Also known as: local rule · local court rule · local court rules
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
Rules adopted by the judges of each federal district court to govern details of practice in that district. These rules supplement the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, federal statutes, and constitutional provisions but must remain consistent with them.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Lena Lawson filed her summary judgment motion in federal district court thirty-five days after the close of discovery. The district's local rule required all such motions to be filed within twenty days after discovery closed. The court denied the motion as untimely because the local rule displaced the default thirty-day period.
Lucia Lopez, an out-of-state attorney, applied for admission to the State A bar. The state supreme court denied her application on the ground that nonresidents would not keep abreast of local rules. The court held that this speculative assumption violated the Privileges and Immunities Clause.
Leonard Lowe's estate sought a federal tax deduction based on a state court ruling. The federal district court examined whether a local rule on filing requirements conclusively established the deduction or whether it required independent federal review of the underlying local rule.
Landon Long challenged a criminal conviction in the District of Columbia federal district court. He argued that a local rule of evidence had been misapplied. The court declined to interfere because the matter involved local rules that the district court fashions unless egregious error appeared.
Lorenzo Lugo sued in federal district court under diversity jurisdiction. The defendant invoked a local rule that would bar the claim. The court treated the local rule as a form and mode of enforcement rather than a substantive right and therefore applied the federal rule instead of the conflicting local rule.
Lance Lee sought to disseminate discovery materials obtained in litigation. The district court issued a protective order under its local rule governing confidentiality. The order limited disclosure because the local rule authorized the court to prevent dissemination that would harm the opposing party's interests.
Local rules supplement the Federal Rules by addressing details of practice not covered by the national rules. They must remain consistent with the Federal Rules, federal statutes, and the Constitution. A local rule may alter default timing provisions, such as the period for filing a summary judgment motion.
No. Speculative assumptions that nonresident lawyers will not keep abreast of local rules do not provide a substantial justification for excluding them from bar admission. Such exclusions violate the Privileges and Immunities Clause.
…would come out one way in the federal court and another way in the state court if the federal court failed to apply a particular local rule. E. g., Guaranty Trust Co. v. York ; Bernhardt v. Polygraphic Co. Concededly the nature of the tribunal which tries issues may be important in the enforcement of the parcel of rights…
…mechanics of acquiring and presenting such evidence will no doubt be shaped and guided by state rules of professional ethics and local court rules
…relating to law enforcement in the District are entrusted to the courts of the District. Our policy is not to interfere with the local rules
…dire by themselves, a common practice in the District Court where the instant case was tried. See Louisiana
…laws; even the lowest state court
A federal court need not treat a lower state court decree as conclusive on state law questions when the decree was not the product of genuinely adversary litigation. The federal court may independently determine the meaning of the local rule.
Federal courts defer to local rules of law fashioned by the District of Columbia courts except in exceptional situations involving egregious error. This policy respects the District's administration of its own legal system.
A state rule that operates merely as a form and mode of enforcement rather than defining substantive rights yields to the federal rule in diversity cases. The court applies federal procedure when the state rule is not bound up with the parties' rights and obligations.
Yes. A district court may issue a protective order under its local rules when dissemination would harm a party's interests. The order must be supported by a showing of good cause and remains subject to constitutional limits on prior restraints.