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First Circuit

District of Massachusetts Exhibit Requirements

The District of Massachusetts is a single-district covering the entire state, with courthouses in Boston, Springfield, and Worcester. The district is renowned for handling complex biotech and pharmaceutical patent litigation, securities cases, and significant commercial disputes. Boston's federal court has developed sophisticated procedures for technical and scientific cases.

D. Mass. exhibit facts at a glance
  • The District of Massachusetts's primary exhibit rule is L.R. 16.1, 16.4, 26.2.
  • Plaintiffs in the District of Massachusetts mark exhibits Ex. 1, Ex. 2, Ex. 3....
  • Defendants in the District of Massachusetts mark exhibits Ex. A, Ex. B, Ex. C....
  • The District of Massachusetts accepts e-filings through CM/ECF (PACER), with a limit of 50 MB per document.
  • Exhibits in the District of Massachusetts are exchanged per scheduling order (typically 30 days).
  • The District of Massachusetts (D. Mass.) sits within the First Circuit.
  • ExhibitPrep applies D. Mass. exhibit stamps entirely in the browser, so case files never leave the attorney's computer.
D. Mass.CM/ECF (PACER)Per scheduling order (typically 30 days)
Prepare ExhibitsFederal Court Guide PDF

Quick Reference

E-Filing SystemCM/ECF (PACER)
File Size Limit50 MB per document
Plaintiff MarkingEx. 1, Ex. 2, Ex. 3...
Defendant MarkingEx. A, Ex. B, Ex. C...
Exchange DeadlinePer scheduling order (typically 30 days)
Primary RuleL.R. 16.1, 16.4, 26.2

What This Guide Covers

L.R. 16.1 initial scheduling and case management
L.R. 16.4 pretrial procedures
L.R. 26.2 discovery procedures
Patent Local Rules for IP cases
Complex case designation procedures
Represented parties must file electronically unless nonelectronic filing is allowed by the court or local rule.
Summary judgment exhibit procedures
Biotechnology and pharma litigation expertise

Divisions & Courthouses

Boston

  • •John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse
  • •Main division - most cases
  • •Biotech and pharma patent cases
  • •Major commercial litigation

Springfield

  • •Western Massachusetts cases
  • •Same local rules apply
  • •Smaller caseload

Worcester

  • •Central Massachusetts cases
  • •Same local rules apply
  • •Limited sitting schedule

Judge-Specific Practices

D. Mass. judges have varying approaches to case management and exhibits. Some judges have specific formatting preferences for exhibits submitted with summary judgment motions. For patent cases, judges often issue scheduling orders with detailed exhibit exchange procedures. Always review the assigned judge's individual practices on the court website.

Pro Tips for D. Mass.

  • 1D. Mass. has developed sophisticated procedures for complex scientific cases
  • 2Patent cases follow specialized Patent Local Rules with Markman procedures
  • 3Local Rule 56.1 requires copies of all referenced documentation to be filed as exhibits to a summary judgment motion or opposition.
  • 4Check the assigned judge's standing order for exhibit format requirements.
  • 5Check the scheduling order and the court's patent procedures for any technical tutorial requirements.
  • 6Local Rule 7.1 governs motion practice, and Local Rule 56.1 addresses exhibits to summary judgment papers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not complying with L.R. 7.1 motion practice requirements
Failing to follow Patent Local Rules in IP cases
Missing pretrial deadlines under L.R. 16.4
Not organizing exhibits for summary judgment per local practice
Failing to check individual judge preferences
Exceeding page limits on supporting memoranda

D. Mass. Exhibit FAQ

How are exhibits marked in the District of Massachusetts?

D. Mass. uses "Ex. 1, Ex. 2, Ex. 3" for plaintiff exhibits and "Ex. A, Ex. B, Ex. C" for defendant exhibits, a numbers-then-letters convention set out in L.R. 16.1, 16.4, and 26.2.

What is the ECF file size limit for the District of Massachusetts?

D. Check the court's current CM/ECF administrative procedures for the per-file size limit and split larger exhibits into separate PDFs.

Does D. Mass. have special rules for biotech and pharma patent exhibits?

Yes. Patent proceedings in the district are governed by Local Rule 16.6, which provides for tutorials at the court's request before the claim-construction hearing.

Which courthouses handle exhibits in the District of Massachusetts?

D. Mass. is a single statewide district with courthouses in Boston (John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse, handling most cases), Springfield, and Worcester, all operating under the same local rules.

What local rule governs exhibits filed with summary judgment motions in D. Mass.?

Local Rule 56.1 requires copies of all referenced documentation to be filed as exhibits to a summary judgment motion or opposition.

Related Court Guides

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Alphabetic labels with per-exhibit numbering

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FRCP Rule 26 & CM/ECF

Federal PDF Guide

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