Rule 171A - CD-ROM BriefsIn addition to the electronically or conventionally filed paper copies of the brief, as required by these rules, a party may file a brief on CD-ROM subject to the following requirements. The electronically filed or paper submission filed pursuant to these Rules will be the "official version" for the Court's purposes. Except as specifically noted, the filing of a CDROM brief does not affect the other requirements of these Rules governing the preparation, filing, and service of the brief:
(a) The cover page of the brief electronically or conventionally filed shall include the following legend in bold type immediately beneath the case number in the caption: "CDROM Version To Be Filed".(b) Multiple parties filing a brief jointly may file such a brief on CD-Rom. Joinders to a brief may also be filed on the same CD-ROM.(c) A CD-ROM brief shall be identical to the "official version" filed with the Court, including pagination and the signature of counsel, or an /s/ indicating that counsel has authorized its filing.(d) The table of contents of the CD-ROM brief shall contain hyperlinks to the cited page within the brief.(e) The CD-ROM brief shall contain hyperlinks to all cases, statutes, reference materials, exhibits and such other items as are cited in the brief, subject to the following: (i) Hyperlinks shall link directly to the cited page(s) of the linked document.(ii) Hyperlinks shall only link to documents filed on the same CD-ROM, and not directly to the internet or other external sources.(f) Format: (i) Any party filing an e-brief shall file a single CD-ROM.(ii) Any party wishing to file an e-brief on DVD rather than CD-ROM shall seek leave of Court to do so.(iii) CD-ROM brief must be contained on Windows-compatible CD-ROMs.(iv) The Court will not require any particular structure or format for electronic briefs and will accept any format as long as it meets the minimum requirements stated within this rule.(v) CD-ROM briefs must either come with their own viewing programs or be viewable using (a) a program such as Adobe Acrobat that is downloadable from the Internet at no cost to the user, (b) both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator or (c) Microsoft Word.(vi) CD-ROM briefs must be free of computer viruses.(vii) CD-ROM briefs must be accompanied by a statement, preferably within or attached to the packaging, which (a) provides the instructions for viewing the record or brief and the minimum equipment required for doing so and (b) verifies the absence of computer viruses and describes the software used to ensure that they are virus-free.(viii) The CD-ROM shall not be bootable.(ix) The CD-ROM shall also include a text version of the brief in the format in which it was created and in RTF [Rich Text Format].(x) Files shall be configured to allow selecting and printing. All fonts used in a file shall be imbedded in the file.(g) Time and Form of Filing: (i) The CD-ROM brief shall be filed not later than ten days after the filing of the electronically filed or conventionally filed paper copies of the brief, unless the Court directs otherwise.(ii) Three copies of the CD-ROM shall be filed by conventional means. The CD-ROM version of the brief shall not be electronically filed.(iii) Two copies of the CD-ROM shall be served on each party separately represented and on each pro se party. A certificate of service shall accompany each submission.(iv) Each submission shall be labeled with the name of this Court, the short caption of the case and its case number, the title of the brief, the date of submission, and the name of the party making submission. The label shall appear on the CD-ROM itself and on the container.(h) Filing under seal:(i) To the extent any portion of a CD-ROM brief shall be filed under seal, the parties shall substitute an appropriately worded page or document into location of the document or portion of the document to be filed under seal. The hyperlink for the page or document shall link to the substituted page or document.(ii) A CD-Rom brief filed under seal shall include the entire e-brief including all materials and the label shall include: "Filed under seal."