Jennifer Louise Rochon at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Jennifer Louise Rochon
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile.
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Judge · Active · June 13, 2022–present · Assignment source ↗
Appointment and verification
- Appointment method
- Presidential appointment with Senate confirmation
- Appointing authority
- Joseph R. Biden
- Source authority
- Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory
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Biography
Professional career
- American judge serving on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York since June 13, 2022
- Law clerk, Hon. Maryanne Trump Barry, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2000
- Law clerk, Hon. Maryanne Trump Barry, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, 1997-1999
Education
- New York University School of Law — J.D. (1997)
- University of Michigan — B.A. (1992)
Additional information
- General counsel, Girl Scouts of the United States of America, New York City, 2013-2022
- On December 15, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Rochon to replace Judge George B. Daniels, who had assumed senior status in 2021
- Private practice, New York City, 1999, 2000-2013
- Born 1970.
- Licensed to practice in multiple federal courts, including the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the 3rd and 10th Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court
- She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, New York City Bar Association, Association of Corporate Counsel, and American Bar Association, and has been active with the McBurney YMCA and National Women’s Law Center
Jennifer Louise Rochon Procedures & Courtroom Rules
Technology Walkthrough
Judge Specific
Judge Rochon directs counsel to coordinate a courtroom technology walk-through at least two weeks before an evidentiary hearing or trial.
At least two weeks prior to an evidentiary hearing or trial, counsel should contact Chambers by phone to coordinate a time for a technology walk-through of the Courtroom.Judge Rochon's Individual Rules of Practice in Civil Cases ↗
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 (21 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Courtroom conduct and technology
Parties who are not represented by an attorney and are not currently incarcerated may choose to receive documents in their cases electronically (by email) instead of by regular mail. Receiving documents by regular mail is still an option, but if you would rather receive them only electronically, visit the following link for instructions on how to do so https://nysd.uscourts.gov/forms/consent-electronic-service-pro-se-cases.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
A. By a Pro Se Party. All communications with the Court by a pro se party should be delivered in person or by mail. If delivered in person, the litigant should go to the Pro Se Intake Unit, United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, Room 205, New York, NY 10007. For delivery by mail, the envelope should be addressed to the Pro Se Intake Unit, United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007. No documents or court filings may be sent directly to Chambers.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
Pro se parties should not call or email Chambers and should communicate directly with 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 Electronic Case Filing system (“ECF”). If any other party is not a user of ECF (e.g., if there is another pro se party in the case), a pro se party must send copies of any filing to that party and 1
Source page 1Communications with chambers
include an Affidavit of Service or other statement affirming that it has done so. Copies of correspondence between a pro se party and opposing parties shall not be sent to the Court.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
B. By Parties Represented by Counsel. Except as otherwise provided below, communications with the Court by a represented party shall be governed by Judge Rochon’s Individual Rules and Practices in Civil Cases, available at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/hon-jennifer-l-rochon.
Source page 2Adjournments
C. Requests for Adjournments or Extensions of Time. All requests for adjournments or extensions of time must be made in writing to the Pro Se Intake Unit, 500 Pearl Street New York, NY 10007 and must state: (1) the original date(s); (2) the number of previous requests for adjournment or extension;
Source page 2Adjournments
(3) whether these previous requests were granted or denied; (4) the reasons for the requested extension; (5) whether the adversary consents and, if not, the reasons given by the adversary for refusing to consent; and (6) the date of the parties’ next scheduled appearance before the Court. If the requested adjournment or extension affects any other scheduled dates, a represented party must submit a proposed Revised Scheduling Order in accordance with Judge Rochon’s Individual Rules and Practices in Civil Cases. A pro se party may, but is not required to, submit a proposed Revised Scheduling Order. Requests for extensions of deadlines regarding a matter that has been referred to a Magistrate Judge shall be directed to that assigned Magistrate Judge. Absent an emergency, any request for an extension or adjournment shall be made at least 48 hours prior to the deadline or scheduled appearance.
Source page 2Filing and working copies
A. Papers Filed by a Pro Se Party. All papers to be filed with the Court by a pro se party, along with one courtesy copy of those papers, shall be delivered in person or by mail to the Pro Se Intake Unit, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007.
Source page 2Motion practice
Any pro se party that wishes to participate in electronic case filing (“e-filing”) on ECF must file a Motion for Permission for Electronic Case Filing (available at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/forms/motion-permission-electronic-case-filing-pro-se- cases and in the Pro Se Intake Unit). If the Court grants a motion to participate in “e-filing,” that party will not receive hardcopies of any document filed electronically via ECF.
Source page 2Courtroom conduct and technology
B. Service on a Pro Se Party. Counsel in pro se cases must serve a pro se party with a paper copy of any document that is filed electronically and must file with the Court a separate Affidavit of Service.
Source page 2Discovery
All requests for discovery by a pro se party should be sent to counsel for the party from whom discovery is sought. Discovery requests should not be sent to the Court.
Source page 3Motion practice
If there are any discovery disputes, the parties are required to confer with one another in an effort to resolve the dispute without the need for Court intervention. If the parties are unable to resolve their dispute, either party may file a letter-motion, no longer than three pages and in accordance with Section 1 above, explaining the nature of the dispute and requesting an informal conference. If the opposing party wishes to respond to the letter, it must file a responsive letter within five business days, not to exceed three pages.
Source page 3Motion practice
A. Filing and Service. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, opposing papers must be served and filed within two weeks of service of the motion papers, and reply papers, if any, must be served and filed within one week of receipt of opposition papers.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
B. Courtesy Copy. One courtesy hard copy of all formal motion papers, marked as such, should be submitted to Chambers by the non-pro se party at the time the reply is due. Courtesy copies should not be submitted to Chambers at the time of filing. If all the parties are pro se, then no courtesy copies of formal motion papers are required.
Source page 3Motion practice
C. Pre-Motion Submissions. Pre-motion submissions are not required from pro se parties for any motions.
Source page 3Motion practice
D. Oral Argument. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, argument will not be heard in pro se matters.
Source page 3Motion practice
E. Pro Se Notices. Parties who file a motion to dismiss, a motion for judgment on the pleadings, or a motion for summary judgment must provide the pro se party with a copy of the notices required under SDNY Local Civil Rules 12.1 or 56.2, as applicable.
Source page 3Discovery
A. Pretrial Statement. Within 30 days of the completion of discovery unless otherwise ordered by the Court, a pro se plaintiff shall file a concise, written Pretrial Statement. This Statement need take no particular form, but it must contain the following: (1) a statement of the facts plaintiff hopes to prove at trial;
Source page 3Filing and working copies
plaintiff intends to have testify at trial. The Statement must be sworn by the plaintiff to be true and accurate based on the facts known by the plaintiff. The pro se plaintiff shall file an original, plus one courtesy copy, of this Statement with the Pro Se Intake Unit and serve a copy on all defendants or their counsel if they are represented. The original Statement must include a certificate stating the date a copy was mailed to the attorney for the defendant. Two weeks after service of the plaintiff’s Statement, the defendant must file and serve a similar Statement of its case containing the same information.
Source page 4Filing and working copies
B. Other Pretrial Filings. If the case is to be tried before only a Judge without a jury, any parties represented by counsel must also file proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law at the time of filing the Pretrial Statement. If the case is to be tried before a jury, any parties represented by counsel must also file proposed voir dire questions, a proposed jury charge, and a proposed verdict form at the time of filing the Pretrial Statement. At the time of filing, a represented party should email these documents to the Court in both .pdf and Microsoft Word formats. The pro se party may file such documents, but is not required to do so and need not submit them by email.
Source page 4Filing and working copies
Pro se parties are advised that there is a Pro Se Law Clinic available to assist self- represented parties in civil cases. The Clinic may be able to provide a pro se party with advice in connection with their case. The Pro Se Law Clinic is run by a private organization called the City Bar Justice Center; it is not part of, or run by, the Court (and, among other things, therefore cannot accept filings on behalf of the Court, which must still be made by any self-represented party through the Pro Se Intake Unit). Litigants in need of legal assistance should complete the City Bar Justice Center’s intake form to make an appointment. If a litigant has questions about the intake form or needs to highlight an urgent deadline already disclosed in the form, the clinic can be contacted by phone (212- 382-4794) or email (fedprosdny@nycbar.org). In-person appointments in the Thurgood Marshall Courthouse in Manhattan and the Charles L. Brieant Jr. Federal Building and Courthouse in White Plains are available Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Source page 4Published judge / part rules (67 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Discovery
Unless otherwise ordered, these Individual Practices apply to all civil matters before Judge Rochon, except to the extent they are inconsistent with Judge Rochon’s Individual Rules and Practices in Civil Pro Se Cases. If a case is designated by Order of the Court to be part of one of the Court’s pilot projects or plans (e.g., the Plan for Certain Section 1983 Cases Against the City of New York, the Pilot Project Regarding Case Management Techniques for Complex Civil Cases, or the Initial Discovery Protocols for Employment Cases Alleging Adverse Action), the procedures in such project or plan will govern to the extent that they are inconsistent with these Individual Practices.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
A. Letters and Letter Motions. Except as otherwise provided below, communications with the Court must be by letter. Letters must be filed electronically on the Electronic Case Filing system (“ECF”). Letters seeking relief (if consistent with the SDNY Local Rules and the SDNY ECF Rules and Instructions) should be filed on ECF as letter motions, not as ordinary letters.
Source page 1Filing and working copies
Letters may not exceed three pages in length (exclusive of exhibits or attachments) without prior permission from the Court. Parties should not submit courtesy copies of letters filed on ECF. Letters solely between parties or their counsel or otherwise not addressed to the Court may not be filed on ECF or otherwise sent to the Court (except as exhibits to an otherwise properly filed document).
Source page 1Filing and working copies
Letters to be filed under seal or containing sensitive or confidential information must be filed on ECF in conformity with the Court’s Standing Order, 19-MC-00583, and ECF Rules & Instructions, Section 6.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
B. Telephone Calls. Telephone calls to Chambers are permitted only in emergency situations requiring immediate attention.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
D. Scheduling and Calendar Matters. For scheduling and calendar matters, email Chambers at RochonNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov. Technical questions pertaining to ECF filings should be directed to the ECF Help Desk at helpdesk@nysd.uscourts.gov or (212) 805-0800.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
E. Hand Deliveries. Hand-delivered mail should be taken to the Worth Street entrance of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, 200 Worth Street, New York, NY 10007, and may not be brought directly to Chambers (unless prior permission is given). Hand deliveries are continuously retrieved by Courthouse mail staff and then forwarded to Chambers. If the hand-delivered material is urgent and requires the Court’s immediate attention, ask the Court Security Officers to notify Chambers that an urgent package has arrived that needs to be retrieved by Chambers staff immediately.
Source page 2Adjournments
F. Requests for Adjournments or Extensions of Time. All requests for adjournments or extensions of time must be made in writing and filed on ECF as letter motions. (If a request contains sensitive or confidential information, it may be filed on ECF in conformity with the Court’s Standing Order, 19-MC-00583, and ECF Rules & Instructions, Section 6.) The letter motion must state: (1) the original due date, the date or dates sought to be extended, and the new date the party now seeks through an adjournment or extension; (2) the number of previous requests for adjournment or extensions of time; (3) whether those previous requests were granted or denied; and (4) whether the adversary consents, and, if not, the reasons given by the adversary for refusing to consent. If the parties are requesting an adjournment of a conference, they must also provide three mutually agreeable alternative dates. If the requested adjournment or extension affects any other scheduled dates, a proposed Revised Civil Case Management Plan and Scheduling Order must be attached. Absent extraordinary circumstances, requests for extensions will be denied if not made before the expiration of the original deadline. To be considered, extension requests must be made at least one business day prior to the deadline, absent unforeseen circumstances. If the request is for an adjournment of a court appearance, absent an emergency, the request must be made at least two business days prior to the scheduled appearance.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
G. Related Cases. After an action has been accepted as related to a prior filing, all future court papers and correspondence must contain the docket number of the new filing, as well as the docket number of the case to which it is related (e.g., 11-cv- 01234 [rel. 10-cv-04321]).
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
H. ECF. In accordance with the ECF Rules & Instructions, all attorneys representing parties are required to register promptly as ECF filers and to enter an appearance in the case. The pertinent instructions are available on the Court website
Source page 2Motion practice
(https://nysd.uscourts.gov/rules/ecf-related-instructions). Counsel are responsible for updating their contact information on ECF should it change; they should not file a letter motion advising the Court of the change. Counsel are also responsible for checking the docket sheet regularly, regardless of whether they receive an ECF notification of case activity. Under ECF Rule 4.3, counsel “have an obligation to review the Court’s actual order, decree, or judgment, as available on ECF, and should not rely on the description of such order, decree or judgment in the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) alone.”
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
A. In Person Conferences. Unless the Court orders otherwise, all conferences will be held in person in Courtroom 20B of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY. If counsel jointly requests that the conference be held remotely, they must, at least three business days before the conference, file a letter on ECF so requesting, with good cause shown.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
B. Remote Conferences. At least 48 hours before a scheduled remote conference, the parties must file a joint letter to the Court on ECF containing a list of the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of counsel who may speak during the conference. Absent permission of the Court, no more than two attorneys may speak on behalf of either party.
Source page 3Motion practice
C. Participation by Junior Attorneys. The Court encourages the participation of less experienced attorneys in all proceedings – including pretrial conferences, hearings on discovery disputes, oral arguments, and examinations of witnesses at trial – particularly where the attorneys played a substantial role in drafting the underlying filing or in preparing the relevant witness. The Court is amenable to permitting more than one attorney to argue for one party if this creates an opportunity for a junior attorney to participate. All attorneys appearing before the Court must have authority to bind the party that they represent consistent with the proceedings (for example, by agreeing to a discovery resolution or briefing schedule).
Source page 3Motion practice
Plaintiff’s counsel (or, in removed actions, Defendant’s counsel) is responsible for promptly distributing copies of the Notice to all parties. At least ten days before the conference date, the parties must file on ECF: (1) a proposed Civil Case Management Plan and Scheduling Order, available on the Court’s website at (https://nysd.uscourts.gov/hon-jennifer-l-rochon); and (2) a joint letter, not to exceed three pages, describing the case, any contemplated motions, and the prospect for settlement. When filling out the Civil Case Management Plan and Scheduling Order, download the form into Adobe Acrobat to complete it. Do not
Source page 3Communications with chambers
E. Discovery Disputes. The parties must follow SDNY Local Civil 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. The Court enforces this requirement in both counseled and pro se cases (except where not feasible, such as when the pro se litigant is incarcerated) and will not consider any discovery dispute where the moving party has not satisfied the good-faith conference requirement. The moving party should note that “good-faith conference” does not mean that it has merely sent its adversary a letter or email, to which the adversary has not yet responded. The Court expects that, at a minimum, the moving party will have called its adversary and made efforts to engage in a meaningful dialogue, in an attempt to resolve any discovery issues. If this meet-and-confer process does not resolve the dispute, the party must submit a letter motion to the Court on ECF, no longer than three pages (excluding exhibits), explaining the nature of the dispute, the legal standards governing the issue, and case law, if any, supporting the party’s position. Such a letter must include a representation that the meet-and-confer process occurred and was unsuccessful. If the opposing party wishes to respond to the letter, it must inform the Court within one business day that a responsive letter is forthcoming and file the letter within three business days. The same page limits and filing instructions apply. Reply letters are not permitted.
Source page 4Motion practice
A. Pre-Motion Conferences in Civil Cases. Pre-motion conferences are not required, except for motions concerning discovery, which are governed by Section 2.E above, and for summary-judgment motions, which are governed by Section 3.I below.
Source page 4Motion practice
C. Memoranda of Law. The Court encourages and appreciates brevity. Unless prior permission has been granted, memoranda of law in support of and in opposition to motions are limited to 8,750 words, and reply memoranda are limited to 3,500 words. All memoranda of law must be in 12-point font or larger, including
Source page 4Motion practice
E. Filing of Motion Papers. Motion papers must be filed promptly after service.
Source page 5Motion practice
F. Courtesy Copies. Two courtesy copies of the parties’ briefing must be submitted via mail or hand delivery by the movant at the time that the reply is served, not by each party at the time of filing. The Court does not require courtesy copies of supporting declarations or exhibits. All courtesy copies must be labeled as such and should be double-sided, three-hole punched, and tabbed such that they can be placed in binders. The copies should not, however, be submitted in binders. If the parties have redacted or filed under seal any portion of the motion papers or attendant exhibits, courtesy copies are to be unredacted, but the portions redacted from public filings should be highlighted.
Source page 5Adjournments
H. Letter Motions. Letter motions must be filed on ECF in accordance with the SDNY Local Rules and the ECF Rules and Instructions. In particular, all requests for adjournments, extensions, and pre-motion conferences (including pre-motion conferences with respect to discovery disputes) must be filed as letter motions.
Source page 5Motion practice
i. Pre-motion Conference. If a party wishes to move for summary judgment or to exclude expert testimony, it must, no later than three weeks before the post discovery pre-trial conference, request that the conference serve as a pre-motion conference. To so request, the moving party must file a letter on ECF, not to exceed three pages in length, setting forth the basis for the anticipated motion, including the legal standards governing the claims at issue. Other parties must respond two weeks before the conference. The Court will review and discuss with counsel any anticipated summary-judgment motions at the post-discovery pretrial conference.
Source page 5Courtroom conduct and technology
iii. Rule 56.1 Statements. Any party moving for summary judgment must provide all other parties with an electronic copy, in Microsoft Word format, of the moving party’s Statement of Material Facts Pursuant to Local Rule 56.1 (“Rule 56.1 Statement”). Opposing parties must reproduce each entry in the moving party’s Rule 56.1 Statement and set out the opposing party’s response directly beneath it. If the opposing party wishes to file its own, additional statements of material fact, it must begin numbering each entry where the moving party left off. To streamline the summary-judgment briefing process, the Court requires the parties to also negotiate and submit, prior to or along with the movant’s Rule 56.1 Statement, a joint Rule 56.1 Statement setting out all facts on which the parties agree. Each factual assertion in all Rule 56.1 Statements (other than the Joint statement) must be followed by a citation to the portion(s) of the evidentiary record relied upon. Each memorandum of law must include a statement of facts and may not simply incorporate by reference a party’s Rule 56.1 Statement.
Source page 6Motion practice
J. Motions to Exclude Expert Testimony. Motions to exclude expert testimony must be made by the deadline for dispositive motions and should not be treated as a motion in limine.
Source page 6Communications with chambers
L. Applications for a Temporary Restraining Order. A party must confer with his or her adversary before making an application for a temporary restraining order unless the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(b) are met. As soon as a party decides to seek a temporary restraining order, that party must file a letter on ECF (or in person if proceeding ex parte) and state clearly whether: (1) it has notified its adversary, and whether the adversary consents to temporary injunctive relief; or (2) the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(b) are satisfied and no notice is necessary. The moving party must give notice of the time frame requested for Court action.
Source page 6Motion practice
The moving party should then file a Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order, supporting documents, and a proposed order on ECF in accordance with ECF procedures. Where the motion is made on notice to the other parties, the moving party should simultaneously serve the documents on any party that will not receive electronic service via ECF.
Source page 6Motion practice
O. Default Judgments. A plaintiff seeking a default judgment must proceed by filing a motion for default judgment on ECF pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b)(2) and SDNY Local Civil Rule 55.2. A plaintiff seeking a default judgment should not proceed by order to show cause. The motion must be supported by the
Source page 7Motion practice
The plaintiff must serve the motion for default judgment and supporting paperwork on the party against whom the default judgment is sought and file an affidavit of service on ECF within 14 days of filing the motion for default judgment. If more than 14 days are required to complete service of the motion for default judgment and supporting papers, the plaintiff should file a letter on ECF explaining why additional time is necessary and when the plaintiff anticipates service will be completed.
Source page 8Motion practice
The Court will review the motion for default judgment and, if appropriate, issue an order setting a date and time for a default judgment hearing. If the Court issues such an order, the plaintiff must then serve on the party against whom default judgment is sought: (1) the motion for default judgment and supporting papers; and (2) the Court’s order setting a date and time for the default judgment hearing. The plaintiff must file on ECF proof of such service on the docket in the manner and by the date specified in the Court’s order setting the default judgment hearing.
Source page 8Filing and working copies
P. Proposed Orders. All proposed orders that parties wish the Court to sign should be filed in ECF as attachments or exhibits to an appropriate formal application to the Court seeking the endorsement of such order.
Source page 8Conferences and appearances
A. Cases Removed from State Court. Counsel for the party or parties that removed the case must follow 28 U.S.C. § 1446(a) and file a copy of the state court docket sheet within three calendar days of filing the notice of removal.
Source page 8Conferences and appearances
Counsel for all parties must file on ECF a notice of appearance in this Court promptly upon removal.
Source page 8Filing and working copies
i. Sealing / Redactions Not Requiring Court Approval. The parties are referred to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 and the SDNY ECF Privacy Policy (“Privacy Policy”) and reminded not to include, unless necessary, the five categories of “sensitive information” in their submissions (i.e., social security numbers [use the last four digits only], names of minor children [use the initials only], dates of birth [use the year only], financial account numbers [use the last four digits only], and home addresses [use the City and State only]). Parties may redact the five categories of “sensitive information” and the six categories of information requiring caution (i.e., personal identifying number, medical records [including information regarding treatment and diagnosis], employment history, individual financial information, proprietary or trade secret information, and information regarding an individual’s cooperation with the government), as described in the Privacy Policy, without Court approval.
Source page 8Filing and working copies
When a party seeks leave to file a document under seal or in redacted form on the ground that an opposing party or third party has requested it, the filing party must notify the opposing party or third party that it must file, within three days, a letter explaining the need to seal or redact the document.
Source page 9Motion practice
(b) Sealed Document(s). Motions or letter motions for approval of sealed filings in civil and miscellaneous cases and the subject documents, including the proposed sealed document(s), must be filed on ECF in conformity with the Court’s Standing Order, 19-MC-00583, and Section 6 of the ECF Rules & Instructions (https://nysd.uscourts.gov/rules/ecf- related-instructions).
Source page 9Motion practice
The 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 separately filed on ECF and may be filed under seal or redacted only to the extent necessary to safeguard information sought to be filed under seal.
Source page 9Motion practice
The proposed sealed document must be contemporaneously filed under seal on ECF and electronically related to the motion. The summary docket text, but not the sealed
Source page 9Filing and working copies
document, will be open to public inspection and should not include confidential information sought to be filed under seal.
Source page 10Motion practice
(c) Redacted Document(s). Motions or letter motions for approval to file a document in redacted form must be filed on ECF in conformity with the Court’s Standing Order, 19-MC- 00583, and Section 6 of the ECF Rules & Instructions (https://nysd.uscourts.gov/rules/ecf-related-instructions). The motion itself must be filed in public view, should explain the reasons for seeking to file the document in redacted form, and should not include confidential information. At the same time, the filing party must: (a) publicly file the document with the proposed redactions; and (b) file under seal a copy of the unredacted document with the proposed redactions highlighted. Both documents must be filed on ECF and related to the motion.
Source page 10Filing and working copies
(d) Submission by Paper. Any party unable to comply with the requirement for electronic filing under seal on ECF, or who has reason to believe that a particular document should not be filed on ECF, must move for leave of the Court to file on paper.
Source page 10Communications with chambers
C. Settlement Agreements. As soon as the parties reach an agreement to settle, the parties must email Chambers to alert the Court and file a joint letter on ECF promptly. The Court will not retain jurisdiction to enforce confidential settlement agreements. If the parties wish that the Court retain jurisdiction to enforce the agreement, the parties must place the terms of their settlement agreement on the public record. The parties may either provide a copy of the settlement agreement for the Court to endorse or include the terms of their settlement agreement in their stipulation of settlement and dismissal. Settling parties in cases brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, 29 U.S.C.
Source page 10Conferences and appearances
D. Diversity Jurisdiction Cases. In any action in which subject matter jurisdiction is founded on diversity of citizenship pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332, the party asserting the existence of such jurisdiction must include in their joint letter to the Court prior to the Initial Pretrial Conference the basis for that party’s belief that diversity of citizenship exists. Where any party is a corporation, the letter must state both the place of incorporation and the principal place of business. In cases where any party is a partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, or trust, the letter must identify and state the citizenship of each of the entity’s members, shareholders, partners, and/or trustees.
Source page 10Motion practice
A. Joint Pretrial Order. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, within 30 days from the Court’s decision on a summary judgment motion, the parties must file on ECF a proposed Joint Pretrial Order. The Joint Pretrial Order must include the information required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(3) and the
Source page 11Trial exhibits and witnesses
v. A statement as to the number of trial days needed and whether the case is to be tried with or without a jury, without identifying which parties do or do not seek a jury trial;
Source page 11Trial exhibits and witnesses
viii. A statement as to whether or not all parties have consented to trial by a magistrate judge, without identifying which parties do or do not consent;
Source page 11Trial exhibits and witnesses
ix. Any stipulations or agreed statements of fact or law to which all parties consent. In a jury case, the parties should memorialize any
Source page 11Discovery
x. A list of all trial witnesses, indicating whether such witnesses will testify in person or by deposition, whether such witnesses will require an interpreter (and, if so, which party will pay the costs for the interpreter), a brief summary of the substance of each witness’s testimony, and the expected duration of direct and cross-examination for each witness.
Source page 12Trial exhibits and witnesses
Absent leave of Court, a witness listed by both sides may testify only once (with defendant permitted to go beyond the scope of the direct on cross-examination), and counsel should confer with respect to scheduling;
Source page 12Discovery
xi. A designation by each party of deposition testimony to be offered in its case in chief and any counter-designations and objections by any other party. In addition to a designation list, the parties must provide the complete deposition transcript with color-coded highlighting indicating the portions designated by either party and the objections listed in the margins;
Source page 12Trial exhibits and witnesses
xii. A list by each party of exhibits to be offered in its case in chief, with one asterisk indicating an exhibit to which a party objects on the grounds of authenticity and two asterisks indicating an exhibit to which a party objects to the admissibility of the exhibit. If a party objects to an exhibit, the objection should be noted by indicating the grounds for the objection, with citations to the Federal Rule of Evidence and any other authority.
Source page 12Trial exhibits and witnesses
Objections not made will be waived. If any party believes that the Court should rule on the objection in advance of trial, that party should include a notation to that effect (e.g., “Advance Ruling Requested”) as well. In most cases, the Court will rule on relevance and authenticity objections at the time of trial;
Source page 12Filing and working copies
xv. A statement confirming that the parties have submitted all pretrial submissions and courtesy copies required herein.
Source page 12Filing and working copies
B. Additional Required Pretrial Submissions in Jury Cases. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, at the time the joint pretrial order is filed in a jury case, the
Source page 12Motion practice
which should be resolved in limine. Motions in limine are limited to 8,750 words. Opposition papers, no longer than 8,750 words, shall be filed within seven days. No replies are permitted. Any party wishing to file a motion in limine must first confer in good faith with the opposing party in an effort to resolve the dispute. Any motion in limine must include a representation that the meet-and-confer process occurred and was unsuccessful;
Source page 13Communications with chambers
iii. File and serve joint proposed jury instructions, verdict form, and voir dire questions. These joint submissions must consist of single documents, jointly composed, noting any areas of disagreement between the parties. The voir dire questions and jury instructions must include both the text of any requested question or instruction as well as a citation, if available, to the authority from which it derives. These documents should also be submitted by email to Chambers in Microsoft Word format;
Source page 13Trial exhibits and witnesses
iv. Submit to the Court and serve on opposing counsel, but do not file on ECF, all documentary exhibits and demonstratives. All exhibits should be premarked using consecutive numbers and not letters. The Court must be provided with an electronic copy of all exhibits. The parties must provide the Court with a hard copy and Microsoft Word document listing all exhibits sought to be admitted. The list must contain four columns labeled as follows: (1) “Exhibit No.”; (2) “Description” (of the exhibit); (3) “Date Identified”; and (4) “Date Admitted.” The parties must complete the first two columns, but leave the third and fourth columns blank, for use by the Court. Counsel must make certain that they retain custody of all original exhibits. Demonstratives that will not be introduced into evidence need not be listed, but must be shared with the Court and opposing counsel. The Court does not retain exhibits or demonstratives and is not responsible for them.
Source page 13Filing and working copies
C. Additional Required Pretrial Submissions in Non-Jury Cases. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, at the time the joint pretrial order is filed, the
Source page 13Motion practice
i. File and serve motions addressing any evidentiary issues or other matters which should be resolved in limine. Motions in limine are limited to 8,750 words. Opposition papers, no longer than 8,750 words, may be filed within seven days. No replies are permitted. Any party wishing to file a motion in limine must first confer in good faith with the opposing party in
Source page 13Motion practice
an effort to resolve the dispute. Any motion in limine must include a representation that the meet-and-confer process occurred and was unsuccessful;
Source page 14Filing and working copies
iii. File and serve proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. The proposed findings of fact must be detailed and include citations to the proffered trial testimony and exhibits. At the time of filing, parties should also submit copies of these documents to the Court by email both in .pdf format and as a Microsoft Word document;
Source page 14Discovery
iv. Submit to the Court and serve on opposing counsel, but do not file on ECF, all deposition excerpts that will be offered as substantive evidence, as well as a one-page synopsis of those excerpts for each deposition. Each synopsis must include page citations to the pertinent pages of the deposition transcripts; and
Source page 14Trial exhibits and witnesses
v. Submit to the Court and serve on opposing counsel, but do not file on ECF, all documentary exhibits and demonstratives. All exhibits should be premarked using consecutive numbers and not letters. The Court must be provided with an electronic copy of exhibits. The parties must provide the Court with a hard copy and Microsoft Word document listing all exhibits sought to be admitted. The list must contain four columns labeled as follows: (1) “Exhibit No.”; (2) “Description” (of the exhibit); (3) “Date Identified”; and (4) “Date Admitted.” The parties must complete the first two columns but leave the third and fourth columns blank for use by the Court. Counsel must make certain that they retain custody of all original exhibits. Demonstratives that will not be introduced into evidence need not be listed, but must be shared with the Court and opposing counsel. The Court does not retain exhibits or demonstratives and is not responsible for them.
Source page 14Communications with chambers
D. Courtesy Copies. Two courtesy copies of all documents identified in Sections 5.A-C above should be submitted to Chambers via mail or hand delivery on the date on which they are to be served or filed, except that counsel should submit exhibits only in electronic form.
Source page 14Trial exhibits and witnesses
E. Final Witness List. Two business days before trial is scheduled to begin, the parties must jointly file a final list of all trial witnesses in the form provided by the Court’s Individual Rule 5.A.x.
Source page 14Trial exhibits and witnesses
ii. Next, peremptory challenges are exercised against the panelists who compose the potential members of the regular jury, that is, against the 13-14 panelists. Peremptory challenges will be exercised alternatively, with Plaintiff(s) and Defendant(s) each providing the Court with their peremptory challenges. After each side exercises their 3 peremptory challenges, the remaining jurors will constitute the jury. There shall be no alternate jurors in civil cases. If a party does not wish to exercise one or more of their challenges, the unchallenged 7-8 jurors with the lowest numbers shall constitute the jury, again depending on the length of the trial.
Source page 15Communications with chambers
A. Electronic Devices in the Courthouse. Attorneys’ use of electronic devices (including mobile telephones, personal electronic devices, computers, and printers) within the Courthouse and its environs is governed by the Court’s Standing Order M10-468, available at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/forms/standing- order-electronic-devices-general-purpose. Counsel seeking to bring a device into the Courthouse for an appearance must, at least three business days before the appearance, file a letter (not letter motion) and completed Electronic Devices General Purposes Form, available at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/forms/fillable- form-electronic-devices-general-purpose. If WiFi is requested, counsel must check the appropriate box on the form. If electronic devices are permitted inside the Courtroom, they MUST be kept silent at all times. Non-compliance with this rule may result in forfeiture of the device for the remainder of the proceedings.
Source page 15Communications with chambers
B. Technology Walk-Through. Prior to an evidentiary hearing or trial, counsel should contact Chambers by phone to coordinate a time for a technology walk- through of the Courtroom and then contact the Audio and Visual Department at 212-805-0134 to schedule the walk-through. If counsel seek to bring an electronic device to the walk-through or appearance, they must first complete the steps required by the Court’s Individual Rule 6.A.
Source page 15Shared 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 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 3, 2026.
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory · effective June 13, 2022 · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Federal Judicial Center biography ↗Judge Rochon's Individual Rules of Practice in Civil Cases
Judge Specific source · PDF · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · effective March 27, 2025 · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Judge Rochon's Individual Rules of Practice in Civil Cases ↗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 ↗