Hon. Meredith A. Vacca, United States District Judge

Hon. Meredith A. Vacca
United States District Judge
Kenneth B. Keating Federal Building
100 State Street
Rochester, New York 14614
TEL: (585) 613-4370

Staff Information

General Chambers Email:	vacca@nywd.uscourts.gov
General Chambers Phone:	(585) 613-4370

Courtroom Deputy Clerk:	Katelyn S. Popp

Court Reporter:	Joony L. Odenbach

Law Clerks:	John C. Lyle Nicole Austin Matthew Paris

Judge Tabs

Motions

Motions:

The Court will typically set its own briefing schedule once a motion has been filed. However, where no briefing schedule has been issued, parties should refer to L.R. Civ. P. 7(b)(2). Parties may request oral argument on any motion, and the Court will schedule argument if it determines that argument may be helpful to resolution of the motion.

The page limits of L.R. Civ. P. 7(a)(2)(C), and the requirements of L.R. Civ. P. 10, will be strictly enforced, unless the party makes an appropriate application to the Court.

Additionally, parties shall provide courtesy copies of all dispositive motions and associated papers – including exhibits – to Chambers with the headers generated by CM/ECF upon filing.

Adjournments and Enlargements of Time

Adjournments and Enlargements of Time:

A schedule may be modified only for good cause and with the Court’s consent (see, e.g., Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(4)). Counsel may file letter motions through CM/ECF for an adjournment or extension of time with consent of all relevant parties. In the absence of the requisite consent, a formal motion for adjournment or extension of time must be filed with the Court.

Injunctive and/or Expedited Relief

Requests for Injunctive and/or Expedited Relief:

Immediately after the filing of a request for injunctive or expedited relief in any case assigned to Judge Vacca, the moving party must telephone Chambers (585-613-4370) and send an email to the Chambers address (vacca@nywd.uscourts.gov) to notify the Court that the motion has been filed. The Court shall determine the briefing schedule and return date applicable to any such motions.

Requests for injunctive relief shall be made in the form and manner set forth in L.R. Civ. P. 65. Requests to have the motion heard on an expedited basis must also comply with L.R. Civ. P. 7(d).

Style Guide

Style Guide for Memoranda:

It is expected that all motion papers will conform to the requirements set forth in L.R. Civ. P. 7(a)(2)(C) and L.R. Crim P. 12(c), unless the Court has expressly allowed otherwise. Judge Vacca prefers citations per The Bluebook style. Citations to legal authority should be included in the text of a memorandum of law, not footnotes.

If a pro se litigant is a party to the case, please include copies of unpublished cases cited in your memorandum of law.

Junior Lawyers

Opportunities for More Junior Lawyers:

The Court strongly encourages litigants to permit more junior members of the litigation team to examine witnesses at trial and hearings, and to appear for oral argument before the Court. Indeed, in those instances where the Court is inclined to rule on the papers, a representation that the argument would be handled by a more junior lawyer will weigh in favor of holding oral argument. In addition, under circumstances where the more junior attorney is permitted to present the argument to the Court, the Court will entertain reasonable requests for the more senior attorney to supplement any argument that is made. The Court believes it is crucial to provide substantive speaking opportunities to young lawyers, and that the benefits of doing so will accrue to all members of the profession and their clients. Thus, the Court encourages all lawyers practicing before it to keep this goal in mind. It is the way one generation will teach the next to try cases and to maintain our district’s reputation for excellence in trial practice.

United States District Court

Western District of New York

Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford, Chief Judge | Mary C. Loewenguth, Clerk of Court

You are here

Hon. Meredith A. Vacca, United States District Judge