Judge Michael L. Katz
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Proposed Order
Court-wide
Adjournments
- All adjournments require prior court approval, and counsel may jointly request one by contacting the Part Clerk at least two days before the appearance.
Communication
Phone
Clerk
Phone
Clerk
Phone
Court-wideClerk
Document Format Requirements1 rule
All exhibits should be identified by tabs.
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •Exhibits should be identified by tabs
Document Filing Requirements13 rules
All motion papers (including opposition and reply papers) shall state the motion sequence number and return date of the motion on the first page.
- Document
- Motion
- Placement
- First page
Sur-replies are not accepted without prior court permission.
All motions shall be made by order to show cause unless otherwise directed by the court.
Ex-parte applications for orders of protection must be accompanied by the Family Protection Registry Information Sheet and the litigant must be present.
All discovery shall be completed before the final status conference.
The date of the compliance conference shall be set at the time of the preliminary conference.
Parties shall exchange and file with the court the following documents at the pre-trial conference, if any, or at least two weeks prior to the first day of trial if there is no pre-trial conference: (i) statement of proposed disposition; (ii) updated statement of net worth; (iii) most recently filed tax returns; (iv) witness list; and (v) exhibit list (with pre-marked exhibits).
The following documents shall be submitted at the preliminary conference: (i) each party’s sworn statement of net worth; (ii) the most recently filed state and federal income tax returns; and (iii) each party’s two most recent paycheck stubs.
Motions to consolidate family offense proceedings pending in the Family Court must contain a complete copy of the relevant pleadings and orders (with relevant docket numbers).
If the trial concerns the issue of custody only and involves no financial issues, the parties shall file a proposed parenting plan instead of a statement of proposed disposition, and need not file an updated statement of net worth.
During direct testimony, counsel may offer only documents previously disclosed on the exhibit list, and only witnesses previously disclosed on the witness list may testify.
Court's wording
As a general rule, no counsel or party will be permitted to offer a document into evidence during a witness’ direct testimony unless the document was disclosed on the previously exchanged exhibit list, and no witness will be permitted to testify unless the witness was disclosed on the previously exchanged witness list.
Prior to the pre-trial conference, the parties shall attempt to execute a stipulation as to: (i) the authenticity and admissibility of exhibits; and (ii) undisputed facts.
Attorneys for children, if any, may file a proposed parenting plan if they wish to do so, and shall also exchange and file witness and exhibit lists.
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Pretrial motions, including motions in limine, must be filed by order to show cause at least three weeks before the pretrial conference and returnable at that conference.
Any pre-trial motions, including motions in limine, shall be filed by order to show cause at least three weeks prior to the pre-trial conference, so that they can be made returnable at the pre-trial conference.
Page 2 | Pre-trial conferences
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The party must send all parties or their counsel a copy of the unsigned order to show cause and a letter stating the date, time, and location of the interim-relief hearing.
The party must then forward a copy of the unsigned order to show cause to all parties or their counsel, together with a letter notifying them of the date, time and location that the parties will be heard on the request for interim relief.
Page 1 | Temporary restraining orders
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Oral argument is required for all motions unless the court directs otherwise.
Oral argument is required on all motions, unless otherwise directed by the Court.
Page 1 | Motions
Counsel are encouraged to contact the court by conference call before filing a motion.
To reduce the need for motion practice, counsel are encouraged to contact the court by conference call prior to filing a motion.
Page 1 | Motions
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
All adjournments require prior court approval, and counsel may jointly request one by contacting the Part Clerk at least two days before the appearance.
All adjournments require the prior approval of the court. Applications for adjournments may be made by counsel jointly contacting the Part Clerk at (646) 386-3285 at least two (2) days prior to the scheduled court appearance.
Page 1 | General Rules
Trial dates are final and will not be adjourned absent extraordinary circumstances.
Absent extraordinary circumstances, all trial dates are final and will not be adjourned.
Page 2 | Trials and Hearings
Chambers Communication Rules
Before presenting an order to show cause for a temporary restraining order or other interim relief, the party must contact the Part Clerk to obtain a date and time, except for ex parte order-of-protection applications.
Any party bringing an order to show cause seeking a temporary restraining order or other interim relief (other than an ex-parte application for an order of protection) must first contact the Part Clerk at (646) 386-3285 to obtain a date and time to present the order to show cause to the court.
Page 1 | Temporary restraining orders
Counsel and parties should not contact the court by letter, email, or fax, or forward correspondence to the court, without prior court permission.
Counsel and parties should not contact the court by letter, email or fax, and should not forward to the court copies of correspondence between or among counsel and/or parties, without prior permission from the court.
Page 1 | General Rules
Counsel may jointly initiate a telephone conference with the court when an issue between court dates requires court intervention.
Counsel may also jointly initiate a telephone conference with the court should an issue arise between court dates which requires court intervention.
Page 1 | General Rules