Beginning December 21, 2020, with version 1.6 of CM/ECF NextGen, the functionality that inspects and validates PDFs being submitted for filing has been updated to prevent malformed documents or documents containing code which may cause an external action from being filed. For more information and guidance on the new PDF document valdiation criterion, please visit our CM/ECF PDF Validation page. |
CM/ECF
CM/ECF is the court's online case management and electronic case filing application. It enables participating attorneys and litigants to submit documents electronically to the court and allows the court to file, maintain, and retrieve case file information. CM/ECF filing is mandatory for attorneys. With permission from the court (on each case), those representing themselves (pro se filers) may file using CM/ECF. Submission of a CM/ECF Pro Se Account Registration Form is required. You can directly access CM/ECF by adding http://ecf.nmd.uscourts.gov to your bookmarks/favorites.
The Next Generation of CM/ECF (“NextGen”) is Here! Action is Required for all those with E-Filing accounts prior to April 20, 2020. Please visit our NextGen Information Page for further details.
PACER
PACER is a fee-based public access service that allows users to obtain case and docket information online from federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts. PACER accounts are issued by the PACER Service Center at pacer.uscourts.gov. A PACER account is valid in any federal appellate, district or bankruptcy court.
Registration
With our court's upgrade to NextGen, the need for two separate accounts (CM/ECF and PACER) has been eliminated. However, all viewers and filers will still need their own individual PACER account. Utilizing a Central Sign-on (CSO) paradigm, filers are granted filing privileges (through admissions or other establish process) for each court in which they practice. Filers with existing accounts will link their previous CM/ECF filing accounts to their upgraded PACER acount. For more information on this process, please visit our NextGen Information Page and the PACER Service Center website.
Manuals and Procedures
If you have questions not covered by one of these guides, try our CM/ECF Frequently Asked Questions page.
- Attorney Civil Case Opening Procedures
- Paying Filing Fees Online
- Procedures for Having Civil Summons Issued
- Information on Restricted CM/ECF Cases
- Filing Consent or Non-Consent to U.S. Magistrate Judge Serving as Trial Judge
- Procedures for Submitting Proposed Orders
- Guidelines for Requesting Clerk's Entry of Default
- Procedures for Motion/Application for TRO
- Motions to Vacate/Set Aside/Correct Sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255
- Motions for Deposit or Disbursement of Interpleader Funds Under 28 U.S.C. § 1335
- PDF Document Validation Criterion for Filing
Training