US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Promotes Pro Bono Panel

United States Court of Appeals
for the Second Circuit
Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse
40 Foley Square
New York, New York 10007

Debra Ann Livingston, Chief Judge
Catherine O’Hagan Wolfe, Clerk of Court

June 14, 2021
For Immediate Release

The Criminal Justice Act/Pro Bono Committee is accepting applications for the Second Circuit’s Pro Bono Panel. The deadline to be considered for appointment in 2021 is July 30, 2021. The Court will continue to accept applications year-round, but applications received after July 30, 2021, will not be considered for appointment until 2022.

Pro Bono Panel members will, at the Court’s invitation or on a litigant’s motion for appointment of counsel, represent pro se litigants in civil appeals that present issues of first impression, complex issues of law or fact, or potentially meritorious claims warranting further briefing and oral argument. Pro bono representation will be provided to litigants who would otherwise be unable to pay for counsel and are ineligible for the appointment of counsel pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act.

Cases in which pro bono counsel will be appointed cover a broad range of legal issues, including prisoner civil rights, labor and employment, discrimination, social security, immigration, and tax law.

Applicants must be admitted to and members in good standing of the Bar of the Second Circuit or have an admission application pending before this Court, and have at least three years of appellate litigation experience. Pro Bono Panel members will serve for a three-year term.

Pro Bono Panel members who were appointed by the Court in 2018 for a three-year term must submit a new application if they wish to remain on the Panel.

An application package containing a resume, a written application (available on the Court’s website at http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov) and three writing samples, preferably appellate briefs on which the applicant was the primary author, must be submitted via email to [email protected] by July 30, 2021 for consideration in 2021.

SDNY ANNOUNCES A NEW EDITION OF ELECTRONIC CASE FILING RULES & INSTRUCTIONS

NOTICE TO THE BAR
CONTACT: ECF Help Desk, 212-805-0800

SDNY ANNOUNCES A NEW EDITION OF ELECTRONIC CASE FILING RULES & INSTRUCTIONS

        On March 17, 2014, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a new edition of the Court’s Electronic Case Filing (ECF) Rules & Instructions. [Here is a link to the PDF: http://nysd.uscourts.gov/ecf/ECF%20Rules%20Revision%20031714.pdf]

        The ECF Rules & Instructions were revised to reflect the new requirement for parties to file electronically amended pleadings in civil cases through the Court’s ECF system. Summonses for amended pleadings must also be requested through the ECF system. In response, the Clerk will issue summonses suitable for printing through the ECF system.

        Pro se parties who do not have permission to file electronically are exempt from any requirement to file through the ECF system.

        Please visit the court’s website at http://nysd.uscourts.gov/ecf.phpto view the new Electronic Case Filing Rules & Instructions and online ECF training materials.

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PRESS RELEASE: Accepting Applications for Second Circuit’s Pro Bono Panel

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT

Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse
40 Centre Street
New York, New York 10007

ROBERT A. KATZMANN
CHIEF JUDGE

CATHERINE O’HAGAN WOLFE SALLY PRITCHARD 
CLERK OF COURT DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF LEGAL AFFAIRS

March 3, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Criminal Justice Act/Pro Bono Committee is accepting applications for the Second Circuit’s Pro Bono Panel. The deadline is Friday, May 2, 2014.

Pro Bono Panel members will, at the Court’s invitation or on an appellant’s motion for appointment of counsel, represent pro se litigants in civil appeals that present issues of first impression, complex issues of law or fact, or raise potentially meritorious claims warranting further briefing and oral argument. Pro bono representation will be provided to litigants who would otherwise be unable to pay for counsel and are ineligible for the appointment of counsel pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act.

Cases in which pro bono counsel will be appointed cover a broad range of legal issues. A significant percentage of the cases are prisoner civil rights appeals; others may involve labor and employment, discrimination, social security, immigration and tax law.

Applicants must be admitted to and members in good standing of the Bar of the Second Circuit, or have an application pending before this Court, and have at least three years of appellate experience. Pro Bono Panel members will serve for a term not to exceed three years.

Pro Bono Panel Members who were appointed by the Court in 2011 for a three-year term must submit a new application if they wish to remain on the Panel. A completed application package contains a resume, a written application (available on the Court’s website at http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov) and three writing samples, preferably appellate briefs on which the applicant was the primary author. These materials must be submitted to Sally Pritchard, Director of Legal Affairs, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 40 Foley Square, New York, NY 10007, by Friday, May 2, 2014.

SDNY ANNOUNCES A NEW EDITION OF ELECTRONIC CASE FILING RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS

NOTICE TO THE BAR 
CONTACT: Clerk of Court, 212-805-0136

SDNY ANNOUNCES A NEW EDITION OF ELECTRONIC CASE FILING RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS

On August 1, 2013, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York will issue a new edition of the court’s Electronic Case Filing (ECF) Rules & Instructions. Updates include: 
        
Electronic Letters 
Effective September 3, 2013, letters addressed to judges who accept letters, including certain letter motions, may be filed electronically unless the assigned judge’s Individual Practices provide otherwise. Letters solely between counsel may not be filed electronically. More information and a schedule of in-person demonstrations are available at www.nysd.uscourts.gov/ecf
        
Service in Pro Se Cases 
The Clerk’s Office will scan filings from pro se parties and add them to the ECF system. Effective July 19, 2013, the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) sent in conjunction with such filings will constitute service upon all other Filing Users (one who has permission to file electronically) and Receiving Users (one who has registered to receive notice from the court by electronic mail).   
        
Obligation to View PDF Documents 
New Rule 4.3, effective July 19, 2013, describes the parties’ obligation to view PDF documents in addition to the summary docket text. If a discrepancy occurs between the two, the language in the PDF document will control. 

Case Caption Requirements 
A case caption no longer has to include an indication that it is an “ECF Case.” Please visit the court’s website at http://nysd.uscourts.gov/ecf_filing.php to view the new ECF Rules, online ECF training materials, and a schedule of in-person demonstrations of the electronic filing of letters and letter motions. 

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SDNY offers Trial Advocacy Training for Pro Bono Lawyers

The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is pleased to offer a full-day trial advocacy training for pro bono lawyers. Led by District Court judges and leading practitioners, this training is offered to lawyers who are admitted to practice in the Southern District and are interested in providing pro bono representation to pro se litigants.

The program takes place on Friday, January 11, 2013 and runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse (500 Pearl Street, Room 850).

The training is free and will offer participants an opportunity to receive CLE credit for their participation. For more information, please download the PDF here.