U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filing

For mailed pro se filings, the filing date is the date the court receives the mail, subject to the prison mailbox rule.

“the filing date will be the date the mail was received at the Court.”

Filing

Pro se litigants may submit filings online using the court's Pro Se Electronic Document Upload Program.

“The Eastern District of Michigan will continue to accept filings from pro se litigants submitted online.”

Motions

A criminal pretrial motion must be filed within twenty days after the defendant's arraignment, subject to modification by the assigned judge.

“Any pretrial motion shall be filed within twenty (20) days of the date of arraignment of the defendant involved.”

Discovery

In criminal cases, government and defense counsel must confer within ten days after arraignment, unless another date is set, or government counsel must file the Discovery Notice.

“Within ten (10) days from the date of arraignment, or such other date as may be set by the Judge to whom the case is assigned, government and defense counsel shall meet and confer, or government counsel shall file the attached Discovery Notice.”

Sealing

After a sealed document is filed in CM/ECF, it is no longer accessible or viewable there.

“After filing, these documents will no longer be accessible or viewable in CM/ECF.”

Sealing

Parties must serve sealed documents by an appropriate conventional means because CM/ECF service is unavailable for them.

“Instead, parties will serve sealed documents conventionally by other appropriate means as provided by the Federal Rules of Procedure.”

Sealing

To request highly sensitive document treatment, submit a motion and the proposed document in a securely sealed envelope to the Clerk's Office, with an original and one copy.

“To request the Court to designate a paper an HSD, a party must submit an original and one copy of the following to the Clerk’s Office:”

Sealing

Do not file the highly sensitive document designation papers electronically or send courtesy copies to chambers.

“referenced documents shall not be filed electronically. No courtesy copies of the motion or documents should be submitted to the assigned judge’s chambers.”

Sealing

Before electronically filing a new civil case or civil initiating papers under seal, contact the CM/ECF Help Desk.

“filing users wishing to electronically file a new civil case or civil initiating papers under seal must contact the CM/ECF Help Desk at 313-234-5042 before filing the case or the papers.”

Trial

In criminal cases, parties must submit a typed proposed-exhibit list three days before trial.

“typed list of proposed exhibits for submission to the Court three (3) days prior to the commencement of trial.”