Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Courtrooms capable of Video-Conferencing during trials?
Can I access court dockets from my computer?
How can I be admitted, as an attorney, to practice in U.S. District Court?
How do I request copies of court documents?
What are the costs for filing a claim with U. S. District Court?
What are the Federal Holidays?
What is Electronic Case Filing?
Where do I file?
Where do I get a copy of the Local Rules?

Are the Courtrooms capable of Video-Conferencing during trials?
Yes, all District Court courtrooms have video-conference capabilities using ISDN protocol. Billings, Great Falls and Missoula courthouses also have conference rooms which can be used for video-conferencing. At present, we are only set up for point-to-point conference calls. All video-conference calls must be scheduled in advance. For more information about video-conferencing in the Great Falls and Helena courtrooms, contact Gretchen Jendro at (406) 454-7823. For the Billings courtroom, contact Cecil Chandler at (406) 247-4493 or Michael Cuthbert at (406) 247-4463. For the Missoula and Butte courtrooms, contact Hyrum Fromm at (406) 542-7274.
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Can I access court dockets from my computer?
The Administrative Office of U. S. Courts provides a system called PACER - Public Access to Court Electronic Records. This system requires a computer equipped with a modem. Users dial in toll-free, and are charged a nominal fee - currently .08 cents per page - for access to this system. These fees can be waived for indigent users and other government agencies. The PACER system is available via the Internet.

User setup and accounting is handled via the national PACER Service Center in San Antonio, TX. Contact the Service Center at this number for further information: 1-800-676-6856 or access the Links page on this site for further details.
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How can I be admitted, as an attorney, to practice in U.S. District Court?
To be admitted without appearing, complete the “Petition for Admission as Attorney” and obtain the signature of an attorney already admitted to practice before this Court. Please sign the enclosed “Oath on Admission” card and return it to this office along with the Petition and the $250.00 fee. The application will be presented to the Clerk of Court for review and if all requirements for admission are met, we will mail you a certificate.

Further details on the requirements for ADMISSION TO PRACTICE IN THIS COURT can be found in the Local Rules Rule 83.3.
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How do I request copies of court documents?
Please take a look at our Copy Request Policy.
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What are the costs for filing a claim with U. S. District Court?
Please take a look at our Fee Schedule.
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What are the Federal Holidays?
New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
President’s Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veteran’s Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
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What is Electronic Case Filing?
Electronic Case Filing (ECF) is the new case management system being implemented in the Federal Judiciary for all United States District Courts throughout the country. ECF provides a new, easy-to-use, on-line electronic case filing feature, which will allow you to file and view court documents over the Internet. ECF was developed to enhance the accuracy, management and security of records, reduce delays in the flow of information and achieve costs savings for the judiciary, the bar and litigants.

Features

  • 24-hours-a-day / 7 days-a-week access to file documents over the Internet
  • 24-hours-a-day / 7 days-a-week access to view and print documents
  • Automatic email notification of case activity
  • Expanded search and reporting capabilities
  • Savings in time and expenditures for attorneys
  • Multiple parties can access case files simultaneously

Benefits

  • Replaces the current Case Management System
  • Case documents are maintained in electronic format
  • No waiting in line to file documents
  • No unavailable files at the courthouse
  • Secure and reliable
  • Court dockets are updated immediately
  • Easy to learn, Easy to use
  • Can be used anywhere Internet access is available
  • No additional fees for filing electronically

Equipment

  • Computer running Windows or Macintosh
  • Adobe Acrobat 5.0 or higher to convert documents
  • PDF compatible word processor like WordPerfect
  • Internet access supporting a transfer rate of 56kb or higher (high speed recommended)
  • ECF works correctly with Netscape, Firefox and Internet Explorer
  • Scanner to image non-computerized documents (200dpi black and white)
  • PACER account

More

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Where do I file?
The Court has multiple divisional offices located throughout Montana. They are located in Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula. The specific location for filing is generally determined by the plaintiff's place of residence, however, cases can be filed in any of the five locations.
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Where do I get a copy of the Local Rules?
Local Rules can be obtained from the Clerk's Office. You can read, download or print them from this site.

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