The Clerk's office in the Eastern District of Arkansas maintains staffed offices at Little Rock and Jonesboro for the filing of pleadings and documents conventionally (in paper) with the Court in connection with a civil or criminal case. In civil matters, pleadings should be filed in the office of the Clerk designated in Local Rule 77.1. When a Clerk is unavailable, they may be filed in any one of the staffed offices.

The Eastern District of Arkansas also allows registered attorneys to submit documents electronically for filing with the Court using the Case Management Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system. Detailed information concerning electronic filing can be found on our web site under "Electronic Case Filing" or by contacting the Clerk's office at 501-604-5323 (local) or 1-866-449-2550 (toll free).

You can find this information by:
 
accessing the PACER system and searching our Electronic Case Filing system by case number or party name;
 
visiting the Clerk's office and using the PC at the intake counter to conduct a search of our Electronic Case Filing system;
 
contacting the Clerk's Office by telephone and asking for this information. The telephone numbers for the Clerk's Office are as follows: Little Rock 501-604-5351 and Jonesboro 870-972-4610.

You can find this information by:

Accessing the docket sheet via Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) through the Court's website (www.are.uscourts.gov) or through the PACER system (pacer.uscourts.gov). You will need a log-in and password, and PACER fees apply when accessing this information. Visiting the Clerk's office and using the public access terminal to view the docket sheet in our CM/ECF system. Contacting the Clerk's office by telephone and asking for this information.

Our district's filing requirements are explained in our local rules, namely Rule 5.5 and 7.2

Number of Copies Required

An original of all pleadings, together with two copies shall be filed with the Clerk. [See Rule 5.5] The original pleading will be retained by the Clerk, one copy will be placed in the press box located in the public area of the Clerk's Office, and one copy will be placed in the mail box of the appropriate judicial officer. If you wish to obtain a file stamped copy of your records, you must provide an extra copy along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Format and Style

All pleadings shall be typewritten, photocopied, mimeographed, or printed in type not less than elite, in double space on letter size (8 1/2 x 11) paper, and shall be filed by the Clerk unfolded and without manuscript covers. Attorneys shall take notice of case numbers assigned to each case and shall place such numbers upon all pleadings, orders, and judgments.

Signature of attorney, address, telephone number, and Arkansas Supreme Court Identification Number

Every pleading filed in behalf of a party represented by counsel shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in his or her individual name, and the attorney's address, zip code, and telephone number, and Arkansas Supreme Court identification number, or other Supreme Court identification number, if applicable, shall be stated. It is the duty of each attorney to promptly notify the Clerk and the other parties to the proceedings of any change in his or her address. Note: To ensure that your new address or telephone number is recorded correctly, please notify the Clerk's Office of any changes by separate letter.

Motions

All motions except those mentioned below shall be accompanied by a brief consisting of a concise statement of relevant facts and applicable law. Both documents shall be filed with the Clerk, and copies shall be served on all other parties affected by the motion.

Motions Not Requiring a Brief

No brief is required from any party, unless otherwise directed by the Court, with respect to the following motions:

To extend time for the performance of an act required or allowed to be done, provided request is made before the expiration of the period originally prescribed, or as extended by previous order.

To obtain leave to file supplemental or amended pleadings.

To appoint an attorney or guardian ad item.

To permit substitution of or substituted parties or attorneys.

Statements in Opposition

Within fourteen (14) days from the date copies of a motion and supporting papers have been served upon him, any party opposing a motion shall serve and file with the Clerk a concise statement in opposition to the motion with supporting authorities. If a motion requires consideration of facts not appearing of record, the parties may serve and file copies of all photographs, documents, or other evidence deemed necessary in support of or in opposition to the motion, in addition to affidavits required or permitted by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. [Local Rule 7.2(b)]

Temporary Restraining Orders & Motions for Preliminary Injunctions

Pretrial motions for temporary restraining orders, motions for preliminary injunctions, and motions to dismiss, will not be taken up and considered unless set forth in a separate pleading accompanied by a separate brief.

Note: When a motion for a temporary restraining order or an application for a preliminary injunction is properly filed and requires an immediate hearing, counsel should promptly notify chambers staff or the courtroom deputy clerk for the judge assigned to the case to arrange for a subsequent court hearing.

Discovery

Pursuant to FRCP 5(d), disclosures under FRCP 26(a)(1) or (2) and the following discovery requests and responses must not be filed until they are used in a proceeding or the court orders filing:

Depositions and Deposition Notices

Interrogatories

Requests for Documents or to permit entry upon land Requests for Admissions

The following chart lists specific discovery documents that can and cannot be filed with the Court in light of the new Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Local Rules that took effect December 1, 2000.

Guidelines for Filing Discovery Documents in All Pending Civil Cases:

Initial Disclosures pursuant to FRCvP 26(a)(1) are not to be filed.

Expert Disclosures pursuant to FRCvP 26(a)(2) are not to be filed.

Pretrial Disclosures pursuant to FRCvP 26(a)(3) are to be filed. (See Local Rule 26.2)

Pro Se Party Requirements

It is the duty of any party appearing pro se (i.e., not represented by counsel) to promptly notify the Clerk and the other parties to the proceedings of any change in his or her address, to monitor the progress of the case, and to prosecute and defend the action diligently. A party appearing for himself/herself shall sign his/her pleadings and state his/her address, zip code, and telephone number. If any communication from the Court to a pro se plaintiff is not responded to within thirty (30) days, the case may be dismissed without prejudice. Any party proceeding pro se shall be expected to be familiar with and follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Submission to Judge (Not the Clerk's Office)

Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, trial briefs, and proposed jury instructions, and responses thereto shall not be filed with the Clerk's Office; they should be submitted to the judge to whom the case is assigned, with copies served upon all other parties.