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November 13, 2009

Friday, November 13, 2009

The U.S. District Court Clerk's Office wishes to bring several important matters to your attention.

1. Cheryl Zwart Selected as New Magistrate Judge

The active and senior district judges have selected Cheryl Zwart as the court's next magistrate judge.  Ms. Zwart presently serves as one of the district court's law clerks.  She will succeed Magistrate Judge David L. Piester, who retired in August.  Ms. Zwart will serve in Lincoln.  A press release about her appointment is available on the court's Web site at http://www.ned.uscourts.gov/publicNotices > Press Release November 11, 2009 (Cheryl Zwart Selected as Next Magistrate Judge).

2. Judicial Council Decisions

On October 30, 2009, the Judicial Council for the District of Nebraska made the following decisions:

a. Authorized the amendment of the Order Setting Conditions of Release to include a mandatory condition requiring the defendant to cooperate in the collection of DNA if 43 14135(a) authorizes it.
b. Rescinded General Order 2002-1 and adopted the amendments to the Local Rules recommended by the Docket and Local Rules Committee.  The amendments will become effective on December 1, the same date that amendments to the Federal Rules become effective.

3. CM/ECF System Down

The CM/ECF System will be down on Sunday, November 15, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for system maintenance.

4. Local Rules Amendments

The 2009 amendments to the district's local rules are posted for comment on the court's Web site at httpd://www.ned.uscourts.gov/localrules.  Comments on the amendments are due by December 9, 2009.  The amended rules go into effect on December 1, 2009.  CM/ECF events will reflect both the time and language changes noted below.  Counsel should pay particular attention to two changes:

a. The new time computation rules, made necessary by the corresponding changes to the Federal Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedures, which also go into effect on December 1.
b. In NECivR 72.2 and NECrimR 59.2, also made necessary by changes to the corresponding Federal Rules:
i. Counsel will now "object" to a magistrate judge's order rather than "appeal"; and
ii. Magistrate judges will now file "findings and recommendations" rather than "reports and recommendations."

5. New Event: "Interpreter Request"

In criminal cases, the local rules require the government and defense counsel to submit requests for interpreters in CM/ECF.  Interpreter services should be requested using new events in the "Other Documents" category:  "Interpreter Request for Pretrial Hearings (TEXT ONLY)" and "Interpreter Request for Trial (TEXT ONLY)."  In civil cases, the parties are responsible for providing their own interpreters for any interpreting services needed throughout the litigation, including depositions and trials.  However, the clerk's office will secure and pay for any interpreters needed for civil cases initiated by the United States.

NOTE: You received this message because you are a registered user of CM/ECF.  This is an! automated message.  DO NOT REPLY to this e-mail.  If you wish to contact the court, use the following link: http://www.ned.uscourts.gov/emailus/index.html.

If you have any questions about these matters, please contact the clerk's office, 402-661-7350 (Omaha) or 402-437-1900 (Lincoln).

Thank you,
United States District Court Clerk's Office