SLIDE 1 Tips to Ensure Docketing Success in ECF
Karen Mitchell, Clerk of Court U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
SLIDE 2
10 Ways to Help Ensure Docketing Success in ECF
Consult the Local Rules Consult the Federal Rules Consult the ECF Administrative
Procedures
Consult Judge Specific Requirements
SLIDE 3
10 Ways to Help Ensure Docketing Success in ECF
Check the District’s web site for ECF
information and training.
Have a dedicated ECF filing person in
the firm.
Call the District Clerk’s Office/Help
Desk for assistance.
SLIDE 4
10 Ways to Help Ensure Docketing Success in ECF
Contact the Clerk’s Office to correct
filing errors. Do not attempt to re- file.
Limit document file size in ECF to 10
megabytes (10 MB).
Start preparing your filing early in the
day.
SLIDE 5 Common ECF Mistakes
Parties and attorneys added incorrectly at
case opening
- How we addressed: Critical reminders and sample
screen shot added to party addition screen in ECF
SLIDE 6 Common ECF Mistakes
Attorneys linked to incorrect parties
- How we addressed: Enhanced message to filer to
help ensure the correct attorney/party association is made at the time a document is filed
SLIDE 7 Common ECF Mistakes
Incorrect party/defendant selection at
document filing
CIVIL: Enhanced message to direct filer to make multiple selections for a joint filing
SLIDE 8 Common ECF Mistakes
Incorrect party/defendant selection at
document filing
CRIMINAL: Added defendant confirmation to help ensure only the applicable defendant is selected (started with this functionality in sealed and ex parte events and adding to all other CR events in phases)
SLIDE 9
Impact – Accuracy Rate Continues to Improve
CY 2008 – 77.24% CY 2009 – 80.64% CY 2010 – 86.61% CY 2011 – 86.93% CY 2012 – 88.82% CY 2013 – 90.23% CY 2014 – 91.66%
SLIDE 10
Important Tips and Reminders
Ensure you have a signature block on
your document that complies with Form 2 of the FED. R. CIV. P and local rules.
Include a cover sheet with new case
filings.
Include a brief, certificate of
service/conference with your filing as required by the local rules.
SLIDE 11
Important Tips and Reminders
Verify you are filing in the correct case
number.
Use the “Search” feature on the main
menu to find the appropriate title that matches the document you are filing.
Right-click and open the PDF on the
“browse and attach screen” prior to attaching to the entry.
SLIDE 12
SEARCH FEATURE
SLIDE 13
UTILITIES