CM/ECF is the federal courts' case management and electronic case files system. It provides courts enhanced and updated docket management. It allows courts to maintain case documents in electronic form. And it gives each court the option of permitting case documents - pleadings, motions, petitions - to be filed with the court over the Internet.
CM/ECF implementation in the bankruptcy courts has been underway since early 2001. District court implementation began in 2002. Appellate court implementation began in late 2004.
The CM/ECF system uses standard computer hardware, an Internet connection and a browser, and accepts documents in Portable Document Format (PDF). The system is easy to use – filers prepare a document using conventional word processing software, then save the document as a PDF file. After logging onto the court's web site, the filer enters basic information relating to the case and the document being filed, attaches the document, and submits it to the court. There are no added fees for filing documents over the Internet using CM/ECF. A notice verifying court receipt of the filing is generated automatically and e-mailed to the parties in the case. See General Order 22 on Administrative Procedures for Electronic Case Filing.
WARNING: All documents filed in CM/ECF must be less than 50 Megabytes (50MB) in size!
CM/ECF provides courts the ability to make their documents available to the public over the Internet. Electronic access to court data is available through the judiciary's Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. Litigants receive one free copy of documents filed electronically in their cases, which they can save or print for their files. Additional copies are available to attorneys and the general public for viewing or downloading at ten cents per page, with a maximum cost per document of $3.00. Neither the free copy nor the maximum cost per document applies to transcripts filed with the court or docket sheets. As directed by Congress, the judiciary's electronic public access program is funded entirely through user fees set by the Judicial Conference of the United States.
Helpful Links
- Forgot your Bar Roll number?
- Forgot your CMECF/Pacer Password?
- CM/ECF Civil Case Opening Guide
- CM/ECF Miscellaneous Case Opening Guide
- Update Your Bar Record
- How to Clear your Cache
- Submit a Ticket to the CM/ECF Helpdesk!
Privacy Notice
Amendments to the Federal Appellate, Bankruptcy, Civil, and Criminal Rules of Procedure address issues relating to privacy and public access to electronic case files. The Rules require that filers redact certain "personal identifier" information, such as Social Security or taxpayer-identification numbers, dates of birth, names of minor children, financial account numbers, and in criminal cases, home addresses, from their filings. Please review Local Rule 5.2 regarding Privacy Protection within the New York Northern District Court. At login to CM/ECF, a message reminds attorneys of their responsibility to redact this private information from the documents they file and requires them to acknowledge that they have read the notice and complied with the redaction rules. Filers cannot complete the login process without checking this acknowledgement.
CM/ECF Helpdesk Number: 1-833-771-4945
Click here to submit a Ticket to the CM/ECF Helpdesk!
Instructional Flash Videos
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