Judges' Filing Preferences


District Judges Magistrate Judges

JUDICIAL PREFERENCES FOR ELECTRONICALLY FILED CASES

STANDARD PREFERENCES


The following preferences apply if the judge does not express another preference.


  1. ACCEPTED WORD PROCESSING FORM

    Unless otherwise indicated, documents submitted directly to chambers (i.e., by email) must be in WordPerfect or MS-Word format.

  2. CONVERSION VS. SCANNING

    3. All legal memoranda MUST be converted rather than scanned. The court encourages conversion of other documents (e.g., pleadings), which are not evidentiary attachments (e.g., affidavits, deposition excerpts, exhibits). Evidentiary attachments must be scanned.

  3. COURTESY COPY REQUIREMENT

    4. Send courtesy copies of motions, related memoranda, and attachments if these documents together exceed 25 pages. See Preference 4 for Courtesy Copy Form.

  4. COURTESY COPY FORM

    5. See Preference 3 for when courtesy copy is required.

    * Courtesy copies should be printed after filing in ECF, with the ECF header printed on every    page.
    * If the collective document (e.g., memorandum plus exhibits) exceeds 50 pages, submit it in    bound form with cover.
    * Unless otherwise indicated, the courtesy copies should be delivered to chambers within three    business days of filing or the request for copies.

  5. ATTACHMENTS (Including Exhibits)

    6. * Docket entries for all attachments must include a descriptive name (e.g., "Depos. of Bill Jones"    "not Exhibit 2"). Attorney User Manual II.B.4.e. and C.5.f.
    * Each attachment (including exhibits) shall be filed as a separate attachment to the main    document.

  6. FORMAT OF FILED DOCUMENTS

    7. * Minimum one-inch margins on all sides.
    * Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier New.
    * Minimum 12-point type for caption, text, and footnotes.
    * Only page numbers and document identification footers may appear in margins or smaller than    12-point type.
    * Double space text except in indented quotations and footnotes.

  7. PRETRIAL BRIEFS

    8. * Send signed paper version of full pretrial brief to chambers.
    * In addition, email copy of full pretrial brief (including voir dire and jury charges) to chambers in    WordPerfect or MS-Word format.
    * Do not file except for voir dire and requests to charge.
    * Reminder: traditional (pen and ink) signatures are required on documents which are not    electronically filed.
    * See Roster Notice for other special pretrial instructions.

  8. PROPOSED ORDERS

    9. * Proposed orders are generally not necessary for simple requests such as extension of a single    deadline;
    * A proposed order which forms part of the motion (e.g. proposed amended scheduling orders)    may be filed as an attachment to the motion in addition to submitting by email;
    * Email proposed order in accepted word processing form to judge's ECF email address (listed    below under Judge-Specific Preferences).
    * Email should indicate if the order was requested or relates to a corresponding motion and    should be copied to opposing counsel.
    * Include the case number and short form of the case name in email subject line.
    * Include a signature, date, and location block.

  9. PROTECTION REQUESTS AND EXTENSIONS OF TIME

    10. * Request for protection must be filed as Notice of Request for Protection from Court Appearance    and must specify dates and reason for request;
    * Request for extension of time must be by motion filed in compliance with Local Civil Rule 6.01    (not via facsimile, email, or telephone).

  10. SIGNATURES

    11. Signatures may appear in any of the forms allowed by the Policies and Procedures and Attorney User Manual for the type document at issue.

  11. SOCIAL SECURITY

    12. In Social Security cases, deliver courtesy copies of the complaint, answer and all briefs/memoranda to the Clerk's office.

  12. COMMUNICATIONS WITH COURT

    13. Communications to the court should normally be in the form of a FILED written communication (i.e., motion, memorandum, status report, or other traditionally filed document). All written communications from Filing Users relating to an action should be filed unless there are grounds for an ex parte communication. Other forms of communication (e.g., facsimile, mail, email, hand delivery, or phone) are prohibited unless expressly authorized by judge-specific preference, local rule, or other specific authorization.

JUDGE-SPECIFIC PREFERENCES

Chief Judge Terry L. Wooten

    Email address for Columbia Proposed Orders:  
    Email address for Florence Proposed Orders: 
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, 901 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.

Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr.

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, 901 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.
    8. Proposed Orders: Follow Standard Preferences, except do not include signature or date block on proposed order.

Judge David C. Norton

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, P.O. Box 835, Charleston, SC 29402

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.

Judge Cameron McGowan Currie

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, 901 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.
    7. Pretrial Briefs: Follow Standard Preference except email copy of full pretrial brief (including voir dire and jury charges) to chambers in WordPerfect format and the full pretrial brief should be filed and served.
    8.

    Proposed Orders: Follow Standard Preference, except do not include signature or date block on proposed order.


Judge R. Bryan Harwell

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, P.O. Box 2317, Florence, SC 29503

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.
    3. Courtesy Copy Requirement: Do not send courtesy copies of any documents unless specifically requested.
    7. Pretrial Briefs: Follow Standard Preference except do not send a signed paper version of the pretrial brief to chambers. Email copy of full pretrial brief (including voir dire and jury charges) to chambers in WordPerfect or Word format.
    8. Proposed Orders: Follow Standard Preference except do not file proposed orders as attachments to any motions.

Judge Richard M. Gergel

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, P. O. Box 835, Charleston, SC 29402

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.
    7. Pretrial Briefs: Please see Special Instructions.
    9. Protection Requests and Extensions of Time: Please see Special Instructions.

Judge J. Michelle Childs

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, 300 East Washington Street, Greenville, SC 29601

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.

Judge Timothy M. Cain

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, 315 South McDuffie Street, 1st Floor, Anderson, SC 29624

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.

Judge Mary Geiger Lewis

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, 201 Magnolia Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.
    3. Courtesy Copy Requirement: Follow Standard Preference. IN ADDITION: Send a courtesy copy of any filed document that exceeds 25 pages.
    4. Courtesy Copy Form: Follow Standard Preference except submit all courtesy copies in bound form with exhibits indexed and tabbed. For trial purposes, two bound copies of exhibits are required.

Judge Sol Blatt, Jr.

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, P.O. Box 835, Charleston, SC 29402

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.

Judge C. Weston Houck

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, P.O. Box 150, Charleston, SC 29402

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.

Judge G. Ross Anderson, Jr.

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, Post Office Box 2147, Anderson, SC 29622

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.
    9. Protection Requests and Extensions of Time: Follow Standard Preference EXCEPT do not request protection from trial or other court appearances unless a hearing date has been scheduled during the time protection is requested. In addition, follow Local Civil Rule 6.02.
    10. Signatures: All documents submitted for filing must contain the attorney's graphical signature instead of the s/typed name. This should be accomplished through the use of a digital graphical signature inserted on a created document and not a signed signature on a printed document that is subsequently scanned (which renders it non-text-searchable).

Judge Henry M. Herlong, Jr.

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing Address: U.S. District Court, 300 East Washington Street, Greenville, SC 29601

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.

Judge Patrick Michael Duffy

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, P.O. Box 835, Charleston, SC 29402

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.

Judge Margaret B. Seymour

    Email address for Proposed Orders:  
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, 901 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.
    7. Pretrial Briefs: Follow Standard Preferences except do not send a paper version of the pretrial brief to chambers and do not file voir dire and requests to charge
    12. Written Communications: Follow standard preference with respect to typical case filings. Correspondence addressed to Judge Seymour is discouraged, but if unavoidable should be sent to Judge Seymour's filingdocs box and not filed.

Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, P.O. Box 835, Charleston, SC 29402

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.
    12. Written Communications: Do not follow the Standard Preference.

Magistrate Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, P.O. Box 835, Charleston, SC 29402

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.

Magistrate Judge Thomas E. Rogers, III

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, P.O. Box 2317, Florence, SC 29503

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.

Magistrate Judge Paige Jones Gossett

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, 901 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.

Magistrate Judge Shiva V. Hodges

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, 901 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.

Magistrate Judge Kevin F. McDonald

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, 300 East Washington Street, Ste. 300, Greenville, SC 29601

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.
    8. Proposed Orders: Follow Standard Preference, except do not include signature or date block on proposed order.

Magistrate Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, 300 East Washington Street, Greenville, SC 29601

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.
    9. Protection Requests and Extensions of Time: Motions for extension of time should not be filed on the date of the current deadline. Motions filed on the date of the current deadline will be denied barring extraordinary circumstances.

Magistrate Judge Kaymani D. West

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, 401 West Evans Street, Florence, SC 29501

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.


Magistrate Judge Joseph R. McCrorey

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, 901 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.

Magistrate Judge Robert L. Buchanan, Jr.

    Email address for Proposed Orders:
    Mailing address: U.S. District Court, P.O. Box 463, Aiken, SC 29802

    Standard Preferences apply unless otherwise indicated below.