Jennifer E. Willis at a glance
- Current role
- U.S. Magistrate Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Jennifer E. Willis
U.S. Magistrate Judge · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · U.S. Magistrate Judge · Active · Assignment source ↗
Appointment and verification
- Source authority
- Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
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Biography
Professional career
- United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of New York, appointed on January 28, 2022
- Judge Willis is active in mentorship and legal education, frequently speaking at national defense programs and teaching trial advocacy
- She is also an adjunct professor at New York University School of Law
Education
Additional information
- (212) 805‐7906 (Fax).
- She has tried over 100 felony bench trials and about 35 felony jury trials, and is recognized as an exceptional litigator and trial advocacy instructor.
- As Magistrate Judge, Willis handles cases under the Federal Magistrates Act, including civil and criminal matters, and issues standing orders for case management, settlement referrals, and pro se case procedures.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
Courtwide
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Recording and broadcasting
Courtwide
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (40 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Communications with chambers
A. Letters. Letters to the Court are permitted. Letters should be filed on ECF1F2 except for settlement conference submissions and in camera submissions. Letters may not exceed 3 single-spaced pages in length (exclusive of exhibits). Parties shall not copy the Court on correspondence sent between counsel or the Parties.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
Pro se Parties. By Standing order, a pro se party must mail all communications with the Court to the Pro Se Intake Unit located at 500 Pearl St., Room 230, New York, NY 10007. A pro se party may not call Chambers or send any document or filing directly to Chambers.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
Submissions requiring immediate attention should be hand-delivered to the Pro Se Intake Unit. Unless the Court orders otherwise, all communications with the Court will be docketed upon receipt; such docketing shall constitute service on any user of the ECF system. If any other party is not a user of the ECF System (e.g., if there is another pro se party in the case), a pro se party must send copies of any filing to the party and include proof of service affirming that he or she has done so. Questions can be directed to the Pro Se Intake Unit at (212) 805-0175.
Source page 1Adjournments
B. Letter Motions. Letter motions shall be filed on ECF in accordance with the S.D.N.Y. Local Rules. Requests that may be made by letter motion include requests for an adjournment, an extension, a pre-motion conference, sealing, and a settlement conference.
Source page 1Motion practice
Letter motions are limited to 3 single-spaced pages (not including exhibits). Courtesy copies of letter motions are not required unless exhibits, if any, exceed 25 pages.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
1 Requests for reasonable accommodations on account of disability or religion with respect to the Court’s rules or in connection with any proceeding before Judge Willis may be emailed to WillisNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov.
Source page 1Adjournments
C. Requests for Adjournments or Extensions of Time. All requests for adjournments or extensions of time must be filed on ECF as letter motions at least 2 business days before the original deadline. The letter motion must state: (1) the original date(s); (2) the number of previous requests for adjournment or extension; (3) the reason for the extension; and (4) whether the adversary consents and, if not, the reasons given by the adversary for refusing to consent. Emergency requests should be emailed to WillisNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov and filed on the docket citing the nature of the emergency.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
D. Hand Deliveries. Hand-delivered mail should be left with the Court Security Officers at the Worth Street entrance of 500 Pearl Street and may not be brought directly to Chambers.
Source page 2Motion practice
A. Pre-Motion Conferences Letters in Civil Cases. In advance of filing a letter with the Court, the Parties are expected to meet and confer regarding a briefing schedule for any anticipated motion. Pre-motion letters seeking a conference should propose a briefing schedule and are required where the proposed motion is returnable before Judge Willis, or where the proposed motion has been referred to Judge Willis, except that no pre-motion letter is required for (i) motions for admission pro hac vice, (ii) motions by litigants in actions where a party is both pro se and incarcerated, (iii) motions for reconsideration or reargument, (iv) motions for a new trial, (v) motions in limine, (vii) motions listed in Fed.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
Discovery Motions. Parties shall follow Local Rule 37.2, with the following modifications. Any party wishing to raise a discovery dispute with the Court must first confer in good faith with the opposing party, in person or by telephone, in an effort to resolve the dispute. If the meet-and-confer does not resolve the dispute, a party may submit a letter motion no longer than 3 single-spaced pages, explaining the nature of the dispute and requesting a conference. Such letter motion must state when the meet-and-confer occurred. Any responsive letter should be submitted within 3 business days after submission of the letter motion and should be no longer than 3 single-spaced pages. Failure to respond within 3 business days will result in a waiver of any objections. The Court will endeavor to resolve the issue without a conference and without the need for formal briefing.
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
However, if formal briefing is required, the Court will either schedule a conference or set a schedule for such briefing.
Source page 2Motion practice
Motions other than Discovery Motions. To arrange a pre-motion conference for non- discovery matters, the moving party shall submit a letter motion in accordance with Individual Practice I.B. The letter motion should set forth the nature of the anticipated
Source page 2Motion practice
motion. Any responsive letter should be submitted within 3 business days after submission of the letter motion.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
Memoranda of Law. The typeface, margins and spacing of motion papers must conform to Local Civil Rule 11.1. Unless prior permission has been granted, memoranda of law in support of and in opposition to motions may not exceed 8,750 words, and reply briefs may not exceed 3,500 words. Memoranda of 10 pages or more shall contain a table of contents and a table of authorities, neither of which shall count against the word limit. Sur-reply memoranda will not be accepted without prior permission of the Court. All moving papers, letter-motions, and letters filed on ECF or emailed to chambers must be in searchable PDF form. Additionally, to the extent citing unreported cases, parties are requested to use Westlaw citations whenever possible.
Source page 3Motion practice
B. Summary Judgement Motions. At the meet and confer held before filing the letter seeking leave to move for summary judgment, the Parties should discuss and prepare a joint submission indicating all facts that are not in dispute. If for any reason the Parties are unable to do so, they should submit a separate letter explaining why they should be relieved of that obligation. Moreover, in their own briefs, the Parties should detail the facts that they are relying upon in the facts section of their brief, and should not simply refer to their Local Civil Rule 56.1 submissions or assume the Court has sufficient familiarity with the facts of the case.
Source page 3Motion practice
C. Oral Argument on Motions. Parties may request oral argument by noting such request on their moving papers or filing a letter requesting the same. Junior members of legal teams representing clients are invited to argue motions they have helped prepare and to question witnesses with whom they have worked. Firms are encouraged to provide this opportunity to junior attorneys for training purposes; a request for oral argument is more likely to be granted if a party identifies a lawyer to argue the motion who has graduated law school within the previous five years.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
D. Electronic Device Requests. To the extent Parties or counsel need electronic devices during any proceedings before the Court, the requesting party should complete the form at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Electronic%20Dev.pdf and return it via email to Chambers, copying opposing counsel. Such electronic device request need not be filed on the docket. Electronic device requests should be submitted by close of business the day before any scheduled appearance.
Source page 3Filing and working copies
E. Requests to File Materials Under Seal. All Confidential Materials filed with the Court may be redacted or filed under seal only as the Court directs upon appropriate application by either party or as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2, which describes sensitive information that must be redacted from public court filings.
Source page 3Motion practice
Any party wishing to file in redacted form any pleading, motion, memorandum, exhibit, or other document, or any portion thereof, based on a party’s designation of information as Confidential, must make a specific request to the Court by letter motion explaining the reasons for seeking to file that submission under seal.
Source page 3Motion practice
The letter motion must be filed in public view, must explain the particular reasons for seeking to file that information under seal, and should not include confidential information sought to be filed under seal. Supporting papers must be filed separately and may be filed under seal or redacted only to the extent necessary to safeguard information to be filed under seal.
Source page 4Motion practice
The proposed sealed document must be contemporaneously filed under seal in the ECF system and electronically related to the letter motion. The summary docket text, but not the sealed document, will be open to public inspection and should not include confidential information sought to be filed under seal.
Source page 4Filing and working copies
The filing party shall also (a) publicly file the document with the proposed redactions, and (b) electronically file under seal a copy of the unredacted document with the proposed redactions highlighted.
Source page 4Filing and working copies
Any party unable to comply with the requirement for electronic filing under seal through the ECF system, or who has reason to believe that a particular document should not be electronically filed, must move for leave of the Court to file on paper.
Source page 4Communications with chambers
The pendency of the application to seal does not affect any deadlines that may govern the proposed filing. The parties shall comply with such deadlines by filing the redacted version on ECF, serving the unredacted papers at issue on any opposing parties, and providing courtesy copies of the unredacted version to Chambers.
Source page 4Motion practice
If the Court approves the filing under seal, no further submissions shall be required. If the Court denies, in part, the motion for filing under seal, the party who made the submission shall be required to refile the document with modified redactions as directed by the Court.
Source page 4Motion practice
F. Motions in Pro Se Cases. As required by Local Civil Rule 7.2, counsel must provide a pro se litigant with printed copies of decisions cited in any submission that are reported exclusively in computerized databases.
Source page 4Communications with chambers
Where a party seeks summary judgment against a pro se litigant, the party must also comply with the notice requirements of Local Civil Rule 56.2. Where a party moves to dismiss or for judgment on the pleadings against a pro se litigant and refers to matters outside the pleadings, counsel must serve and file the notice set forth in Local Civil Rule 12.1. In such situations, counsel is strongly encouraged to move in the alternative for summary judgment so that the pro se litigant understands, based on the Local Civil Rule 56.1 submission, exactly what facts are relevant to the motion. Counsel is expected to meet and confer and communicate with a pro se litigant in the same manner as they would other counsel. Pro se litigants are expected to follow the Local Civil Rules, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Court’s Individual Practices herein.
Source page 4Motion practice
to Judge Willis, the moving Party shall submit an Excel sheet including the relevant calculations. An Excel sheet is required even if the motion was already submitted to a District Judge. Excel sheets are required for the following motions: 1) Inquests on Damages 2) Motions for Attorney’s Fees 3) FLSA Damages 4) IDEA Reimbursements.
Source page 5Communications with chambers
The Excel sheet should be emailed to WillisNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov and should CC all opposing counsel or the pro se litigant if they are unrepresented. A letter should also be filed on the docket providing the date and time the Excel sheet was emailed.
Source page 5Discovery
A. Initial Case Management Conference. Before the Initial Case Management Conference, parties must meet and confer on a discovery plan. One week before the scheduled conference, the parties shall file on ECF a Proposed Case Management Plan and Report of Rule 26(f) Meeting. Parties shall use the template available at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/hon-jennifer-e-willis.
Source page 5Discovery
B. Case Management Conferences. The Court shall hold regular case management conferences. Counsel are expected to be prepared for such conferences and ready to discuss the status of discovery, the potential for settlement, and any other issues. Junior members of legal teams are invited to address the Court at case management conferences.
Source page 5Communications with chambers
C. Deposition Disputes. If a dispute arises during a deposition, the Parties should attempt to proceed through as much of the deposition as possible that is unaffected by the dispute. Parties should not unilaterally terminate a deposition and the Court expects good faith efforts to resolve any disputes. After doing so, if the dispute cannot be resolved, the Parties should jointly contact the Court at (212) 805-0244. Chambers staff will take a message summarizing the dispute and check to see if Judge Willis is available to resolve the issue either through a video conference or a written order.
Source page 5Discovery
E. Electronic Discovery. The parties may utilize the model ESI Plan and Proposed Order, as appropriate, available at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/hon-jennifer-e-willis. The model may be modified to the extent appropriate for the case. The Parties should endeavor to agree on an ESI Plan as early as possible in the case.
Source page 6Communications with chambers
F. Hearing Transcripts. When applicable, parties shall coordinate the ordering of a hearing transcript from the court reporter. The ordering party shall send a courtesy copy of the transcript to Chambers via email. Pro se parties are exempt from this Rule.
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
The following procedures apply only to those cases where the parties have consented under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) to have all proceedings, including trial, before Judge Willis.
Source page 6Discovery
A. Joint Pretrial Orders in Civil Cases. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, within 30 days from the date of completion of discovery in a civil case, the parties shall submit to the Court for its approval a Joint Pretrial Order. In general, except in pro se cases, a Joint
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
f. A statement as to how and when the parties will give notice to each other of the order of their trial witnesses and, if the parties cannot agree, the parties’ statement that they will agree to the Court’s default rule (i.e. that the parties shall advise each other by no later than 48 hours before the start of trial as to the order of their witnesses);
Source page 6Discovery
In pro se cases, no Joint Pretrial Order is needed. Instead, within 30 days after the completion of discovery each party shall file its own Pretrial Statement. The pro se party’s Pretrial Statement need take no particular form, but must be concise and contain: (1) a statement of the facts the party hopes to prove at trial; (2) a list of all documents or other physical objects that the party plans to put into evidence at trial; and (3) a list of the names and addresses of all witnesses the party intends to have testify at trial. The Statement must be sworn by the party to be true and accurate based on the facts known by the party. The party must file an original Pretrial Statement with the Pro Se Office and serve a copy on all other parties or their counsel if represented. The original Pretrial Statement must indicate the date a copy was mailed to the other party or that party’s attorney.
Source page 7Communications with chambers
B. Courtesy Copies of Trial Exhibits. The parties shall each send a courtesy copy of all exhibits, pre-marked, to WillisNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov. Exhibits need not be filed electronically on ECF. The parties shall also each submit one hard copy of the pre- marking exhibits in a well-organized three-ring binder, separated by tab dividers.
Source page 7Conferences and appearances
The parties shall refer to the Court’s Standing Order for All Cases Referred for Settlement to Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis, available at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/hon-jennifer-e-willis, for applicable guidelines.
Source page 7Published judge / part rules (1 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Filing and working copies
III. Misdemeanor Sentencing. Pre-sentence submissions for misdemeanors should be submitted no later than 2 weeks before the scheduled sentencing.
Source page 1Published judge / part rules (30 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Conferences and appearances
The Court believes the Parties should fully explore settlement at the earliest practical opportunity. Early consideration of settlement allows the parties to avoid the substantial cost, expenditure of time, and uncertainty that are typically a part of the litigation process. Even for those cases that cannot be resolved, early consideration of settlement can provide the parties with a better understanding of the factual and legal nature of their dispute and streamline the issues to be litigated.
Source page 1Conferences and appearances
Consideration of settlement is a serious matter that requires thorough preparation prior to the settlement conference. It also requires the earnest consideration of the other side’s point of view, as the quote above suggests. Set forth below are the procedures the Court will require the parties and counsel to follow and the procedures the Court typically will employ in conducting the conference.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
1. Confidential Nature of Conference. All settlement conferences are “off the record.” All communications relating to settlement are strictly confidential and may not be used for any purpose. They are not to be used in discovery and will not be admissible at trial.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
3. Settlement Letters and Acknowledgement Form. The Parties are required to (1) prepare a pre-conference joint letter, (2) complete an acknowledgement form, and (3) jointly prepare a settlement conference form. These items should be sent via email, with all counsel copied, seven days prior to the date of the pre-conference call to WillisNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourcts.gov. If the Parties choose, they may also submit individual ex parte letters with confidential information to the Court. Each item is discussed in more detail below.
Source page 1Conferences and appearances
(a) Joint Settlement Letter. The joint letter must not exceed three pages and
Source page 1Conferences and appearances
should include, at a minimum, the following: (a) the history of settlement negotiations, if any, including any prior offers or demands; (b) each party’s evaluation of the settlement value of the case and the rationale for it; (c) any case law authority in support of your settlement position; and (d) any other facts that would be helpful to the Court in preparation for the conference.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
(b) Ex Parte Settlement Letter. Although not required, the Parties may also submit an ex parte letter with confidential information for the Court. The letter must be less than one page (unless otherwise authorized by the Court) and marked “Confidential Material for Use Only at Settlement Conference.” The letter should be sent to WillisNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov and should not be sent to the other parties.
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
(d) Courtesy Copies. If the settlement letter and exhibits exceed 10 pages, the parties are required to submit a courtesy copy to the Court no later than one business day after submission of the letter. The courtesy copy should be placed in well-organized three- ring binder(s). Where appropriate, the binder(s) shall be separated by tab dividers preceded by an exhibit list.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
(e) Video. If a Party is submitting a video, the clip shall be provided on a thumb drive delivered to Chambers and labeled with a case name and docket number. Alternatively, the clip may be emailed to Chambers at WillisNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
4. Demand. If the plaintiff has not already made a settlement demand, such a demand shall be communicated to the opposing Party no later than 10 days prior to the conference. If it has not already done so, the opposing Party shall respond to any demand no later than three days before the preconference telephone call. Even if plaintiff has made a demand as part of a court-ordered or private mediation previously attended by the parties, plaintiff is still required to make (or renew) a demand. The parties should not wait for the settlement conference to commence negotiations of a resolution of their dispute.
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
5. Pre-conference Phone Call. The Court will schedule a pre-conference phone call between the Court and Counsel for the Parties approximately a week before the settlement conference. The call is off the record. The Parties themselves should not attend the call. The purpose of the call is to determine whether it is in the Parties’ interests to invest the significant time and effort that a settlement conference requires.
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
6. Attendance of Parties Required. The parties—not just the attorneys—must attend the settlement conference in person. A Party’s attendance is essential to the settlement process. It is vital that the Parties hear the other side’s 2
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
presentation and have the opportunity to speak with the mediator outside the presence of any adversary. The Parties should be prepared for the settlement conference to last all day. There is a cafeteria in the building.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
If a Party resides more than 100 miles from the Courthouse and it would be a great hardship for the Party to attend in person, upon written application in advance of the conference in the form of a letter-motion to be filed on ECF, I will sometimes excuse that Party’s presence but I will require that Party to be available by telephone throughout the settlement conference. Each Party must supply its own simultaneous interpreter (who need not have any special certification), if required. The Court does not provide interpreters for settlement conferences.
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
Corporate Party or Labor Union. When a corporate Party or labor union is a Party, counsel of record must be accompanied by the person with decision- making authority who gives directions to counsel of record (not someone who has received settlement authority from someone else). Where liability insurance is involved, a decision- making representative of each insurance carrier must attend in addition to the insured. This includes each excess carrier unless specifically excused by the Court at least one week before the conference.
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
Because it is important that the decision-makers with respect to settlement hear their adversaries’ presentations and be available to answer questions from the Court, the person who attends must be the person with responsibility for determining the amount of any ultimate settlement and who has not had limitations placed by another person with respect to his or her authority to settle. That is, corporate parties, labor unions, and insurance companies (or any other Party that is not a natural person) must send to the conference the person ultimately responsible for giving settlement authority, not someone who has received authority from someone else.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
Government Agencies. When any government agency is a Party, counsel of record must be accompanied by a knowledgeable representative from the agency (or, if the agency official with knowledge is more than 100 miles from the Courthouse, the official must be available to participate by telephone). In addition, in cases where the Comptroller of the City of New York has authority over settlement, the Assistant Corporation Counsel must make arrangements in advance of the conference for a representative of the Comptroller either to attend the conference or to be available by telephone for the duration of the conference to approve any proposed settlement.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
Simultaneous interpreters are readily available in the commercial marketplace at reasonable rates. Counsel should call Chambers if there is any difficulty in securing an interpreter. 3
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
8. Consequences of Non-Compliance with Attendance Requirements. If a Party fails to come to the settlement conference with all the required persons (attorney, plus a decision-making employee from the client, plus a decision- making representative from each insurance carrier), that Party may be required to reimburse all the other parties for their time and travel expenses, and may face other sanctions.
Source page 4Communications with chambers
9. Conference Procedures. Unless advised otherwise by the Court, the conference will take place in Courtroom 228 at 40 Foley Square. At the outset of the mediation, each attorney should be prepared to make a brief presentation in the presence of each other and the parties, summarizing not merely a Party’s positions, but the Party’s interests as well. Written remarks read aloud are usually ineffective. Counsel are also reminded not to treat their opening remarks as if they were the equivalent of a jury address. While there is no formula for the most effective presentation, counsel should consider addressing (a) the most important issues of fact and law, (b) the most recent offer or demand communicated to opposing counsel, and (c) any other matters that may help to advance settlement. The merits of the case are obviously relevant to the value of a potential settlement, but settlement conferences are not the place to make legal arguments. Discussion, if any, of legal issues should be offered solely in the context of settlement, not litigation. Counsel should gear their presentation to the opposing Party, not the Court.
Source page 4Conferences and appearances
After the initial “joint session,” in most mediations, the Court will spend the rest of the time meeting separately with each side. In these private meetings, the parties and their counsel should be prepared to discuss their position on settlement, the reasons for their position, the amount of attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses incurred to date, and an estimate of the remaining cost of litigating the case to judgment, including any appeal.
Source page 4Adjournments
10. Adjournments of Settlement Conferences. A Party may make a written application by letter-motion filed on ECF consistent with Rule I.C. of the Court’s Individual Practices to adjourn or advance the date of the settlement conference without providing cause if the application for a change in date is made at least one week prior to the scheduled conference date. Otherwise, counsel should set forth the reasons for seeking the change in date and must make the application by letter-motion as soon as counsel becomes aware of the need of or potential need for the change. In addition, the parties are required to seek a change in the date if (a) an adjournment would permit necessary discovery or exchange of information that would make the conference more fruitful, or (b) a client who would otherwise be permitted to participate by telephone would be available to attend the conference were it held on another date. Requests for an adjournment on the eve of the scheduled settlement conference are strongly disfavored and not likely to be granted. In no circumstances will a telephone request for an adjournment be entertained.
Source page 4Adjournments
To seek a change in date, the Party should first consult with all other counsel as to their and their clients’ (and insurers’ if applicable) availability on at least three dates. The Party must then file forthwith on ECF, as a letter-motion, a request to adjourn the settlement conference to the agreed-upon date and time.
Source page 5Communications with chambers
The conference date will not be deemed changed until Chambers receives the letter-motion and it is approved by the Court.
Source page 5Adjournments
11. Settlement in Advance of Mediation. If all parties advise the Court in writing that the case has settled prior to the scheduled conference, I will ordinarily adjourn the conference sine die. In these circumstances, the parties should file a letter-motion on ECF requesting an adjournment of the settlement conference sine die, and the Court will then issue a text-only order.
Source page 5Conferences and appearances
Docket Number: CV ( ) (JW) I acknowledge that my client and I must attend a settlement conference on , 20 at .......................... m. in Courtroom 228, United States Courthouse, 40 Foley Square, New York, New York.
Source page 6Communications with chambers
b. The above-named individual will attend by telephone because I certify that (1) such individual lives and works more than 100 miles from the Courthouse (or, if my client is not an individual, the client’s decision-maker lives and works more than 100 miles from the Courthouse), and (2) it would be a great hardship for this individual to attend a settlement conference on this or any other date. This individual understands that he or she must participate by telephone without interruption for the duration of the conference.
Source page 6Communications with chambers
This form should be completed jointly by the Parties and emailed to WillisNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov no later than three days before the preconference telephone call. The answers to this form will be kept confidential and fall within Rule 408 of the Federal Rules of Evidence. Please cite to the relevant docket entry where appropriate.
Source page 7Conferences and appearances
9. Are there any financial constraints affecting the settlement discussions the Court should be aware of?
Source page 8Conferences and appearances
13. Are there any other impediments to settlement that the Court should be aware of?
Source page 9Shared court rules
SDNY and EDNY — Joint Local Civil and Criminal Rules
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Federal district-court proceedings only. Civil and criminal sections have distinct scope and district-specific exceptions. Not Bankruptcy Court rules.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked July 29, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 29, 2026.
U.S. Courts judicial profile or roster
Identity source · HTML · Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts · Source checked July 29, 2026
View U.S. Courts judicial profile or roster ↗Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗