Unless otherwise ordered by Judge Neals, matters before Judge Neals shall be conducted in accordance with the following practices:

COMMUNICATIONS WITH CHAMBERS:

Written Submissions to the Court. Except on emergency matters, all communications with Chambers shall be in writing via CM/ECF.

Telephone Calls. Telephone calls to Chambers are permitted only in urgent situations requiring immediate attention. In such situations only, call Chambers at (973) 645-6042.

Email. Submissions will not be accepted via email without leave of the Court.

Faxes. Submissions will not be accepted via fax without leave of the Court.

Law Clerks. Judge Neals permits communications with his law clerks only as to questions regarding Chambers’ procedures and not as to any substantive matters.

MOTION PRACTICES:

CM/ECF. All submissions, including pleadings and correspondence, to the Court (except for those under seal or containing confidential information) shall be submitted in searchable PDF format and electronically filed via CM/ECF. Supporting documents, such as exhibits, may be filed in non-searchable PDF format. Submissions will not be accepted via fax or e-mail except as provided herein.

Pro se Filings. All filings by pro se litigants should be mailed to or filed directly with the Clerk's Office. Documents mailed to the courthouse must be addressed to the Clerk's Office, not Judge Neals or Chambers.

Sealed Filings/Confidential Submissions. All papers filed under seal or containing confidential or sensitive information shall be submitted in unredacted form to the Court in a searchable PDF format on a USB drive or by mail, unless directed otherwise by Chambers.

Courtesy Copies. Counsel shall not provide courtesy copies to Chambers unless requested.

Motion Day. Unless otherwise notified by the Court via CM/ECF, Judge Neals decides all motions on the papers and no appearances are required on the motion day.

Appearances. Notice of any scheduled appearance will be posted on the docket in CM/ECF. Where counsel are scheduled to appear in-person, all clients or representatives with settlement authority must be available by phone unless otherwise directed by Chambers. The Court expects counsel to appear at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to any appearance.

Adjournments. Adjournment requests shall be made by letter via CM/ECF at least two (2) business days prior to the scheduled event. The letter shall set forth the date of the scheduled event, the basis for the adjournment request, whether the request is being made with consent, and the length of adjournment being sought. Absent exigent circumstances, adjournment requests made less than two (2) days prior to the scheduled event will not be granted.

Extensions of Time. With consent, extension of time requests may be done by proposed consent order via CM/ECF.  Without consent, regular motion procedure should be followed.

TRIAL PRACTICES:

Jury Charges. Counsel shall provide a copy of proposed jury charges to Chambers in Microsoft Word format via email or thumb drive two (2) weeks before trial, unless directed otherwise by Chambers.

Other Trial Submissions. Trial briefs, proposed voir dire questions, lists of pre-marked exhibits, and witness lists including the name and address of each potential witness shall be submitted by counsel in searchable PDF format via email or thumb drive two (2) weeks before trial, unless directed otherwise by Chambers.

PRESS PROTOCOL:

Compliance with instructions from the Judge, U.S. Marshals Service, Court Security Officers, and Court Staff is required. Each is charged with enforcing the Court Rules and ensuring Court Security, and therefore their instruction shall supersede the following rules.

Photography, use of audio or video recording devices, and use of broadcasting or televising devices are prohibited in the courtroom and areas immediately adjacent thereto.

Electronic devices having a primary function of wireless communication, including but not limited to cell phones, laptops, and tablets, are permitted in the courtroom but must be rendered inoperable. They need not be turned off, but they must be silenced and may not be used to transmit or broadcast audio or visual feeds, updates, or messages in any form. They may be used for the purpose of notetaking only.

Members of the press shall maintain their credentials visible and, upon request, shall present them to Court staff for documentation.

Any persons in violation of these rules may have their devices confiscated and risk being removed from the courtroom or courthouse at the discretion of the Judge, U.S. Marshals Service or Court Security Officers.

The rules governing media coverage and possession and use of electronic equipment can be found under Local Civil Rules 401.1 and 501.1, available on the Court's website. Any other specific requests or inquiries can be directed to Chambers.

CLERKSHIP HIRING PROCESS:

Once the hiring process begins, interested applicants shall apply on the Online System for Clerkship Applications and Review (“OSCAR”).