pleading. Except as provided in
these rules or by leave of court, the proposed amended pleading
so submitted shall be a complete
pleading which, if allowed to be filed, shall supersede the pleading
amended in all respect s; no port ion
of the prior pleading may be incorporated into the proposed amended
pleading by reference.
The motion for leave to amend shall set forth specifically the
amendments proposed to be
made to the original pleading, and shall identify the amendments
in the proposed amended pleading.
In considering amended pleadings filed or submitted for filing
by pro se lit igant s t he court may
in its discretion consider the amended pleading as supplemental
to, rather than as superseding, the
original pleading, unless the pleading states that it supersedes
the prior pleading.
Caution: The granting of the motion for leave to amend does not
constitute filing of the
amended pleading. The party to whom leave to amend is granted,
after leave is given, must then file
and serve the amended pleading.
16.1 Scheduling Orders Required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 16. 34
34 Page 35
36
25
(a) The magistrate judges are authorized to enter scheduling orders
pursuant to Fed.
R. Civ. P. 16(b).
(b) The proceedings listed below are inappropriate for the scheduling
order required by
Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b):
-habeas corpus actions, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2254 and 2255;
-social security cases filed under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and
any other action for judicial
review of administrative decisions of government agencies where
review is on the basis of the
administrative record;
-actions to compel arbitration or to confirm or set aside arbitration
awards;
-proceedings to compel or challenge efforts to obtain testimony
or production of
documents under a subpoena or summons issued by an officer, agency
or instrumentality of
the United States not authorized to compel compliance;
-appeals from rulings by a bankruptcy judge;
-actions for enforcement of a civil fine, penalty or forfeiture
of property;
-naturalization proceedings;
-proceedings under the Freedom of Information Act;
-proceedings to compel testimony or production of documents relative
to actions in
another district or perpetuation of testimony for use in any court.
35
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37
26
16.2 Pretrial Procedures in Civil Cases.
(a) Matters to Be Completed Before Final Pretrial Conference.
Unless otherwise
ordered by the court, counsel shall complete prior to the final
pretrial conference each of the
following:
(1) The physical numbering and inspecting by counsel of all papers
and other
objects expected to be introduced as exhibits and the listing
of such exhibits on forms
available from the Clerk, except that papers and other objects
expected to be used solely for
impeachment purposes and which have not been furnished to adverse
counsel need not be
numbered or listed until identified at the trial. All objections
to the admissibility of any exhibit
listed on the exhibit list shall be noted on the exhibit list.
Except upon a showing of good
cause, failure to list an exhibit required by this rule to be
listed shall result in its
nonadmissibility over an objection. Objections not disclosed on
the exhibit list, other than
objections under Rules 402 and 403 of the Federal Rules of Evidence,
shall be deemed waived
unless excused by the court for good cause shown. A format for
an acceptable exhibit list is
as follows: 36
36 Page 37
38
27
(2) A proposed final pretrial order, titled "Order on Final
Pretrial Conference,"
prepared jointly by counsel, for presentation to the judge at
the pretrial conference, in
approximately the following form:
"A final pretrial conference was held on the _____ day of
___________, 19___. Appearing for the parties as counsel were:
(List the counsel who will attend the pretrial conference).
(A) Exhibits: See Attached Exhibit List.
Caution: Upon express approval of the judge holding the pretrial
conference for
good cause shown, the parties may be authorized to defer listing
of exhibits or
objections until a later date to be specified by the judge holding
the pretrial
conference. The mere listing of an exhibit on an exhibit list
by a party does not
mean it can be offered into evidence by the adverse party without
all necessary
evidentiary prerequisites being met.
(B) Uncontroverted Facts. The parties have agreed that the following
may
be accepted as established facts for purposes of this case only:
(State in detail all 37
37 Page 38
39
28
uncontroverted facts, including those which are to be stipulated,
in such form that
the statement may be read to the jury).
(C) Controverted and Unresolved Issues. The issues remaining to
be
determined and unresolved matters for the court's attention are:
(Set out in detail
each element of the claim or defense which is genuinely controverted,
including
issues on the merits and issues of jurisdiction, venue, joinder,
validity of
appointment of a representative of a party, class action, substitution
of parties,
attorney's fee and applicable law under which it is claimed, prejudgment
interest,
and other matters which should be drawn to the court's attention,
such as possible
consolidation for trial, bifurcated trials on specified issues,
and pending motions.
In any action in which special damages or permanent injuries are
claimed they shall
be specified. In any negligence action elements of negligence
and contributory
negligence, if any, shall be specified).
(D) Witnesses. All witnesses, including rebuttal witnesses, whom
the
plaintiff(s) expect to call to testify, except those who may be
called for impeachment
purposes as defined in NELR 16.2(c) only, are: (List names and
complete addresses
of all persons who will testify in person only. Such list shall
identify those whom
the party expects to be present and those whom the party may call
if the need
arises).
(All other parties shall similarly list their witnesses.)
It is understood that, except upon a showing of good cause, no
witness whose
name and address does not appear herein shall be permitted to
testify over objection 38
38 Page 39
40
29
for any purpose except impeachment. A witness appearing on any
party's witness
list may be called by any other party.
(E) Expert Witnesses' Qualifications.
(i) Experts to be called by plaintiff and their qualifications
are:
(Set out the qualifications of each person expected to be called
as an expert
witness. A curriculum vitae or resume may be attached in lieu
of setting out
the qualifications).
(ii) Experts to be called by defendant and their qualifications
are:
(Set out the qualifications of each person expected to be called
as an expert
witness. A curriculum vitae or resume may be attached in lieu
of setting out
the qualifications).
(F) Depositions and Other Discovery Documents.
(i) All depositions, answers to written interrogatories, and
requests for admissions or portions thereof which are expected
to be offered
in evidence by the plaintiff as part of the plaintiff's case-in-chief
are:
(Designate portions of depositions either by page and line number
or by
highlighting; eliminate repetitious and unnecessary material;
edit video
depositions; designate answers to interrogatories and requests
by number).
Objections by the defendant are: (List all objections including
those
under Fed. R. Civ. P. 32(a) or the Federal Rules of Evidence;
the court will,
if possible, rule on the objections prior to trial. Objections
not so disclosed,
other than objections under Rules 402 and 403 of the Federal Rules
of 39
39 Page 40
41
30
Evidence, shall be deemed waived unless excused by the court for
good cause
shown).
(ii) All depositions, answers to written interrogatories, and
requests for admissions or portions thereof which are expected
to be offered
in evidence by the defendant as part of the defendant's case-in-chief
are:
(Designate in the manner set out in F(i)).
Objections by the plaintiff are: (List all objections including
those
under Fed. R. Civ. P. 32(a) or the Federal Rules of Evidence;
the court will,
if possible, rule on the objections prior to trial. Objections
not so disclosed,
other than objections under Rules 402 and 403 of the Federal Rules
of
Evidence, shall be deemed waived unless excused by the court for
good cause
shown).
(If there are other parties, a designation should be made by each
and
objections by adverse parties listed).
(G) Voir Dire. Counsel have reviewed Fed. R. Civ. P. 47(a) and
NELR
47.1 and suggest the following with regard to the conduct of juror
examination:
________________.
(H) Number of Jurors. The parties suggest that this matter be
tried to a
jury composed of _____ members. (Counsel shall review Fed. R.
Civ. P. 48 and
NELR 48.1).
(I) Verdict . The part ies (will) (will not ) st ipulat e to a
less t han unanimous
verdict. 40
40 Page 41
42
31
(J) Delivery of Brief, Instructions, and/or Proposed Findings.
(i) Trial briefs shall be delivered to the judge at least three
(3)
working days before the first day of trial.
(ii) Proposed jury instructions shall be delivered to the judge
on
or before the first day of trial.
(iii) Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law in a non-jury
case shall be delivered to the judge at least three (3) working
days before the
first day of trial.
(K) Length of Trial. Counsel estimate the length of trial will
consume not
less than _____ day(s), not more than _____ day(s), and probably
about _____
day(s).
(L) Trial Date. Trial is set for ________________.
(b) Representation Required. Unless otherwise approved in advance
by the judge
conducting the conference, each party for whom counsel has filed
an appearance shall be represented
in the conference by lead trial counsel who, in attending the
conference, shall be possessed of
information and authority adequate for his or her responsible
and effective participation in it for all
of its purposes.
(c) "Impeachment Purposes" Defined. With regard to this
rule, "impeachment
purposes" shall mean only (1) to attack or support the credibility
of a witness or (2) to attack or
support the validity of or the weight to be given to the contents
of a document or other thing used
solely to attack or support the credibility of a witness. It does
not include evidence which merely
contradicts other evidence. 41
41 Page 42
43
32
17.1 Parties Plaintiff and Defendant; Capacity.
[Reserved.]
18.1 Joinder of Claims and Remedies.
[Reserved.]
19.1 Joinder of Persons Necessary for Just Adjudication.
[Reserved.]
20.1 Permissive Joinder of Parties.
[Reserved.]
21.1 Misjoinder and Nonjoinder of Parties.
[Reserved.]
22.1 Interpleader.
[Reserved.]
23.1 Designation of "Class Action" in the Caption.
In any case sought to be maintained as a class action the complaint
or other pleading asserting
a class action shall include next to its caption the legend "Class
Action." 42
42 Page 43
44
33
23.1.1 Derivative Actions by Shareholders.
[Reserved.]
23.2.1 Actions Relating to Unincorporated Associations.
[Reserved.]
24.1 Intervention.
[Reserved.]
25.1 Substitution of Parties.
[Reserved.]
26.1 General Provisions Governing Discovery; Duty of Disclosure.
Upon serving disclosures pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)-(3),
the disclosing party shall
file a certificate of service.
27.1 Depositions Before Action or Pending Appeal.
[Reserved.]
28.1 Persons Before Whom Depositions May be Taken.
[Reserved.] 43
43 Page 44
45
34
29.1 Discovery Stipulations.
Stipulations extending the time provided in Fed. R. Civ. P. 33,
34 & 36 for responses to
discovery, if they would interfere with court-imposed deadlines
for the completion of discovery,
motion deadlines or trial dates, shall be effective only upon
order of the court. All other discovery
stipulations are effective upon the filing of a written stipulation,
specifying the agreed upon change
and signed by all parties of record.
30.1 Depositions.
(a) Certificate of Reporter. When the transcript of a deposition
is completed, a
certificate of the court reporter shall be filed showing the name
of the deponent, the date of the
taking, the name and address of the person having custody of the
original of the deposition, and the
charges made for the original.
(b) Filing and Opening. Unless otherwise ordered by the court
pursuant to Fed. R.
Civ. P. 5(d) or 26(c), depositions when received and filed by
the Clerk shall then be opened by the
Clerk or a deputy, who shall affix the filing stamp to the cover
page of the depositions.
(c) Certificate as to Fee. As a part of the certificate thereto
the officer taking the
deposition shall plainly show the amount of the fee for the original.
31.1 Depositions Upon Written Questions.
[Reserved.] 44
44 Page 45
46
35
32.1 Use of Depositions in Court Proceedings.
See NELR 16.2(a)(2)(F).
33.1 Interrogatories.
(a) The parties shall number each interrogatory or request sequentially,
regardless of
the number of sets of interrogatories or requests. In making answer
or objection to interrogatories
the responding party shall first state verbatim the propounded
interrogatory and immediately
thereafter the answer or objection to it.
(b) The practice of separately defining words used in an interrogatory
is prohibited
unless leave of the court is obtained. For purposes of determining
the number of interrogatories,
including sub-questions, each inquiry that endeavors to discover
a discrete item of information shall
be counted as a separate interrogatory. For example, a question
which states: "Please state the name,
address, and telephone number of any witness to the accident set
forth in the complaint" shall be
counted as three (3) interrogatories.
(c) The demanding party, upon serving interrogatories, shall file
a certificate of service.
The responding party shall also file a certificate of service
upon serving a response.
34.1 Production of Documents and Things and Entry Upon Land
for Inspection and Other
Purposes.
The demanding party, upon serving a request for production
or inspection, shall file a
certificate of service. The responding party shall also file a
certificate of service upon serving a 45
45 Page 46
47
36
response. In making answer or objection to requests to produce
or inspect, the party shall first state
verbatim the propounded request and immediately thereafter the
answer or objection to it.
35.1 Physical and Mental Examination of Persons.
[Reserved.]
36.1 Requests for Admission.
The demanding party, upon serving a request for admission, shall
file a certificate of service.
The responding party shall also file a certificate of service
upon serving a response. In making answer
or objection to requests for admission, the party shall first
state verbatim the propounded request and
immediately thereafter the answer or objection to it.
37.1 Failure to Make Disclosure or Cooperate in Discovery:
Sanctions.
[Reserved.]
38.1 Notation of "Jury Demand" in the Pleading.
If a party demands a jury trial by endorsing it on a pleading,
as permitted by Fed. R. Civ. P.
38(b), a notation shall be placed on the front page of the pleading,
immediately following the title of
the pleading, stating "Demand for Jury Trial" or an
equivalent statement. This notation will serve as
a sufficient demand under Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(b). Failure to use
this manner of noting the demand will
not result in a waiver under Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(d).
See NELR 81.2 regarding demands for jury trials in removed cases.
46
46 Page 47
48
37
39.1 Opening Statements and Closing Arguments.
(a) Opening Statements. After the jury is selected and sworn,
the party upon whom
rests the burden of proof may without argument make an opening
statement, after which the adverse
party in like manner may make an opening statement.
(b) Closing Argument. At the conclusion of all the evidence, the
parties may make
final argument . Allotted time will be determined by the judge
after conferring with counsel. The
plaintiff's counsel may take no more than one-third of the plaintiff's
allotted time in the closing portion
of the plaintiff's summation. Unless otherwise ordered, the plaintiff's
counsel shall not discuss in the
closing portion of the plaintiff's summation any subject which
was not discussed previously by either
the plaintiff's counsel or the defendant's counsel during summation,
and waiver by the defendant of
the closing argument shall preclude rebuttal by the plaintiff,
but waiver by the plaintiff of closing
argument shall not preclude closing argument by the defendant.
If the party having the burden of
proof is not the plaintiff, that party shall be treated as the
plaintiff for purposes of this rule.
39.2 Briefs.
(a) Trial Briefs. Unless otherwise ordered, the original only
of a trial brief on behalf
of each party shall be delivered at least three working days before
the trial begins to the judge who
will preside at the trial, but none shall be filed with the Clerk.
(b) Motion Briefs. Briefs on motions shall be submitted in accordance
with NELR 7.1. 47
47 Page 48
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38
(c) Briefs on Submitted Cases and Pursuant to Briefing Schedules.
When a judge
has set a time for submitting a brief, the failure to submit a
brief or to discuss an issue in the brief
submitted may be treated as an abandonment of that party's position
on any issue not discussed.
(d) Briefs in Habeas Corpus Cases. In matters brought pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. §§
2254 and 2255 counsel shall file with the court the briefs submitted
by the petitioner or movant on
direct appeal, and they may be considered to be part of the records
of the case. They shall not,
however, be incorporated by reference in or considered to be the
petitioner's or movant's brief in the
habeas case.
(e) Service of Briefs. Each brief shall be served on all adverse
parties, and proof of
service shall be endorsed upon the original, showing the name
and address of each person served.
39.3 Use of Exhibits at Trial.
Exhibits received in evidence at the final pretrial conference
shall be delivered to the Clerk
before the commencement of trial, together with the exhibit list
required by NELR 16.2(a)(1). In
cases involving extremely numerous exhibits or in cases requiring
special provisions for access,
safekeeping, or inspection of exhibits, counsel shall confer with
the courtroom deputy to establish
procedures for the handling of exhibits during and after the trial.
48
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50
39
40.1 Assignment of Civil and Criminal Cases by Place of Trial
and to Judges.
(a) Determination of Place of Trial.
(1) Civil Cases -
(A) Initial Request. The plaintiff at the time of filing a complaint
in a civil
action or the removing party at the time of filing a petition
for removal shall make
written request for trial of the case at Omaha, Lincoln, or North
Platte.
(B) Request by Opposing Party. Each defendant or third-party defendant
at the time of filing that defendant ' s first pleading in a civil
act ion, or t he plaint iff in
a removed action within ten days after service of the notice of
removal, may file and
serve a written request for trial at Omaha, Lincoln, or North
Platte. If the request
is for a place different from that requested by the plaintiff,
third-party plaintiff, or
removing party, it shall be accompanied by an affidavit in support
of the request.
(C) Form of Request. The request for place of trial may be a separate
pleading or may be endorsed upon the complaint or other first
pleading referred to
above in this rule, and shall be served upon each party.
(D) Conflicting Requests. When any party files a request for a
place of
trial different from that requested by the plaintiff, third-party
plaintiff, or removing
party, accompanied by an affidavit as required by NELR 40.1(a)(1)(B),
any other
party may file and serve within ten days after the filing of the
conflicting request an
affidavit in support of its request for place of trial. Resolution
of conflicting
requests may be made by the judge without oral argument. In deciding
the place of 49
49 Page 50
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40
trial the judge shall give consideration to the convenience of
the litigants, witnesses
and counsel.
(E) An initial or opposing request for place of trial can be amended
at any
time during the pendency of the action if the material circumstances
bearing on the
proper place of trial change.
(2) Criminal Cases -
(A) Initial Request. At the time of filing an indictment or information
the
government shall endorse upon the indictment or information a
written request for
trial of the case at Omaha or Lincoln.
(B) Subsequent Request. At a time after the arraignment and on
or before
t he time set for the filing of pretrial motions as set forth
in the scheduling or
progression order, the defendant or the government may make a
request for a
change of the place of trial to Omaha, Lincoln, or North Platte.
The request shall
be made by motion and supported by affidavit.
(3) Calendaring of Cases. The Clerk shall calendar the case, civil
or criminal,
in accordance with the initial request. In the absence of an initial
request in accordance with
these rules, the case shall be calendared in the city of the location
of the Clerk's office
receiving the case for filing.
(b) Assignment of Cases to District Judges and Magistrate Judges.
(1) General. Except for reassignments under subsection (b)(2)
of this rule and
related cases governed by subsection (b)(3) of this rule, each
case shall be assigned by the 50
50 Page 51
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41
Clerk in accordance with the court's general order on assignment
of cases to district judges
and magistrate judges, copies of which are available at the Clerk's
office.
(2) Reassignments. The chief judge with the consent of the district
judge to whom
a case is assigned may reassign the case to any other district
judge because of personal
disqualification of the district judge to whom the case was assigned
or other good cause. If
the chief judge is disqualified or disabled, the district judge
then available and next senior in
service may make the reassignment under the same standard. The
district judge to whom a
case is assigned may reassign the reference on the case from one
magistrate judge to another
magistrate judge because of the personal disqualification of the
assigned magistrate judge or
other good cause. Reassignment of a case to a visiting district
judge who has been designated
for service in this district may be made by the district judge
to whom the case is assigned or
by the chief judge with the consent of the district judge to whom
the case is assigned.
(3) Related Cases.
(A) Assignments. At the time of filing any action counsel or the
pro se
plaintiff shall indicate on an appropriate form available from
the Clerk whether the
case is related to another pending or closed case. If relationship
is so indicated, the
case shall be assigned to the district judge to whom the earlier
closed case was or
pending case is assigned. If any party or any party's counsel
becomes aware, after
the filing of a case, that it is related to an earlier-filed case,
he or she shall
immediately so inform the Clerk, who then shall communicate that
fact in writing
to the chief judge, who then shall transfer the case to the district
judge to whom the 51
51 Page 52
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42
earlier-closed case was or the earlier-pending case is assigned,
unless the chief judge
finds good cause for not making the transfer.
(B) Definitions.
(i) Criminal cases are related when some of or all the charges
in
them arise from the same general set of events, whether or not
any of the
cases is closed. A superseding indictment or information is related
to the
indictment or information it supersedes.
(ii) Bankruptcy appeals are related when they involve some of
or
all the same property, whether or not any of the appeals is closed.
(iii) Civil cases are related when they involve some of or all
the
same issues of fact or arise out of the same transaction or involve
the validity
or infringement of the same patent, whether or not any of the
cases is closed.
(iv) Civil cases are not related to criminal cases.
(4) Challenges. All applications challenging the operation or
seeking avoidance
or restraint of this rule shall be made to the chief judge or,
if the chief judge is disqualified or
disabled, to the district judge then available and next senior
in service.
(c) Sanctions. No person shall reveal to any other person the
sequence of district
judges' or magistrate judges' names within a calendar category
or any rotation randomly determined,
or assign any case otherwise than as provided in this rule or
as ordered by the court. No person shall
directly or indirectly cause or procure or attempt to cause or
procure any person to reveal the
sequence of district judges' or magistrate judges' names within
a calendar category or rotation 52
52 Page 53
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43
randomly determined or to assign any cases otherwise than as provided
in this rule or as ordered by
the court. Any person violating this provision shall be punished
as for criminal contempt of court.
40.2 Trial Calendar.
Orders set t ing t rial will be issued by t he court from t ime
t o t ime and copies t hereof mailed by
the Clerk to all counsel of record affected thereby. Counsel shall
keep informed of the progress of
the business before the court and be ready when their respective
cases are reached. No arrangement
as to time or order of trial will be recognized unless approved
by the court. Trial sessions in North
Platte will be determined annually by general order of the court.
41.1 Dismissal of Actions.
If a case which has been at issue for one year or more and in
which for a period of one year
no advancement has been made in the pleadings or in its preparation
for trial, the case may be ordered
for trial forthwith or dismissed unless good cause is shown for
some other disposition. At any time
when it appears that any action is not being prosecuted with reasonable
diligence the court may
dismiss it for lack of prosecution.
42.1 Consolidation; Separate Trials.
[Reserved.] 53
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55
44
43.1 Taking of Testimony.
See NELR 83.2.
44.1 Proof of Official Record.
[Reserved.]
44.1.1 Determination of Foreign Law.
[Reserved.]
45.1 Subpoenas.
(a) Civil.
[Reserved. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 45.]
(b) Criminal.
(1) Production Before Trial. Except upon order of a judge, no
subpoena for
production of documents or objects shall be sought or issued if
such subpoena requests
production before trial. Fed. R. Crim. P. 17(c).
(2) Depositions. Except upon order of a judge, no subpoena for
a deposition shall
be sought or issued. Fed. R. Crim. P. 15 and 17(f).
46.1 Exceptions Unnecessary.
[Reserved.] 54
54 Page 55
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45
47.1 Jury Selection.
(a) Voir Dire. Voir dire examination may be conducted by the court,
by counsel, or
by both, as the court shall determine. Within the sound discretion
of the court, counsel's examination
may be limited by time and subject matter.
(b) Impanelment of Jury. Unless otherwise ordered, the jury shall
be impaneled as
follows: After all challenges for cause have been exercised and
determined, the jurors remaining shall
equal the number required for the jury plus a total number of
peremptory challenges which the parties
are entitled to exercise.
(c) Peremptory Challenges. Unless otherwise ordered, peremptory
challenges shall
be exercised alternately by all parties, beginning with the plaintiff.
Each party will be informed, after
the exercise of each peremptory challenge, of the identity of
each prospective juror peremptorily
challenged by each other party.
(d) Waiver of Peremptory Challenges. To pass or refuse to exercise
a peremptory
challenge shall constitute a waiver of the right to exercise the
challenge. If a party waives the right
to exercise a peremptory challenge, the court shall exercise it
after the parties have exercised or
waived all other challenges to which they are entitled.
48.1 Jury Deliberation.
(a) Number of Jurors. In civil cases the court shall determine,
after consultation with
counsel, the number of jurors, which shall not be less than six
nor more than twelve.
(b) Recess During Jury Deliberations. At the conclusion of the
trial the court, in its
discretion, may recess the court while the jury continues its
deliberations, and in so doing the court 55
55 Page 56
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46
may direct the jury that upon arriving at a verdict they seal
it, deposit it with the marshal or other
person designated by the court, and return to the courtroom at
a predetermined time for the opening
and reading of the verdict.
(c) Availability of Counsel During Jury Deliberations. Counsel
shall be available
on short notice during jury deliberations in the event of a verdict
or a question by the jury. The Clerk
shall be kept informed as to where counsel will be at all times
when the jury is deliberating.
(d) Absence of Counsel on Receipt of Verdict. In civil cases the
court will not deem
it necessary that any party or any counsel be present or represented
when the jury's verdict is received
by the court.
49.1 Special Verdicts and Interrogatories.
[Reserved.]
50.1 Judgment as a Matter of Law in Actions Tried by Jury;
Alternative Motion for New
Trial; Conditional Rulings.
[Reserved.]
51.1 Instructions to Jury.
(a) When Submitted and Served. As far as practicable, and unless
otherwise ordered,
each party shall submit to the trial judge and serve on all other
parties any requested instructions on
or before the opening day of the trial. Additional requested instructions
relating to matters arising
during the trial may be submitted and served at any time prior
to the conclusion of the testimony. 56
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47
(b) Supporting Memorandum or Authority. A memorandum in support
of or in
opposition to any requested instructions may be submitted and
served. Instead of a memorandum
a requested instruction may be followed by a citation of authority
supporting the instruction.
(c) Form. Each requested instruction shall identify the party
requesting it and shall be
separately numbered.
52.1 Proposed Findings in Civil Cases.
In civil nonjury trials each party shall submit proposed findings
of fact, sufficiently detailed
that, if adopted by the court, they would form adequate factual
basis, supported by anticipated
evidence, for resolution of the case and for support of a judgment.
The proposed findings shall be
submitted to the judge who will preside at the trial and served
upon all adverse parties at least three
working days before the trial begins.
53.1 Masters.
See NELR 72.1(e) and NELR 72.5(b).
53.2 Arbitration/Alternative Dispute Resolution.
[Reserved.]
Commentary
As of this writing, the most recent mediation plan adopted by
the court is reproduced below
for the convenience of counsel. Counsel are cautioned to check
with the Clerk to determine whether 57
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48
the plan has been subsequently modified, and, if so, to obtain
a copy of the modified plan from the
Clerk.
(a) Purpose. It is the purpose of the court to provide mediation
services with resultant
savings in time and expenses to litigants and the court without
sacrificing the quality of justice to be
rendered or of the right of the litigants to trial in the event
a voluntary settlement satisfactory to the
parties is not achieved through the mediation procedure.
(b) Designation of Civil Cases for Mediation. Any district, magistrate,
or bankruptcy
judge may by order refer a case to mediation when the judge finds
that the nature of the case and the
amount in controversy, together with the information available
regarding the possibility of settlement
make resolut ion of the case by mediation a practical possibility
within the purposes noted above.
Such cases may include, but are not limited to:
(1) Employment cases in which the parties have not previously
engaged in
conciliation proceedings;
(2) Cases involving policy or practice questions that lend themselves
to
negotiation regarding actions or procedures to be taken in the
future;
(3) Cases in which the parties are involved in an ongoing relationship
which will
continue after the resolution of the litigation;
(4) Cases in which the litigation costs are high in relation to
the amount in
controversy;
(5) Cases in which the amount in controversy is determined to
be less than
$100,000; and
(6) Cases to which the United States is a party and the parties
to the litigation
have not previously engaged in negotiations, work-out arrangements,
or similar efforts.
(c) Procedure for Referral to Mediation.
(1) As soon as practicable after all defendants have answered
the complaint, the
court shall, after conferring with the parties and/or counsel
by mail or otherwise, determine
whether to designate the case for mediation.
(2) At such time the judge shall enter an order which shall stay
all further
proceedings in the case, pending the outcome of the mediation,
and refer the case to the
appropriate mediation center designated as follows: Cases on the
Omaha docket shall be
referred to the Metro Mediation Center in Omaha, Nebraska or alternatively,
if the parties and
their attorneys reside outside the Douglas and Sarpy county area,
to the Lincoln/Lancaster
Mediation Center for referral to the mediation center in Nebraska
nearest to the parties' and
their attorneys' residences; all other cases shall be referred
to the Lincoln/Lancaster Mediation
Center for referral to the mediation center in Nebraska nearest
to the parties' and their
attorneys' residences. The parties and counsel may by agreement
cause the referral of the case
to a particular mediation center.
(3) The order of referral shall require all parties or their fully
authorized
representatives, and counsel, to attend the mediation session
scheduled by the mediation
center. Failure of a party, an attorney, or a fully authorized
representative of a party to attend 58
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49
the mediation session shall be cause for the imposition of sanctions
against the offending party
and/or counsel.
(4) Any party may file an objection to the reference of the case
to mediation, not
later than seven working days following the filing of t he order
described in subparagraphs (2)
and (3), above. The objection may: challenge the reference in
toto if the party views the
dispute as wholly inappropriate for mediation; challenge some
lesser aspect of the reference,
such as particular substantive matters or procedure; or alternatively,
state that the parties
have, themselves, selected a mediator other than one to be obtained
through the auspices of
the Nebraska Office of Dispute Resolution to which the mediation
should be referred. The
objection shall set forth the bases for the objection and in addition,
if it is directed to some
specific substantive matter or procedure, shall propose alternative
provisions in the order
which would, if adopted, resolve the objection to the satisfaction
of the objecting party. Any
such proposal shall first have been discussed in person or by
telephone with opposing counsel
or parties, unless such a discussion is shown to be impossible.
Unless all parties are shown to
have agreed to the objector's proposal, as soon as practicable
after the filing of an objection,
the judge shall confer with counsel and/or the parties in an attempt
to resolve the objection
so the mediation can take place. Such resolution may include making
the subject of the
objection itself a subject for mediation as a preliminary matter
during the mediation session.
If such conference resolves the disagreement raised by the objection,
the judge shall enter an
amended order in accordance with that resolution. If after such
conference the judge is
unable to resolve the objection to facilitate the mediation, he
or she shall withdraw the order
referring the case to mediation. During the pendency of the objection,
the order of reference
shall be automatically stayed.
(d) Procedure for Mediation.
(1) Within twenty days of the entry of the order of referral,
counsel for the parties
shall confer with the staff of the mediation center to secure
a date for the mediation session.
The mediation center shall determine the date, time and place
of the mediation session, taking
into consideration the convenience of all persons attending.
(2) The mediation center shall select a mediator from among those
mediators who
are qualified to serve as the mediator in the referred case. Such
mediator shall meet all
criteria required to qualify as a mediator under the Nebraska
Dispute Resolution Act, and, in
addition, shall meet the criteria set forth in paragraph 6, below.
The mediator selected may
be disqualified if found to have a conflict of interest or if,
for any other reason, one or more
of the parties establishes that the mediator cannot be expected
to be impartial. Any request
for replacement of the selected mediator shall be made to the
mediation center. The mediator
may, prior to the mediation session request or require counsel
and/or the parties to supply him
or her with information about the case, including material documents,
exhibits and statements
concerning the dispute and any prior attempts to resolve it.
(3) The mediation session shall be held no later than sixty days
following the entry
of the order of referral, unless all parties agree to a continuance,
in which case the mediation
session shall be held no later than ninety days following the
entry of the order of referral. At
the mediation session counsel for the parties and the parties
themselves may be required to
present information reasonably necessary for the mediator to understand
the issues presented 59
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50
and the interests of the parties in settlement. The mediator shall
conduct an orderly settlement
negotiation with the parties and their counsel, identifying issues,
generating options, and
proposing solutions to the dispute. The mediator shall be impartial
and shall not express his
or her own opinions or make any determination or recommendations
as related to the case.
Except as may be specifically provided herein, the mediation session
shall be conducted in
accordance with the Nebraska Dispute Resolution Act, Neb. Rev.
Stat. §§25-2901, et. seq.,
as existing at the time of the mediation proceedings.
(4) The mediation session(s) constitute settlement negotiations.
Notwithstanding
the provisions of Rule 408, Fed. R. Evid., all statements, whether
written or oral, made only
during the course of the mediation proceeding shall be deemed
to be confidential and shall not
be admissible in evidence for any reason in the trial of the case,
should the case not settle.
(5) Within five working days of the conclusion of the mediation
process, the
mediation center shall report to the clerk of the district court
or the bankruptcy court, as the
case may be, whether or not the case has been settled, and whether
or not the fees for the
mediation have been paid by the parties responsible for them,
and if not, the amount of unpaid
fees and the responsible party or parties. No further information
shall be provided.
(6) In the event the case has not settled, the clerk shall notify
the assigned district,
magistrate, or bankruptcy judge for the purpose of the entry of
an order restoring it to the
active docket of the court, including trial.
(7) In the event the mediation fees, or some portion thereof,
have not been paid,
the clerk shall note such fees, and such fees shall be included
in the computation of any
judgment entered in the case, unless the clerk has been notified
by the mediation center prior
to the entry of judgment that such fees have been paid.
(e) Fees for Mediation. The cost of the mediation service shall
be borne by the parties
to the mediation session at the rate established in conjunction
with the mediation center, not to exceed
$100.00 per hour total, which can be divided equally or on some
pro rata basis as decided by the
parties. At the conclusion of the mediation proceeding the mediation
center shall present a payment
request to the parties attending and their counsel. In the event
one or more of the parties is
proceeding in forma pauperis, the mediation fees of that party
may, upon proper application and
approval under NELR 67.4, be paid from the Federal Practice Fund,
unless the mediated settlement
includes payment of that party's mediation fee by another party.
(f) Mediators; Qualifications.
(1) The clerk of the district court shall certify those persons
who are eligible and
qualified to serve as mediators under this Plan. A current list
of certified mediators shall be
maintained in the offices of the clerk and shall be made available
to counsel and the public
upon request.
(2) An individual may be certified to serve as a mediator if he
or she has qualified
as a mediator under the requirements of the Nebraska Dispute Resolution
Act, and, in
addition,
(i) is an attorney in good standing in the state of Nebraska and
in this
court, and
(ii) has been admitted to practice law in any state for at least
five years,
and 60
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51
(iii) has completed not fewer than 15 hours of specialized t raining
in mediat ing
cases in federal court.
(3) A person desiring to be certified as a mediator shall complete
an application
provided by the clerk of the district court which states the applicant's
experience as a
mediator, including mediating disputes which were, at the time
of the mediation, in litigation;
the applicant's training; and the subject matter areas in which
the applicant claims particular
expertise or in which the applicant has significant experience.
In addition, the applicant shall,
upon certification, take the oath or affirmation below:
"I, _____________________ , do solemnly swear/affirm that
I do meet the
qualifications required by the Mediation Plan for the United States
District Court
for the District of Nebraska, and that I will promptly, faithfully
and impartially
discharge the duties of mediator in accordance with the Mediation
Plan for the
United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, applicable
laws of the
State of Nebraska, and the rules and orders of this court."
Certification shall be effective for a period of five years, and
a certified mediator shall be
eligible for recertification for succeeding periods of five years.
No fee shall be charged by the
clerk for initial certifications; however, the clerk may charge
a nominal fee to cover
administrative expenses for recertifications. The clerk shall
promptly provide to the Nebraska
Office of Dispute Resolution the names and addresses of mediators
who have been certified
or recertified pursuant to this plan, together with the expiration
date of the certification.
(4) When exceptional circumstances warrant, an individual who
does not meet the
requirements of subparagraphs (2) and (3) of this paragraph may
be approved as a mediator
in a particular case with the consent of the parties and the approval,
by order, of the judge.
(5) Two co-mediators may be assigned in a particular case in accordance
with the
joint request of the parties and the approval, by order, of the
judge. Only one of such co-
mediators need meet the criteria in (2) above, but both must be
qualified under the Nebraska
Dispute Resolution Act.
(g) Mediators; Requirements. An attorney-mediator shall meet the
requirements of
applicable ethical standards established by the Nebraska Office
of Dispute Resolution, and in addition,
shall:
(1) clearly inform the parties of the attorney-mediator's role
as a mediator,
including the confidentiality of the process, and of the fact
that there is no attorney-client
privilege or relationship between the attorney-mediator and any
party;
(2) assist the parties in defining the issues of the dispute;
(3) advise and encourage unrepresented parties to seek independent
legal advice
before executing any settlement agreement drafted by the attorney-mediator;
(4) not have represented any of the parties before in any matter,
not be, and not
have been, affiliated with any firm or professional corporation
or association which has
represented any of the parties;
(5) not have any financial or other interest of any kind in any
organization or entity
which is a party or related to a party to the case;
(6) not hold any position, interest, or relationship to any party
which might
reasonably provide any basis for the mediator's impartiality to
be questioned; 61
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(7) not hold any personal interest, bias, or prejudice for or
against any party;
(8) not represent any of the parties for a period of at least
six months following
the conclusion of the mediation, but after that time period may
represent one of the parties
only in a matter that is clearly distinct from the mediated issues;
(9) withdraw as mediator if any of the requirements of this paragraph
is not met
or if any of the parties so requests and makes a showing of one
or more of the reasons in
paragraph (f)(2), above, or if any of the conditions of this paragraph
no longer is satisfied.
Upon withdrawal the attorney-mediator shall not act or continue
to act, in any capacity, on
behalf of any of the parties in the matter that was the subject
of the mediation.
Nothing in this paragraph restricts or applies to the activities
of attorneys representing clients in the
negotiation or mediation process.
(h) Evaluation. At the conclusion of the mediation process for
each case the clerk
shall, in cooperation with the mediation centers, measure the
effectiveness of the mediation program
in terms of satisfaction of the parties and the attorneys involved,
as well as savings to the parties in
time and money, in comparison to litigating the case to ultimate
disposition. The clerk shall report
to the judges of the court on relevant statistics and evaluative
measures regarding cases referred to
mediation, on or about the second January 1st following implementation
of the mediation plan, and
annually thereafter. Such reports shall include copies of related
correspondence received from
parties, attorneys, mediators, mediation center personnel, or
other interested persons concerning the
mediation program. Copies of the report shall be delivered to
the members of the Federal Practice
Committee, which may further evaluate the program and propose
changes to the judges in accordance
with its findings.
54.1 Taxation of Costs.
(a) Procedure for Taxation in Civil Cases. The party entitled
to recover costs shall
file within 30 days after entry of judgment a verified bill of
costs upon forms provided by the Clerk.
The date on which the party will appear before the Clerk for taxation
of t he cost s and proof of service
of a copy upon the party liable for the costs shall be endorsed
thereon. Post-trial motions shall not
serve to extend the time within which a party must file a verified
bill of costs as provided by this rule,
except on order extending the time.
(b) Procedure for Taxation in Criminal Cases. Costs will not be
imposed in any
criminal case except at the request of the government, and then
only after the filing of a verified bill 62
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53
of costs. In criminal cases, the bill of costs may be filed with
the Clerk's office any time after fifteen
(15) days following the conclusion of the trial or other proceeding
in which costs are to be taxed, and
the Clerk is directed to proceed with the taxation of costs so
that the court may consider that action
at the sentencing hearing. In cases where the government has failed
to file a bill of costs in a
statutorily mandated case, the court will direct the government
to file such a bill of costs.
(c) To Whom Payable. Except in criminal cases, suits for civil
penalties for violations
of criminal statutes, and government cases not handled by the
Department of Justice, all costs taxed
are payable directly to the party entitled thereto and not to
the Clerk, unless otherwise ordered by the
court.
(d) Waiver of Costs. Failure to file a bill of costs within the
time provided for in this
rule shall constitute waiver of taxable costs.
(e) Costs Defined. Costs as used in this rule shall not include
attorney's fees.
54.2 Jury Cost Assessment.
To avoid the unnecessary attendance of jurors, if any civil action
scheduled for trial is settled
in advance of trial, the Clerk shall be notified of that fact
at least one full business day before the date
scheduled for trial; and, if such notice is not given within that
time, the court may assess all juror
costs and fees equally against the parties and their counsel,
or otherwise, as the court may determine.
If any civil action is settled by the parties during trial, the
court may assess all juror costs and fees
equally against the parties and their counsel, or otherwise, as
the court may determine.
54.3 Award of Attorney's Fees and Non-Taxable Expenses. 63
63 Page 64
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54
Where an attorney's fee and related non-taxable expenses may be
allowable (except in
Criminal Justice Act cases), the court by order, either with or
without the filing of a motion by a
party, may specify the time and method of making showings regarding
a fee award. Otherwise, the
time and method for filing a claim for attorney's fees and related
non-taxable expenses is controlled
by Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(2). Any party applying for an award of
attorneys fees and related non-
taxable expenses shall support the application with appropriate
and reliable evidence and authority.
Affidavits and any written argument to be made should be submitted
with the fee application. The
court will expect counsel to adhere to appropriat e crit eria
in connect ion wit h fee applicat ions. Where
a potential fee award issue exists, including cases with Criminal
Justice Act appointments, counsel
should consult the Fee Application Guidelines set forth in NELR
54.4.
54.4 Fee Application Guidelines.
With respect to services performed and expenses incurred in any
case, including a Criminal
Justice Act case, the following guidelines are offered to assist
counsel in presenting to the court
information essential to a reasoned explanation of the fee award.
3
(a) As to Services Performed:
(1) Identify with particularity the work done. For example-
-if a conference, state who was present, what subjects were discussed,
and how long it lasted; 64
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55
-if research, state who did it, what subjects and issues were
researched,
and whether the results were incorporated into a brief, motion,
or pleading;
-if travel time is involved, segregate it, state who traveled,
and the
purpose and mode of travel;
-if preparation of pleadings, identify the pleading and who prepared
it.
(2) Identify the status (attorney, paralegal, law student) of
each person performing
an item of work, and each persons background.
(3) If any services were performed by a paralegal or law student,
state the salary
or other wage rate at which the paralegal or law student was paid
by the attorney or law firm.
(4) If the services were applicable to more than one case, identify
the relative
applicability to each case.
(b) As to Expenses Incurred:
Identify the expense with particularity. For example-
-if photocopying expense, what items were copied, why they were
copied, what use was made of them, how many pages of material
were photocopied;
-if deposition expense, list the name of the court reporter, the
date of
taking, the identity of the deponent, the purpose of taking the
deposition (discovery
or evidentiary), what use was made of the deposition;
-if long-distance telephone expense, list the date, by whom, to
whom
and where the call was made and the subject of the call;
(c) As to Rates of Compensation Requested: 65
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56
Except in Criminal Justice Act cases, be prepared to submit affidavits
or other
evidence in support of the fee rates requested.
55.1 Default Judgments by the Clerk.
(a) To obtain a Clerk's Entry of Default under Fed. R. Civ. P.
55(a) and (b)(1) the
following materials should be submitted to the Clerk:
(1) A Motion for Entry of Default by the Clerk.
(2) A Proposed Clerk's Entry of Default. This Clerk's Entry of
Default should
state that the default is being entered for failure to plead or
otherwise defend as provided by
Rule 55(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
(b) If a Clerk's entry of a Default Judgment is requested, the
following materials should
be submitted to the Clerk:
(1) A Motion for Clerk's Judgment by Default.
(2) An affidavit setting forth the amount, which should be for
a sum certain or for
a sum which can by computation be made certain, and which should
not exceed the amount
asked for in the complaint plus the addition of the exact computation
of interest and costs.
The affidavit should also set out the fact that the defendant
against whom judgment is to be
entered is not an infant or incompetent person as set out in Rule
55(b)(1) of the Federal Rules
of Civil Procedure.
(3) The proposed Clerk's Judgment should be submitted to the Clerk
for the
Clerk's signature. 66
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57
(c) If a judgment is requested from the court under Fed. R. Civ.
P. 55(b)(2), the party
requesting the judgment shall, after obtaining a Clerk's entry
of default as prescribed in subsection (a),
above, submit the following materials:
(1) An affidavit stating that the party against whom the default
judgment is
requested is not an infant or incompetent person as set out in
Rule 55(b)(2) of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure;
(2) A proposed judgment for the court's consideration.
56.1 Summary Judgment Procedure.
(a) Moving Party. The moving party shall set forth in the brief
in support of the
motion for summary judgment a separate statement of each material
fact as to which the moving party
contends there is no genuine issue to be tried and as to each
shall identify the specific document or
portion thereof or discovery response or deposition testimony
(by page and line) which it is claimed
establishes the fact.
(b) Opposing Party. The party opposing a motion for summary judgment
shall set
forth in its opposing brief a separate statement of each material
fact as to which it is contended there
exists a genuine issue to be tried and as to each shall identify
the specific document or discovery
response or deposition testimony (by page and line) which it is
claimed establishes the issue. An
opposing brief may be delivered and served no later than twenty
days after service of the motion and
supporting brief. Failure to deliver and serve an opposing brief
alone shall not be considered to be
a confession of the motion; however, nothing in this rule shall
excuse a party opposing a motion for
summary judgment from meeting the party's burden under Fed. R.
Civ. P. 56. 67
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58
57.1 Declaratory Judgments.
[Reserved.]
58.1 Satisfaction of Judgment.
Satisfaction of a judgment shall be noted by the Clerk on the
judgment index upon the
happening of any one of the following:
(a) The filing with the Clerk of a written satisfaction of judgment
executed by the
judgment creditor or his or her attorney of record.
(b) The filing with the Clerk of a return of execution by the
marshal showing the
judgment collected by the marshal.
(c) The payment of the judgment into the registry account of the
court, but such
payment may only be made pursuant to an order of the court first
obtained authorizing the payment.
59.1 New Trials; Amendment of Judgments.
[Reserved.]
60.1 Relief from Judgment or Order.
[Reserved.]
61.1 Harmless Error.
[Reserved.] 68
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62.1 Stay of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment.
[Reserved.]
63.1 Inability of a Judge to Proceed.
[Reserved.]
64.1 Seizure of Person or Property.
[Reserved.]
65.1 Injunctions.
[Reserved.]
65.1.1 Security; Proceedings Against Sureties.
[Reserved.]
66.1 Receiverships.
[Reserved.]
67.1 Bonds and Other Sureties.
(a) General Requirements. Unless expressly directed otherwise
by a judge acting
pursuant to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 3146 in the supervision
of a criminal matter, every bond, 69
69 Page 70
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60
recognizance or other undertaking required by law or court order
in any proceeding shall be executed
by the principal obligor and by one or more sureties qualified
as provided in this rule.
(b) Unacceptable Sureties. An attorney or the attorney's employee,
a party to a case,
or the spouse of a party to a case or of an attorney shall not
be accepted as surety on a cost bond, bail
bond, appeal bond, or any other bond filed in such case.
(c) Corporate Surety. A corporate surety upon any undertaking
in which the United
States is the obligee must be qualified in accordance with the
provisions of 6 U.S.C. §§ 6-13, and
approved thereunder by the Secretary of the Treasury of the United
States. In all other instances a
corporate surety qualified to write bonds in the State of Nebraska
shall be an acceptable surety. In
all cases a power of attorney showing the authority of the agent
signing the bond must be attached
to the bond.
(d) Personal Surety. Persons competent to convey real estate who
own lands in the
State of Nebraska of an unencumbered value of at least the stated
penalty of the bond may obtain
consideration for qualification as surety thereon by attaching
thereto a duly acknowledged
justification showing: (1) legal description of the real estate;
(2) a complete list of all encumbrances
and liens thereon; (3) its market value based on recent sales
of like property; (4) a waiver of inchoate
rights of any character and certification that the real estate
is not exempt from execution; and (5)
certification as to the aggregate amount of the penalties of all
other subsisting undertakings, if any,
assured by said bondsman as of that date. Said justification and
certifications shall be reviewed by
the judge before whom the proceeding is pending for approval or
disapproval of the surety.
(e) Cash Bonds. Cash bonds may be deposited into the registry
of the court, but only
upon execution and filing of a written bond sufficient as to form
and setting forth the conditions of 70
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the bond. Withdrawal of cash bonds so deposited shall not be made
except upon written order of the
court.
(f) Cost Bonds. The court on motion or on its own initiative may
order any party to
file an original bond for costs or additional security for costs
in such an amount and so conditioned
as the court by its order may designate.
(g) Insufficiency--Remedy. Any opposing party may raise objections
to a bond's form
or timeliness or the sufficiency of the surety. If the bond is
found to be insufficient, the judge may
order that a sufficient bond be filed within a stated time, and
if the order is not complied with, the
case may be dismissed for want of prosecution or the judge may
take other appropriate action.
67.2 Deposits.
(a) Order Directing the Investment of Funds. Any order directing
the Clerk to invest
funds deposited with the registry account of the court pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. § 2041 shall include the
following:
(1) The amount to be invested; and
(2) The type of interest-bearing account in which the funds are
to be invested.
It shall be the responsibility of counsel to cause a copy of the
order to be served personally
upon the Clerk or chief deputy at Omaha or the deputy in charge
at Lincoln.
(b) Time for Investing Funds. Upon such service the Clerk shall
take all reasonable
steps to invest the funds within ten days of the service of the
order. 71
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62
(c) Fee. Except as otherwise ordered by the court, the Clerk,
at the time the income
becomes available, shall deduct from the income earned on the
investment a fee as authorized by the
Judicial Conference of the United States and set out by the Director
of the Administrative Office.
67.3 Withdrawal of a Deposit Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 67
Any person seeking withdrawal of money deposited in the court
pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P.
67 and subsequently deposited into an interest-bearing account
or instrument as required by Fed. R.
Civ. P. 67, shall provide a completed IRS Form W-9 attached to
the motion seeking withdrawal of
the funds.
67.4 Federal Practice Fund.
Funds generated from the admission and renewal fees for a Federal
Practice Fund pursuant
to NELR 83.4(c) and (e) and from other activities authorized by
the court for Federal Practice Fund
purposes shall be invested by the Clerk in a trust account. The
trust account shall be maintained and
accounted for separately from all other funds. Funds shall be
paid out on the order of the chief judge
in an amount and with a priority determined in light of the condition
of the Federal Practice Fund and
any other requests being made and expected to be made for payment
from the Federal Practice Fund.
If the chief judge is not reasonably available, the district judge
next senior in service to the chief judge
may enter such an order. All requests for payment shall be sent
to the Clerk who shall forward them
to the chief judge or, if the chief judge is not reasonably available,
the district judge next senior in
service to the chief judge, together with a statement of the condition
of the Federal Practice Fund. 72
72 Page 73
74
63
Payments may be ordered from the Federal Practice Fund in accordance
with the guidelines adopted
by general order of the active district judges of the court.
68.1 Settlement Procedures.
Upon notice to the court or to the Clerk that an action has been
settled counsel shall file
within 15 days thereafter, unless otherwise directed by written
order, such pleadings as are necessary
to terminate the action; upon failure to do so, the court may
order dismissal of the action without
further notice and without prejudice to the right to secure reinstatement
of the case within 30 days
after the date of the order by making a showing of good cause
as to why settlement was not in fact
consummated.
69.1 Execution.
[Reserved.]
70.1 Judgment for Specific Acts; Vesting Title.
[Reserved.]
71.1 Process in Behalf of and Against Persons Not Parties.
[Reserved.] 73
73 Page 74
75
64
71A.1 Condemnation of Property.
[Reserved.]
72.1 Magistrate Judges.
(a) Duties under 28 U.S.C. § 636. Each magistrate judge of
this court is authorized
to perform the duties prescribed by 28 U.S.C. § 636 to the
full extent authorized by law. ( b )
Disposition of Misdemeanor Cases -18 U.S.C. § 3401.
(1) By full-time magistrate judges. A full-time magistrate judge
may:
(A) Try persons accused of, and sentence persons convicted of,
misdemeanors committed within this district in accordance with
18 U.S.C. § 3401;
and
(B) Direct the probation service of the court to conduct a presentence
investigation in any misdemeanor.
(2) By part-time magistrate judges. Designation of part-time magistrate
judges
to conduct duties under 18 U.S.C. § 3401 shall be made by
specific order as circumstances
may require.
(c) Prisoner Cases under 28 U.S.C. §§ 2254 and 2255.
A full-time magistrate judge
may perform any or all of the duties imposed upon a district judge
by the rules governing proceedings
in the United States District Courts under 28 U.S.C. §§
2254 and 2255. In so doing a magistrate
judge may issue any preliminary orders and conduct any necessary
evidentiary hearing or other
appropriate proceeding and shall submit to a district judge a
report containing proposed findings of
fact and recommendations for disposition of the petition or motion
by the district judge. A magistrate 74
74 Page 75
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65
judge may hear and determine cases brought under 28 U.S.C. §
2255 in which he or she entered
judgment by the consent of the parties in the underlying criminal
prosecution.
(d) Prisoner Cases under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. A full-time magistrate
judge may issue
any preliminary orders and conduct any necessary evidentiary hearing
or other appropriate proceeding
and shall submit to a district judge a report containing proposed
findings of fact and recommendations
for the disposition of complaints filed by prisoners challenging
the conditions of their confinement.
(e) Special Master References. A magistrate judge may be designated
by a district
judge to serve as a special master in appropriate civil cases
in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(2)
and Fed. R. Civ. P. 53. Upon the consent of the parties a magistrate
judge may be designated by a
district judge to serve as a special master in any civil case,
notwithstanding the limitations of Fed. R.
Civ. P. 53.
72.2 Referral of Matters to Magistrate Judge.
(a) Criminal Cases.
(1) Misdemeanor cases. All cases initiated as misdemeanor cases
shall be the
responsibility of a full-time magistrate judge, who shall proceed
in accordance with the
provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 3401 and Fed. R. Cr. P. 58.
(2) Felony cases. Upon the return of an indictment or the filing
of an information
in any felony case it shall be the responsibility of a full-time
magistrate judge to conduct an
arraignment and such pretrial conferences or omnibus hearings
as are necessary, determine 75
75 Page 76
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66
all nondispositive motions, and hear all dispositive motions,
in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §
636.
(b) Civil Cases. All civil cases shall be the responsibility of
a full-time magistrate judge
for scheduling trials, conducting such discovery, pretrial, and
settlement conferences as are necessary
and hearing and determining all pretrial procedural and discovery
motions, including the issuance of
progression orders. Where the parties consent to trial and disposition
of a case by a magistrate judge
under NELR 73.1, the case shall, with the approval of the district
judge to whom it is assigned, be
reassigned to a magistrate judge for the conduct of all further
proceedings and the entry of judgment.
(c) General. Nothing in these rules shall preclude a district
judge from reserving any
proceeding for conduct by a district judge, rather than a magistrate
judge, or modifying the method
of assigning matters to a magistrate judge, as changing conditions
may warrant.
72.3 Appeal of Nondispositive Matters.
(a) Scope of Rule. This rule applies to motions for reconsideration
referred to in 28
U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) and to objections referred to in Fed.
R. Civ. P. 72(a).
(b) Statement of Appeal and Briefs. As provided in Fed. R. Civ.
P. 72(a), a party
wishing to appeal an order entered by a magistrate judge in a
nondispositive matter (i.e., not excepted
by 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A)) may file a "Statement of
Appeal of Magistrate Judge's Order" within
ten days after being served with a copy of the order, unless a
different time is established by order.
The statement of appeal shall set forth specifically the order
or portion thereof appealed from and the
basis of the appeal. The appealing party shall submit to the district
judge at the time of filing the
appeal a brief setting forth the party's arguments that the magistrate
judge's order is clearly erroneous 76
76 Page 77
78
67
or contrary to law. It is insufficient to submit only a copy of
the original brief submitted to the
magistrate judge, although a copy of the original brief may be
submitted and incorporated into the
appeal brief. Failure to submit a brief in support of the appeal
may be deemed an abandonment of
the appeal.
Unless otherwise ordered, when an appeal of a nondispositive order
has been filed, the
opposing party or parties may submit briefs in opposition to the
appeal within ten days of being
served with a copy of the statement of appeal, arguing that the
order of the magistrate judge is not
clearly erroneous or contrary to law.
(c) Evidence on Appeal. If evidentiary materials were filed or
received in evidence at
the time of the magistrate judge's determination of the matter,
the materials may be referred to in the
briefs and need not be refiled or re-offered. There shall be no
additional evidentiary material
submitted unless ordered in matters of detention. See NELR 72.5(a)(3).
(d) Scope of Review. The district judge shall modify, set aside,
or remand to the
magistrate judge any nondispositive order or portion thereof found
to be clearly erroneous or contrary
to law.
(e) Stay Pending Appeal. The filing of a stat ement of appeal
does not act as an order
staying operation of the magistrate judge's order pending appeal.
Any motion for stay pending appeal
shall be filed and promptly delivered in the first instance to
the magistrate judge whose order is
appealed; if the magistrate judge denies the motion for stay,
the motion may be addressed to the
assigned district judge. 77
77 Page 78
79
68
72.4 Objections to Recommendations in Dispositive Matters.
A party may object to a recommendation entered by a magistrate
judge in a dispositive matter
(i.e., excepted by 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A)) by filing a
"Statement of Object ion t o Magist rat e Judge's
Recommendation" within ten days after being served with a
copy of the recommendation, unless a
different time is established by order. The statement of objection
shall specify those portions of the
recommendation to which objection is made and the basis of the
objection. The objecting party shall
submit to the district judge at the time of filing t he object
ion a brief set t ing fort h t he part y' s argument s
that the magistrate judge's recommendation should be reviewed
de novo and a different disposition
made. It is insufficient to submit only a copy of the original
brief submitted to the magistrate judge,
although a copy of the original brief may be submitted and incorporated
into the brief in support of
the objection. Failure to submit a brief in support of the objection
may be deemed an abandonment
of the objection.
Unless otherwise ordered, any opposing party may submit a brief
opposing the objection
within ten days of being served with a copy of the statement of
objection.
If evidentiary materials were filed or received in evidence at
the time of the magistrate judge's
determination of the matter, such materials may be referred to
in the briefs and need not be refiled or
re-offered. There shall be no additional evidentiary materials
submitted in connection with the
objection; however, if an evidentiary hearing was held before
the magistrate judge, the district judge
may convene a supplemental hearing to consider additional evidence,
if the party making request
therefor demonstrates good cause why the evidence was not adduced
before the magistrate judge. 78
78 Page 79
80
69
If the district judge remands the matter to the magistrate judge,
a subsequent recommendation
of the magistrate judge shall also be subject to objection in
accordance with this rule upon the filing
of another objection.
Counsel and parties are cautioned that the failure to object to
a finding of fact in a magistrate
judge's recommendation in a dispositive matter may be construed
as a waiver of that party's right to
appeal the order of the district judge adopting the recommendation
as to the finding of fact.
72.5 Review of Magistrate Judge's Orders in Specific Matters.
(a) Detention Matters.
(1) When a detention order has been entered by a judicial officer
of another
district in a criminal case pending in this court, review of such
detention order pursuant to 18
U.S.C. § 3145(b) shall be conducted by the magistrate judge
in this district to whom the case
has been referred or assigned.
(2) When a detention or release order has been entered by a magistrate
judge in
a criminal case pending in this court pursuant to a hearing held
under 18 U.S.C. § 3142(f),
any motion to "reopen" the proceeding as provided in
that section shall be considered a
motion for the magistrate judge to review the matter of release
or detention.
(3) When reviewing a magistrate judge's order of detention or
release, a district
judge may hear and consider additional evidence not considered
by the magistrate judge if that
evidence was not available to be presented to the magistrate judge
at the time of the hearing
held pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 3142(f) or for other good cause
shown. In the alternative the
district judge may remand the matter to the magistrate judge to
reopen the hearing. Unless 79
79 Page 80
81
70
additional evidence is received on review, the district judge
shall review an order of release
or detention de novo on the record made before the magistrate
judge.
(b) Special Master Reports. When a magistrate judge has been designated
as a special
master with the consent of the parties under Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(b),
or without the consent of the
parties under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(2), any
party may seek review of or action on the
special master report filed by the magistrate judge in accordance
with the provisions of Fed. R. Civ.
P. 53(e).
73.1 Magistrate Judges: Trial by Consent.
(a) Civil. Upon the consent of the parties a full-time magistrate
judge may conduct any
and all proceedings in any civil case, including the conduct of
a jury or nonjury trial, and may order
the entry of a final judgment, in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §
636(c). Unless the parties specifically
agree at the time of filing the consent that any appeal will lie
to a district judge in accordance with
NELR 74, any appeal from a judgment entered in accordance with
this rule shall be taken to the court
of appeals.
(b) Criminal. Upon the consent of the defendant a full-time magistrate
judge may
conduct any and all proceedings in any criminal misdemeanor or
petty offense case, including the
conduct of a jury or nonjury trial, the entry of a final judgment,
the pronouncement of sentence as
provided in 18 U.S.C. § 3401 and Fed. R. Cr. P. 58, and the
resolution of post-trial motions. 80
80 Page 81
82
71
73.2 Procedures Before Magistrate Judges: Trial by Consent.
(a) Notice. The Clerk shall notify the parties in all civil cases
that they may consent to
have a magistrate judge conduct any or all proceedings in the
case and order the entry of a final
judgment. Such notice shall be provided as soon as practicable
after the commencement of the action
and before the case is first scheduled for trial.
(b) Execution of Consent. The plaintiff shall be responsible for
securing the execution
of a consent form by the parties and for filing such form with
the Clerk of court. The Clerk shall not
accept a consent form unless it has been signed by all the parties
or their counsel.
(c) Assignment. After the consent form has been executed and filed,
the Clerk shall
transmit it to the district judge to whom the case has been assigned
for approval and assignment of
the case to a magistrate judge.
74.1 Appeal to District Judge in Consent Cases.
(a) Civil. [Reserved; See Fed. R. Civ. P. 74.]
(b) Criminal. [Reserved; See Fed. R. Cr. P. 58.]
75.1 Procedure on Appeal to District Judge in Consent Cases.
(a) Civil. Procedures on appeal to a district judge in a consent
case pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 636(c)(4) shall be as provided in Fed. R. Civ. P.
75, with the following exceptions:
(1) Briefs shall not be filed with the Clerk but shall be submitted
to the district
judge and copies served upon opposing parties or counsel; 81
81 Page 82
83
72
(2) A request for oral argument may be filed with the Clerk at
the time that party's
brief is submitted. In the absence of an order setting oral argument
the matter shall be
deemed submitted at the close of the briefing.
(b) Criminal. Procedures on appeal to a district judge in a consent
case pursuant to
18 U.S.C. § 3401 shall be as provided in Fed. R. Cr. P. 58(g),
with the following additional
provisions: Unless otherwise ordered:
(1) The appellant's brief shall be submitted to the district judge
within ten days
following the filing of the notice of appeal;
(2) The appellee's brief shall be submitted to the district judge
within ten days
following submission of the appellant's brief;
(3) No oral argument shall be permitted.
76.1 Bankruptcy Cases.
(a) Reference to Bankruptcy Court. All cases under Title 11 of
the United States
Code, and all proceedings arising under such Title 11, or arising
in, or related to, a case under Title
11, are referred to a bankruptcy court of this district pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. § 157.
(b) Withdrawal of Reference.
(1) A reference under this rule to the bankruptcy court may be
withdrawn in
whole, or in part, by a district judge on his or her own motion,
or on timely motion of a party.
Motions for withdrawal of reference shall be filed with the Clerk
of the Bankruptcy Court.
The district court hereby refers motions for withdrawal of reference
to the bankruptcy court
for a report and recommendation as to disposition. 82
82 Page 83
84
73
(2) Motions for withdrawal of reference shall be filed with the
Clerk of the
Bankruptcy Court. After notice and hearing, a bankruptcy judge
shall file a report and
recommendation with the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court and the
Clerk of the District Court.
Copies of the report and recommendation shall be served upon the
parties by the Clerk of the
Bankruptcy Court. The district court may adopt the report and
recommendations if no
objections are filed within fifteen (15) days of service upon
the parties. Objections to the
report and recommendation shall be filed with the Clerk of the
Bankruptcy Court and the
Clerk of the District Court.
(3) Upon filing of the report and recommendation of the bankruptcy
court with
the Clerk of the District Court, the motion for withdrawal of
reference and the report and
recommendation of the bankruptcy court shall be assigned to a
district court judge in
accordance with the district court's general order on assignment
of cases to district judges.
The assigned judge shall decide if the motion to withdraw should
be granted. A motion for
withdrawal of reference shall not stay any bankruptcy matter pending
before a bankruptcy
judge, unless a specific stay is issued by a district court judge,
or a bankruptcy judge.
(4) The district court for cause may on its own motion withdraw,
in whole or in
part, any case or proceeding referred to the bankruptcy court.
The order of withdrawal of
reference shall be filed with the Clerk of the District Court
and the Clerk of the Bankruptcy
Court. The Clerk of the District Court shall provide notice to
interested parties. Upon
receipt of such an order the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court shall
deliver to the Clerk of the
District Court those portions of the bankruptcy or adversary file
necessary for the district
court proceeding. 83
83 Page 84
85
74
(5) If the district court adopts the report and recommendation
of the bankruptcy
court and withdraws the reference, the order shall be filed in
the office of the Clerk of the
District Court and the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court and the notice
and delivery-of-records
provisions of subparagraph (4) of this rule apply.
(6) If the district court determines that a hearing on objections
to the report and
recommendation should be held, the order setting the hearing shall
be filed with the Clerk of
the District Court and Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court.
(7) If the district court denies a motion for withdrawal of reference,
the order shall
be filed with the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court and the Clerk
of the District Court.
(c) Appeal from Bankruptcy Judge Decisions. Appeals from a decision
of the
bankruptcy court shall be in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §
158 and applicable bankruptcy rules.
Bankruptcy Rule 8009 respecting the filing of briefs shall not
be applicable and briefs shall be filed
in accordance with orders of the district court.
(d) Jury Trials. If the right to a jury trial applies in a proceeding
that may be heard by
a bankruptcy judge, the judges of the United States District Court
for the District of Nebraska do
specifically designate the bankruptcy judges to exercise the jurisdiction
to conduct jury trials in
bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings with the express consent
of all of the parties to the
particular contested matter or adversary proceeding. 84
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86
75
77.1 Orders and Judgments Grantable by the Clerk.
See NELR 6.1 and NELR 55.1.
77.2 Sessions of Court.
At Omaha and Lincoln the court shall be in continuous session
on all business days throughout
the year. At North Platte the court shall be in session during
periods set by order from time to time
and as the business there shall require.
77.3 Release of Information.
All court personnel of or serving the court, including but not
limited to marshals, deputy
marshals, court Clerks, bailiffs, court reporters, law Clerks
and secretaries, shall not disclose, without
authorization by the court, to any person information divulged
in arguments and hearings held in
chambers or otherwise outside the presence of the public, or any
information relating to a pending
case that is not part of the public records of the court.
77.4 Official Station of Clerk.
The official station of the Clerk shall be at Omaha. Deputy Clerks
in such number as shall be
required shall be appointed by the Clerk and shall be stationed
at Omaha and Lincoln.
78.1 Motion Day.
[Reserved.] 85
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87
76
79.1 Custody of Files and Exhibits.
(a) Temporary Withdrawal of Files and Papers. Except as authorized
by the Clerk
or ordered by the court, no file or item belonging to the files
of the court shall be taken from the
office or custody of the Clerk. A receipt for anything so taken
shall be delivered to the Clerk by the
party removing it.
(b) Permanent Withdrawal of Files and Papers. Upon a showing of
good cause the
court may by order permit one or more items belonging to the files
to be permanently withdrawn; but
a party requesting a withdrawal may be required to furnish to
the Clerk a copy thereof for
certification by the Clerk and a receipt for the original. The
certified copy and receipt shall then be
filed in lieu of the original and the party receiving the original
shall pay the Clerk any costs involved.
(c) Custody of Exhibits. All exhibits offered but not received,
if the offeror requests
they be in the custody of the Clerk, and all exhibits received
in evidence shall be left in the custody
of the Clerk. Exhibits may not be taken from the custody of the
Clerk while the judgment is not final
or is subject to appellate review, except upon order of the court
and execution of a receipt therefor.
(d) Withdrawal or Destruction of Exhibits in Civil Cases. Within
60 days after
judgment in a civil case has become final and is no longer subject
to appellate review exhibits shall
be claimed and withdrawn by the party to whom they belong and
receipt therefor given to the Clerk,
unless the court orders otherwise. Any exhibits not so claimed
and withdrawn may be destroyed or
otherwise disposed of by the Clerk as the Clerk shall see fit.
On the date that the exhibits are
destroyed, the Clerk shall enter a remark in the automated docketing
system stating that the exhibits
were destroyed and the date of destruction. 86
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88
77
(e) Withdrawal or Destruction of Exhibits in Criminal Cases. After
the Clerk has
obtained an order granting the destruction of criminal exhibits
and the exhibits have been destroyed,
the Clerk shall enter a remark in the automated docketing system
stating that the exhibits were
destroyed.
80.1 Court Reporting Fees.
A current schedule of the transcript fees, as established by the
Judicial Conference of the
United States, is available in the Clerk's office or from the
official court reporters.
81.1 Applicability in General.
[Reserved.]
81.2 Removed Cases, Demand for Jury Trial.
In an action removed from a state court, a party entitled to trial
by jury under Fed. R. Civ. P.
38 shall be accorded it, if demand therefor is filed and served
within ten days after the notice of
removal is served or within ten days after the answer is served,
whichever is later, if that party is the
petitioner for removal; or, if not the petitioner, within ten
days after service on that party of the notice
of filing the notice of removal or within ten days after service
of the answer of petitioner upon that
party, whichever is later. Failure to make demand as directed
herein constitutes waiver of trial by
jury.
82.1 Jurisdiction and Venue Unaffected.
[Reserved.] 87
87 Page 88
89
78
83.1 Free Press-Fair Trial Provisions.
(a) Statement Not to be Made. A lawyer shall not make an extrajudicial
statement that
t he lawyer knows or reasonably should know will have a substantial
likelihood of materially
prejudicing an adjudicative proceeding. An extrajudicial statement,
other than one permitted by
paragraph (b) of this rule, ordinarily is likely to have such
an effect when it refers to a civil matter
triable to a jury, or a criminal matter or proceeding that could
result in incarceration, and the
statement relates to:
(1) The character, credibility, reputation or criminal record
of a party, suspect in
a criminal investigation or witness, or the identity of a witness,
or the expected testimony of
a party or witness;
(2) In a criminal case or proceeding that could result in incarceration
the
possibility of a plea of guilty to the offense or the existence
or contents of any confession,
admission, or statement given by a defendant or suspect or that
person's refusal or failure to
make a statement;
(3) The performance or results of any examination or test or the
refusal or failure
of a person to submit to an examination or test, or the identity
or nature of physical evidence
expected to be presented;
(4) Any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of a defendant or
suspect in a criminal
case or proceeding that could result in incarceration; or
(5) Information the lawyer knows or reasonably should know is
likely to be
inadmissible as evidence in a trial and would if disclosed create
a substantial risk of
prejudicing an impartial trial. 88
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90
79
(b) Statements Which May be Made. A lawyer involved in the investigation
or
litigation of a matter may state without elaboration:
(1) The general nature of the claim or defense;
(2) Information contained in a public record;
(3) That investigation of the matter is in progress, including
the general scope of
the investigation, the offense or claim or defense involved and,
except when prohibited by
law, the identity of the persons involved;
(4) The scheduling or result of any step in litigation;
(5) A request for assistance in obtaining evidence and information
necessary
thereto;
(6) A warning of danger concerning the behavior of a person involved,
when there
is reason to believe that such danger exists; and
(7) In a criminal case:
(A) The identity, residence, occupation and family status of the
defendant
or suspect;
(B) If the defendant or suspect has not been apprehended, information
necessary to aid in apprehension of that person;
(C) The fact, time and place of arrest, resistance, pursuit and
use of
weapons; and
(D) The identity of investigating and arresting officers or agencies
and the
length of that investigation. 89
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91
80
83.2 Courtroom and Courthouse Decorum.
(a) Counsel's Standing. Counsel shall stand when addressing or
addressed by the
court. When making an objection, counsel need not stand unless
otherwise directed by the court.
(b) Counsel's Examination of Witnesses. Except when it shall be
necessary for
counsel to approach the witness or an exhibit, the examination
of witnesses shall be conducted from
the counsel table or from the lectern. When examining witnesses
from a lectern, counsel shall stand
in close proximity to the lectern and with the lectern between
him or her and the witness. When
examining witnesses from the counsel table, counsel shall remain
seated in the chairs provided for
counsel beside the counsel table or may stand immediately adjacent
to the counsel table.
(c) Counsel's Moving About the Courtroom. Counsel shall not approach
opposing
counsel, the bench, a witness, the court reporter's table, or
the Clerk's desk, or otherwise move from
the counsel table or lectern, without the permission of the court,
except to make an opening statement
or closing argument. If many such movements will be necessary
during a trial, the court, upon
request, may grant continuing leave to make specified approaches.
(d) Colloquy Between Counsel. Counsel shall not participate in
colloquy with
opposing counsel, whether audible or inaudible to others, or whether
in the form of a conference or
otherwise, without permission of the court.
(e) Counsel's Leaving the Courtroom. If any counsel, including
co-counsel, wishes
to leave the courtroom, permission of the court should be obtained.
Co-counsel may receive
continuing permission to leave the courtroom at any time, although
no counsel should leave during
the testimony of any witness he or she has examined. 90
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81
(f) Addressing and Referring to Witnesses and Parties. Witnesses
and parties shall
be referred to and addressed by their surnames, unless leave to
do otherwise is granted.
83.3 Public Security and Conduct in Courthouse.
(a) General Conduct. No person shall loiter, sleep, or conduct
himself or herself in
an abusive or disorderly manner.
(b) Entering and Leaving Building, Courtroom or Corridor. Persons
shall enter
or leave the building or courtroom or corridor of the building
only through doorways designated by
a security officer, if the persons have been informed of the designation.
(c) Weapons and Components. No person, except federal, state,
county and city law
enforcement officers who are duly authorized to carry weapons
in the performance of their duties,
shall have in his or her possession or cause to be brought into
a courthouse any weapon, destructive
device, or component thereof. Except for those law enforcement
officers, all persons, including
attorneys, shall be subject to a search of their persons and possessions
for any weapons, destructive
device, or component thereof, and to a determination by a security
officer that such persons have in
their immediate possession no weapon, destructive device or component
thereof, as a condition to
such persons' entry into a courtroom or movement about the floor
on which a courtroom is located.
(d) Seating of Spectators and News Media. On days of judicial
proceedings the
officer in charge of security may reserve, for members of the
news media and spectators, designated
areas for seating in the courtrooms, and all persons shall abide
by such designation. Spectator seats
not designated for the press shall be available to spectators
on a first-come, first-served basis. When
all regular spectator seats, except those reserved for the news
media, are filled, only the persons 91
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82
seated shall be permitted to remain as spectators. There shall
be no reserved seats for spectators or
members of the press leaving the courtroom after having once been
admitted. Only court personnel,
attorneys of record, and other persons specifically authorized
by the court shall be in the well of the
courtroom.
A pass syst em may be instituted by which equitable allocation
is made of some of the
spectator seats in the courtrooms for persons receiving passes
from the court and the parties. If a
pass system is instituted, those spectator seats not covered by
passes from the court or the parties
shall be available to spectators on a first-come, first-served
basis.
(e) Food, Drink and Tobacco. No person shall consume any beverage,
eat any food,
or use any tobacco in a courtroom at any time.
(f) Enforcement. The marshal and other United States security
personnel authorized
by law or deputized, are to enforce this rule and to take into
custody and promptly bring any violator
before a judge.
(g) Exemption from or Interpretation of this Rule. Any person
seeking an
exemption from or interpretation of this rule should present his
or her request to the officer in charge
of security, who may present it to a judge.
83.4 Bar Admission.
(a) Bar of the Court. The bar of this court shall consist of those
persons admitted to
practice before the court.
(b) Ethical Standards. The standards of conduct of the members
of the bar of this
court shall be those prescribed by the Code of Professional Responsibility
adopted by the Supreme 92
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Court of Nebraska and any amendments thereto or any standards
set out in the Local Rules of the
United States District Court for the District of Nebraska (NELR).
(c) Admission by Oral or Written Application. An attorney who
has been duly
admitted and licensed to practice before the highest court of
any state may be admitted to practice
in this court by a judge of this court or by the Clerk upon oral
or written application and upon
satisfactory showing of the good moral character of the applicant
and upon his or her taking the
prescribed oath and paying the prescribed fee, a portion of which
shall be retained in the Federal
Practice Fund, in accordance with NELR 67.4. The showing of good
moral character may be made
by oral or written declaration of a member of the bar of this
court or by a certificate of the Clerk of
the highest court of any state in which the applicant is admitted
to practice. The Clerk shall then issue
a certificate of admission and add the applicant's name to the
roll of attorneys.
(d) Oath of Admission. The following oath or affirmation shall
be administered to an
applicant for admission to the bar of this court:
"You do solemnly swear (or affirm) that as an officer of
the United States District
Court for the District of Nebraska you will demean yourself faithfully,
uprightly, and
according to law; and that you will support, uphold, and defend
the Constitution of
the United States of America."
(e) Admission for a Particular Case. An attorney who has been
duly admitted and
licensed to practice before the highest court of any state may
be admitted to practice in this court for
a particular case only by a judge of this court or by the Clerk
upon oral or written application and
upon satisfactory showing, in the manner set out in NELR 83.4(c),
of the good moral character of 93
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the applicant and upon his or her taking the prescribed oath and
paying the prescribed fee, a portion
of which shall be retained in the Federal Practice Fund, in accordance
with NELR 67.4.
(f) Appointment of Counsel. All members of the bar of this court
are subject to be
appointed to represent indigent litigants. This is an ethical
obligation of attorneys in fulfillment of the
underlying precepts of Canon 2 of the Code of Professional Responsibility.
Once such an
appointment has been made, counsel will be expected to conduct
the litigation in a professionally
zealous manner. Such an appointment does not, however, require
counsel to advance to the litigant
the expenses of the litigation; these expenses remain the responsibility
of the litigant, and counsel may
contract with the litigant for their payment. Appointed counsel
may seek authorization to incur
expenses in accordance with the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C.
§ 3006A, or in accordance with the
provisions of NELR 67.4, regarding use of the Federal Practice
Fund.
Appointed counsel shall not, however, contract with the litigant
for the payment of attorney
fees for professional services, without the explicit prior approval
of the court; fees shall be available
to appointed counsel only as prescribed by the court or, alternatively,
by the statutory framework of
the litigant's claim or defense (e.g., 42 U.S.C. § 1988;
18 U.S.C. § 3006A).
(g) Annual Assessment. In civil cases the only source of funds
available to reimburse
appointed counsel for reasonable expenses incurred in representing
an indigent litigant is the Federal
Practice Fund (See NELR 67.4). To insure that this fund is sufficient
to cover these expenses the
court will order an annual assessment to be paid by each attorney
enrolled in the bar of this court,
other than those admitted for a particular case only. This assessment
will be paid on or before March
1 of each year. The proceeds of this assessment will be used to
defray the cost of maintaining a roll 94
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of attorneys admitted to practice before this court and to fund
the Federal Practice Fund. Failure to
pay this assessment shall be grounds for removing an attorney
from the roll of this court.
83.5 Attorney Discipline.
(a) Attorneys Convicted of Crimes.
(1) Upon the filing with this court of a cert ified copy of a
judgment of conviction
demonstrating that any attorney admitted to practice before the
court has been convicted in
any court of the United States or the District of Columbia, or
of any state, territory,
commonwealth or possession of the United States, of a serious
crime, as hereinafter defined,
the court shall enter an order immediately suspending that attorney,
whether the conviction
resulted from a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or from a verdict
after trial, or otherwise,
and regardless of the pendency of an appeal, until final disposition
of a disciplinary proceeding
to be commenced upon such conviction. A copy of such order shall
immediately be served
upon the attorney. Upon good cause shown the court may set aside
such order when it
appears in the interest of justice to do so.
(2) The term "serious crime" shall include any felony.
It shall also include any
lesser crime, a necessary element of which, as determined by the
statutory or common law
definition of such crime in the jurisdiction where the judgment
was entered, involves false
swearing, misrepresentation, fraud, willful failure to file income
tax returns, deceit, bribery,
extortion, misappropriation, theft, or an attempt or a conspiracy
or solicitation of another to
commit a "serious crime." 95
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(3) A certified copy of a judgment of conviction of an attorney
for any crime shall
be conclusive evidence of the commission of that crime in any
disciplinary proceeding
instituted against that attorney based upon the conviction.
(4) Upon the filing of a cert ified copy of a judgment of conviction
of an attorney
for a serious crime the court shall, in addition to suspending
that attorney in accordance with
the provisions of this rule, also refer the matter to counsel
for the institution of a disciplinary
proceeding before the court in which the sole issue to be determined
shall be the extent of the
final discipline to be imposed as a result of the conduct resulting
in the conviction, provided
that a disciplinary proceeding so instituted will not be brought
to final hearing until all appeals
from the conviction are concluded.
(5) Upon the filing of a cert ified copy of a judgment of conviction
of an attorney
for a crime not constituting a "serious crime," the
court may refer the matter to counsel for
whatever action counsel may deem warranted, including the institution
of a disciplinary
proceeding before the court; provided, however, that the court
may in its discretion make no
reference with respect to convictions for minor offenses.
(6) An at t orney suspended under the provisions of this rule
will be reinstated
immediately upon the filing of a certificate demonstrating that
the underlying conviction of
a serious crime has been reversed, but the reinstatement will
not terminate any disciplinary
proceeding then pending against the attorney, the disposition
of which will be determined by
the court on the basis of all available evidence pertaining to
both guilt and the extent of
discipline to be imposed.
(b) Discipline Imposed by Other Courts. 96
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(1) Any attorney admitted to practice before this court shall,
upon being subjected
to public discipline by any other court of the United States or
the District of Columbia, or by
a court of any state, territory, commonwealth or possession of
the United States, promptly
inform the Clerk of this court of such action.
(2) Upon the filing of a certified or exemplified copy of a judgment
or order
demonstrating that an attorney admitted to practice before this
court has been disciplined by
another court this court shall forthwith issue a notice directed
to the attorney, containing:
(A) a copy of the judgment or order from the other court; and
(B) an order to show cause directing that the attorney inform
this court
within thirty days after service of that order upon the attorney,
personally or by
mail, of any claim by the attorney predicated upon the grounds
set forth in
subparagraph (4) hereof that the imposition of the identical discipline
by the court
would be unwarranted and the reasons therefor.
(3) In the event the discipline imposed in the other jurisdiction
has been stayed
there, any reciprocal discipline imposed in this court shall be
deferred until such stay expires.
(4) Upon the expiration of thirty days from service of the notice
issued pursuant
to the provisions of subparagraph (b)(2)(B) above, this court
shall impose the identical
discipline, unless the respondent/attorney demonstrates or this
court finds that upon the face
of the record upon which the discipline in another jurisdiction
is predicated it clearly appears:
(A) that the procedure was so lacking in notice or opportunity
to be heard
as to constitute a deprivation of due process, or 97
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(B) that there was such an infirmity of proof establishing the
misconduct
as to give rise to the clear conviction that this court could
not, consistent with its
duty, accept as final the conclusion on that subject, or
(C) that the imposition of the same discipline by this court would
result in
grave injustice, or
(D) that the misconduct established is deemed by this court to
warrant
substantially different discipline. Where this court determines
that any of said
elements exist, it shall enter such other order as it deems appropriate.
(5) In all other respects a final adjudication in another court
that an attorney has
been guilty of misconduct shall establish conclusively the misconduct
for purposes of a
disciplinary proceeding in this court.
(6) This court may at any stage appoint counsel to prosecute the
disciplinary
proceedings.
(c) Disbarment on Consent or Resignation in Other Courts.
(1) Any attorney admitted to practice before this court who shall
be disbarred on
consent or resign from the bar of any other court of the United
States or the District of
Columbia, or from the bar of any state, territory, commonwealth
or possession of the United
States, while an investigation into allegations of misconduct
is pending, shall, upon the filing
with this court of a certified or exemplified copy of the judgment
or order accepting such
disbarment on consent or resignation, cease to be permitted to
practice before this court and
be stricken from the roll of attorneys admitted to practice before
this court. 98
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(2) Any attorney admitted to practice before this court shall,
upon being disbarred
on consent or resigning from the bar of any other court of the
United States or the District
of Columbia, or from the bar of any state, territory, commonwealth
or possession of the
Unit ed States, while an investigation into allegations of misconduct
is pending, promptly
inform the Clerk of this court of such disbarment on consent or
resignation.
(d) Standards for Professional Conduct.
(1) For misconduct defined in these rules, and for good cause
shown, and after
notice and opportunity to be heard, any attorney admitted to practice
before this court may
be disbarred, suspended from practice before this court, reprimanded,
or subjected to such
other disciplinary action as the circumstances may warrant.
(2) Acts or omissions by an attorney admitted to practice before
this court,
individually or in concert with any other person or persons, which
violate the Code of
Professional Responsibility adopted by this court, shall constitute
misconduct and shall be
grounds for discipline, whether or not the act or omission occurred
in the course of an
attorney/client relationship. The Code of Professional Responsibility
adopted by this court
is t he Code of Professional Responsibility adopted by the Supreme
Court of Nebraska, as
amended from time to time, except as otherwise provided by specific
rule of this court after
consideration of comments by representatives of bar associations
within the state.
(e) Discipline Proceedings in Instances of Conduct Other Than
That Which May
be Treated as Contempt of Court.
(1) When misconduct or allegations of misconduct which, if
substantiated, would
warrant discipline on the part of any attorney admitted to practice
before this court shall come 99
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to the attention of a judge of this court, whether by complaint
or otherwise, and the applicable
procedure is not otherwise mandated by these rules, the judge,
except in instances of conduct
that may be treated as contempt of court, may impose an appropriate
sanction and/or refer
the matter to counsel for investigation and the prosecution of
a formal disciplinary proceeding
or the formulation of such other recommendation as may be appropriate.
(2) Should counsel conclude after investigation and review that
a formal
disciplinary proceeding should not be initiated against the respondent/attorney,
because
sufficient evidence is not present or because there is pending
another proceeding against the
respondent/attorney, the disposition of which, in the judgment
of counsel, should be awaited
before further action by this court is considered or for any other
valid reason, counsel shall
file with the court a recommendation for disposition of the matter,
whether by dismissal,
admonition, deferral, or otherwise setting forth the reasons therefor.
(3) To initiate formal disciplinary proceedings, counsel shall
obtain an order of this
court upon a showing of probable cause requiring the respondent/attorney
to show cause
within thirty days after service of that order upon that attorney,
personally or by mail, why
the attorney should not be disciplined.
(4) Upon the respondent's/attorney's answer to the order to show
cause, if any
issue of fact is raised or the respondent/attorney wishes to be
heard in mitigation, this court
shall set the matter for prompt hearing before one or more judges
of this court; provided,
however, that if the disciplinary proceeding is predicated upon
the complaint of a judge,
magistrate or bankruptcy judge of this court, the hearing shall
be conducted as follows: (A)
if two or more Article III judges of this court, other than the
complainant, are available, the 100
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hearing shall be before a panel of two or more Article III judges
of this court, other than the
complainant, appointed by the chief judge of this court or, if
the chief judge of this court is
the complainant, appointed by the active Article III judge of
this court then available and next
senior in service, or (B) if the conditions of (A) are not applicable,
the hearing shall be before
a panel of two or more Article III judges appointed by the chief
judge of this circuit.
(f) Disbarment on Consent While Under Disciplinary Investigation
or
Prosecution.
(1) Any attorney admitted to practice before this court who
is the subject of an
investigation into, or is in a pending proceeding involving, allegations
of misconduct may
consent to disbarment, but only by delivering to this court an
affidavit stating that the attorney
desires to consent to disbarment and that:
(A) the attorney's consent is freely and voluntarily rendered,
the attorney
is not being subjected to coercion or duress, and the attorney
is fully aware of the
implications of so consenting;
(B) the attorney is aware that there is a presently pending investigation
or
proceeding involving allegations that there exist grounds for
the attorney's
discipline, the nature of which the attorney shall specifically
set forth;
(C) the attorney acknowledges that the material facts so alleged
are true;
and
(D) the attorney so consents because the attorney knows that if
charges
were predicated upon the matters under investigation or if the
proceeding were
prosecuted, the attorney could not successfully defend himself.
101
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(2) Upon receipt of the required affidavit this court shall enter
an order disbarring
the attorney.
(3) The order disbarring the attorney on consent shall be a matter
of public record;
however, the affidavit required under the provisions of this rule
shall not be publicly disclosed
or made available for use in any other proceeding except upon
order of this court.
(g) Reinstatement.
(1) After Disbarment or Suspension. An attorney suspended for
three months or
less shall be automatically reinstated at the end of the period
of suspension upon the filing
with the court of an affidavit of compliance with the provisions
of the order. An attorney
suspended for more than three months or disbarred may not resume
practice until reinstated
by order of this court.
(2) Time of Application Following Disbarment. A person who has
been disbarred
after hearing or by consent may not apply for reinstatement until
the expiration of at least five
years from the effective date of the disbarment.
(3) Hearing on Application. Petitions for reinstatement by a disbarred
or
suspended attorney under this rule shall be filed with the chief
judge of this court. Upon
receipt of the petition the chief judge shall promptly refer the
petition to counsel and shall
assign the matter for prompt hearing before one or more judges
of this court; provided,
however, that if the disciplinary proceeding was predicated upon
the complaint of a judge of
this court, the hearing shall be conducted before a panel of three
other judges of this court
appointed by the chief judge or, if there are less than three
judges eligible to serve or the chief
judge was the complainant, by the chief judge of the court of
appeals for this circuit. The 102
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judge or judges assigned to the matter shall within thirty days
after referral schedule a hearing
at which the petitioner shall have the burden of demonstrating
by clear and convincing
evidence that he or she has the moral qualifications, competency
and learning in the law
required for admission to practice law before this court and that
his or her resumption of the
pract ice of law will not be detrimental to the integrity and
standing of the bar or to the
administration of justice or subversive of the public interest.
(4) Duty of Counsel. In all proceedings upon a petition for reinstatement
cross-
examination of the witnesses of the respondent/attorney and the
submission of evidence, if
any, in opposition to the petition shall be conducted by counsel.
(5) Deposit for Costs of Proceeding. Petitions for reinstatement
under this rule
shall be accompanied by an advance cost deposit in an amount to
be set from time to time by
the court to cover anticipated costs of the reinstatement proceeding.
(6) Conditions of Reinstatement. If the petitioner is found unfit
to resume the
practice of law, the petition shall be dismissed. If the petitioner
is found fit to resume the
practice of law, the judgment shall reinstate him or her, provided
that the judgment may make
reinstatement conditional upon the payment of all or part of the
costs of the proceedings and
upon the making of partial or complete restitution to parties
harmed by the petitioner whose
conduct led to the suspension or disbarment, and provided further
that if the petitioner has
been suspended or disbarred for five years or more, reinstatement
may be conditioned, in the
discretion of the judge or judges before whom the matter is heard,
upon the furnishing of
proof of competency and learning in the law, which proof may include
certification by the bar 103
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examiners of a state or other jurisdiction of the attorney's successful
completion of an
examination for admission to practice subsequent to the date of
suspension or disbarment.
(7) Successive Petitions. No petition for reinstatement under
this rule shall be
filed within one year following an adverse judgment upon a petition
for reinstatement filed by
or on behalf of the same person.
(h) Attorneys Specially Admitted. Whenever an attorney applies
to be admitted or
is admitted to this court for purposes of a particular case, the
attorney shall be deemed thereby to
have conferred disciplinary jurisdiction upon this court for any
alleged misconduct of that attorney
arising in the course of or in the preparation for such proceeding.
(i) Service of Papers and Other Notices. Service of an order to
show cause
instituting a formal disciplinary proceeding, or any other papers
required by this rule, shall be made
by personal service or by registered or certified mail addressed
to the respondent/attorney at the most
recent address shown in the records of the Nebraska State Bar
Association, as to members of that
Association, or the records of this court, as to others.
(j) Appointment of Counsel. Whenever counsel is to be appointed
pursuant to these
rules to investigate allegations of misconduct or prosecute disciplinary
proceedings or in conjunction
with a reinstatement petition filed by a disciplined attorney,
this court shall appoint as counsel the
disciplinary agency of the Supreme Court of Nebraska, unless such
disciplinary agency declines
appointment or unless such appointment is clearly inappropriate.
If that agency is not appointed, this
court shall appoint as counsel one or more members of the bar
of this court to investigate allegations
of misconduct or to prosecute disciplinary proceedings under these
rules; provided, however, that the
respondent/attorney may move to disqualify an attorney so appointed
who is or has been engaged as 104
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an adversary of the respondent/attorney in any matter. Counsel,
once appointed, may not resign
unless permission to do so is given by this court. Payment of
fees and expenses of counsel shall be
in accordance with NELR 67.4.
(k) Duties of the Clerk.
(1) Upon being informed that an attorney admitted to practice
before this court
has been convicted of any crime the Clerk of this court shall
determine whether the Clerk of
the court in which such conviction occurred has forwarded a certificate
of such conviction
to this court. If a certificate has not been so forwarded, the
Clerk of this court shall promptly
obtain a certificate and file it with this court.
(2) Upon being informed that an attorney admitted to practice
before this court
has been subjected to discipline by another court the Clerk of
this court shall determine
whether a certified or exemplified copy of the disciplinary judgment
or order has been filed
with this court, and if not, the Clerk shall promptly obtain a
certified or exemplified copy of
the disciplinary judgment or order and file it with this court.
(3) Whenever it appears that any person convicted of any crime,
disbarred,
suspended, censured, or disbarred on consent by this court is
admitted to practice law in any
other jurisdiction or before any other court, the Clerk of this
court shall within ten days of
that conviction, disbarment, suspension, censure, or disbarment
on consent transmit to the
disciplinary authority in such other jurisdiction or to such other
court a certificate of the
conviction or a certified or exemplified copy of the judgment
or order of disbarment,
suspension, censure, or disbarment on consent, as well as the
last known address of the
defendant or respondent. 105
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(4) The Clerk of this court shall likewise promptly notify the
National Discipline
Data Bank operated by the American Bar Association of any order
imposing public discipline
upon any attorney admitted to practice before this court.
(l) Jurisdiction. Nothing contained in these rules shall be construed
to deny to this
court such powers as are necessary for the court to maintain control
over proceedings conducted
before it, such as proceedings for contempt under Title 18 of
the United States Code or under Rule
42 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
83.6 Clinical Legal Education.
(a) Limited Admission. Any eligible law student acting under a
supervising attorney
shall be admitted to the limited practice of law in this court
on motion of a supervising attorney
pursuant to these rules. The practice of any eligible law student
may include the representation of
the United States in civil and criminal matters before this court.
If written consent is given by a
supervising attorney and by the client, an eligible law student
may represent any person in any civil
or criminal mat ter in this court. The eligible law student, may
under the conditions stated below,
interview, advise, hold consultations and prepare and sign documents
for filing with this court. The
eligible law student may participate orally in the presentation
of contested and uncontested matters
including the trial of cases. The eligible law student shall be
bound by all of the rules of this court
which would be applicable to the supervising attorney in the case
in which the law student is
participating.
(b) Eligibility. To be eligible to appear and participate a law
student must: 106
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(1) be a student duly enrolled and in good standing in a law school
approved by
t he American Bar Association. A law student will be considered
duly enrolled during the
period of the student's law school's next summer vacation period
following completion of the
requirements of subparagraph (2) below;
(2) have completed legal studies amounting to four (4) semesters
or the equivalent
if the law school is on some basis other than a semester basis;
(3) file with the Clerk of the Court:
(A) a certificate by the dean of the law school that the student
is of good
moral character and possesses the above requirements and is qualified
to serve as
a legal intern. The certificate shall be in a form prescribed
by the court and shall
remain in effect until the expiration of twelve months after it
is filed; or until the
student's graduation from law school, whichever is earlier;
(B) a certificate in a form prescribed by the court that the student
has read
and agreed to abide by the rules of the court, and all applicable
codes of
professional responsibility and other relevant federal practice
rules; and
(C) a notice of appearance in each case in which the student is
participating or appearing as a law student intern. The notice
shall be in the form
prescribed by the court and shall be signed by the supervising
attorney, the student
intern, and the client or an authorized representative of the
client;
(4) be introduced to the court in which the student is appearing
by an attorney
admitted to practice in this court; and 107
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(5) receive the affirmative consent of the court for the student
to appear before
it.
(c) Restrictions. No law student admitted under these rules shall:
(1) request or receive any compensation or remuneration of any
kind directly from
the client, but this restriction does not prevent the supervising
attorney or his or her law firm,
a law school, a public defender or any agency of the government
from paying compensation
to the law student nor prevent any firm or agency from making
such charges for its services
as it may otherwise properly require;
(2) appear in court without the presence of the supervising attorney;
or
(3) file any documents or papers with the court that the student
has prepared
which have not been read, approved, and signed by the supervising
attorney and co-signed
by the student.
(d) Notice. Any supervising attorney intending to use a law student
pursuant to this rule
in any contested matter shall notify the court of such intention
before the matter is scheduled to
commence. If the court should conclude that, for reasons sufficient
to the court, the participation by
the student attorney would be inappropriate, the court shall so
advise the supervising attorney and
the said appearance shall not be made.
(e) Termination. Certification shall terminate if the student
does not take the first bar
examination following his or her graduation, or if the student
takes and fails it, or if he or she is
admitted to full practice before this court. The dean or the supervising
attorney may withdraw the
certification at any time by submitting a notice to that effect
to the Clerk of the court. It is not 108
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necessary that the notice state the cause for the withdrawal.
Any judge of this court may terminate
the admission to limited practice at any time without notice or
hearing or showing of cause.
(f) Supervising Attorney. Any person acting as a supervising attorney
under this rule
must be admitted to practice in this court and shall:
(1) assume personal professional responsibility for the conduct
of the student
being supervised;
(2) co-sign all pleadings, papers and documents prepared by the
student;
(3) advise the court of the student's participation in accordance
with subparagraph
(c) above, be present with the student at all times in court,
and be prepared to supplement oral
or written work of the student as requested by the court or as
necessary to ensure proper
representation of the client; and
(4) be available for consultation with the client.
83.7 Nonresident Attorneys; Association of Resident Attorney.
A judge may require an attorney who is not a resident of this
district to be associated with an
attorney who is a resident of this district and who is a member
of the bar of this court. Such resident
attorney's name shall be identified on all pleadings filed thereafter
and that attorney shall continue in
the case unless other resident counsel be substituted. The resident
attorney need not be present in
court during all proceedings in connection with the case, unless
otherwise ordered. The resident
attorney shall have full authority to act for and on behalf of
the client in all matters, including pretrial
conferences, as well as trial or any other hearings. 109
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83.8 Rules Governing Photography and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings.
(a) Recording and Broadcasting Devices. No person shall record
or broadcast or
cause to be recorded or broadcast any sounds of proceedings or
take any recording or broadcasting
equipment into (1) any courtroom, or (2) any jury room. No person
shall place or cause to be placed
any sound recording or broadcasting device at any location from
which it is capable of recording or
broadcasting any sounds of proceedings in any courtroom or in
any jury room. This paragraph shall
not apply (A) to the extent that the judge presiding shall authorize
electronic means for the
presentation of evidence or the perpetuation of a record, or (B)
where the presiding judge of any
ceremonial proceeding has given express approval for the use of
specifically identified devices for the
sound recording or broadcasting of the proceeding.
(b) Cameras, Videotape and Television. No person shall photograph,
videotape, or
televise or cause to be photographed, videotaped, or televised
any person or thing in, or take any
photographic, videotape, or television equipment into (1) any
courtroom, (2) any jury room, or (3)
any corridor of the building on the floor on which a courtroom
or jury room is located. No person
shall place or cause to be placed any photographic, videotape,
or television equipment at any location
from which it is capable of photographing, videotaping, or televising
any person or thing in (1) any
courtroom, (2) any jury room, or (3) any corridor of the building
on the floor on which a courtroom
or jury room is located. This paragraph shall not apply (A) to
the extent that the judge presiding shall
authorize electronic means for the presentation of evidence or
the perpetuation of a record, or (B)
where the presiding judge of any ceremonial proceeding has given
express approval for the use of
specifically identified devices for the visual recording of the
proceeding. 110
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83.9 Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies.
Any person confined in an institution under the jurisdiction of
the State of Nebraska
Department of Correctional Services who files a complaint under
42 U.S.C. § 1983 shall be subject
to the following provisions regarding the exhaustion of administrative
remedies through the
Department of Correctional Services Inmate Grievance Procedure:
(a) The complaint shall be transferred to the Lincoln magistrate
judge for initial review
pursuant to NELR 3.4.
(b) If, upon initial review of the complaint, the magistrate judge
finds that the subject
matter thereof is within the scope of the department's grievance
procedure and has not been presented
through both steps of said procedure, the magistrate judge may,
in his or her discretion, enter an
order staying further proceedings in the case for a period of
ninety days to allow such presentation.
(c) At the end of said ninety day period or after final disposition
of the grievance,
whichever shall first occur, the plaintiff in such a case shall
file with the court a statement describing
his or her efforts to use the procedure and what relief, if any,
was obtained through the procedure.
If the relief obtained through the procedure is satisfactory to
the plaintiff, the case shall be dismissed.
If no relief is obtained, or the relief is unsatisfactory to the
plaintiff, the case shall proceed in the
ordinary course.
(d) In the event that the plaintiff fails to file the statement
described in subsection (c)
above within ten days after the expiration of said ninety day
period or final disposition of the
grievance, whichever shall first occur, the case shall be dismissed.
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83.10 Distribution of Copies of Rules Concerning Proceeding Pro
Se, Proceeding In Forma
Pauperis, and the Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies.
The Clerk shall provide copies of NELR 3.4, 3.5 and 83.9 to
the Director of the Nebraska
Department of Correctional Services and to the Director of the
Nebraska Department of Public
Institutions, and to the Attorney General of the State of Nebraska,
for dissemination to interested
institutions, including prisons and other penal institutions,
in this state. The Clerk shall also provide
to any person, upon request, a copy of NELR 3.4, 3.5, 83.9 and
this rule, and shall make copies
available to persons residing in institutions, together with copies
of applications to proceed in forma
pauperis, form affidavits in support of such applications, form
complaints for submission to this court
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and form petitions for submission
to this court pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§§ 2254 and 2255. The Clerk shall request of the Director
of the Department of Correctional
Services that a copy of this rule be posted, or otherwise made
available for inmate use, in every
inmate law library within the jurisdiction of that department.
83.11 Rules Applicable to Criminal Cases Only.
(a) Issuance of Warrant of Arrest by Clerk. Upon the return of
an indictment or
upon the filing of an information supported by oath the Clerk
shall issue at the request of the attorney
for the government a warrant for the arrest of the person charged.
(b) Attendance of Defendants and Witnesses.
(1) All defendants and witnesses released pursuant to law shall,
unless otherwise
ordered, appear before the court upon notice from the United States
Attorney to do so. 112
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(2) When required to appear before the court, all persons on release
shall first
report to the marshal to be searched and shall remain in the marshal's
custody during all
proceedings held in connection with that appearance.
(3) All defendants and witnesses who are in custody shall be brought
before the
court for appropriate action as soon as the business of the court
will permit.
(4) Unless otherwise ordered by the court, during jury deliberations
all defendants
in criminal cases shall remain in the building in which trial
is held.
83.12 Complaints Against Judges and Magistrate Judges.
See The Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980 (28 U.S.C.
§ 372(c)) and the Eighth
Circuit Judicial Council's Rules for Processing of Complaints
Against Judges and Magistrate Judges
in the Eighth Circuit.
83.13 Local Rule Making.
Any of the local rules of this district shall be subject to such
modification by the court as may
be necessary in special instances to meet emergencies or to avoid
injustice or great hardship.
84.1 Forms.
[Reserved.] 113
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85.1 Title.
These rules shall be known as the Local Rules of the United States
District Court for the
District of Nebraska. They may be cited as "NELR ____."
86.1 Effective Date.
(a) Effective Date of Rules. These rules shall become effective
on July 1, 1996.
(b) Prior Amendments. The Local Rules of the United States District
Court for the
District of Nebraska have been previously amended on May 17, 1989,
and January 4, 1993. 114
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