User
Information
Hardware
and Software Information
Filing documents
into CM/ECF electronic filing systems requires the following
hardware and software:
. A personal
computer running a standard platform such as Windows or Mac OS X.
. A PDF-compatible word
processor like Mac OS X or Windows-based versions of Corel WordPerfect
or Microsoft Word.
. Internet service.
. For district and bankruptcy CM/ECF, a Web browser. Mozilla Firefox 2 or 1.5, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or 6.0 are recommended. Some users have had positive experiences with other Web browsers, but those listed here have been tested and certified for compatibility with CM/ECF. Mozilla Firefox is compatible with Mac and can be downloaded at no cost.
. For appellate CM/ECF 2.0, Firefox and Internet Explorer with the Java 1.6 plug-in. Mac users need software that allows Windows to run on a Mac (e.g., Fusion, Parallels, BootCamp). The software does not otherwise run on Mac computers because Apple has not released a port of the current version of Java 1.6.
. Software to convert
documents from a word processor format to portable document
format (PDF). Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional is recommended. Adobe Acrobat 7 Professional, Adobe Acrobat 6 Professional, and Acrobat Writer 5.0 adequately meet the CM/ECF filing requirements.
. Adobe Acrobat Reader,
which is available for free, is needed for viewing PDF documents.
. A scanner may be necessary
to create electronic images of documents that are not in your
word processing system.
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Document
Format
CM/ECF systems
are designed to accept only documents in Portable Document
Format (PDF). This format was chosen because it allows a document
to retain its pagination, formatting and fonts no matter what
type of computer is used to view or print the document. It
is also an open standard format. Adobe developed the format,
and offers software that allows conversion of documents created
in most word processing systems into PDF. This software is
recommended. Several word processing programs also contain
features that convert documents created in those programs
into PDF.
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Procedural
Rules for Lawyers
Rule 5(e)
of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 5005(a) of the
Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, Rule 25(a) of the Federal
Rules of Appellate Procedure, and Rule 49(d) of the Federal
Rules of Criminal Procedure authorize individual courts by
local rule to permit or require papers to be filed by electronic means.
Most courts that offer electronic filing have issued an authorizing
local rule; most have supplemented the local rule with a general
order and/or procedures that set forth the relevant procedures
governing electronic filing in that court. Individual court
rules and procedures are generally available on their Web
sites. Rules 5(b) and 77 of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules 25 and 26 of the Federal Rules
of Appellate Procedure, Rules 45 and 49 of the Federal Rules
of Criminal Procedure and Rules 7005, 9014 and 9022 of the
Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure also authorize service of
documents by electronic means if parties consent. The amendments
do not apply to service of process. For more information,
click
here.
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