Docket Control Numbers

Under Local Rule 9014-1, every motion and contested matter submitted for the court's calendar requires a Docket Control Number. Docket Control Numbers (DCNs) are essential for organizing motions and contested matters in our court.

Here's how they work:

  1. Creation of a DCN: When an attorney files a motion, he/she creates a Docket Control Number. This should be no more than three letters, often the attorney's initials or the first three initials of the law firm. For instance, attorney John K. Doe might use "JKD". This is followed by a hyphen and a sequential number. The first motion filed in a case gets the number "1", so John K. Doe's first motion would be labeled "JKD-1". Once a DCN is assigned, all related pleadings filed by any party should include the same DCN. Remember to include the DCN on your proposed orders.

  2. Additional Motions: When an attorney files a second motion in the same case, he/she would use the same three letters for the DCN but the number will be “2”. So, if John K. Doe files a second motion it would be labeled "JKD-2". If John K. Doe files a third motion, it would be “JKD-3”, and so on. This indicates to the court that while "JKD-1", "JKD-2", and “JKD-3 are part of the same case or proceeding, they are separate issues.

  3. Using DCNs for Responsive Pleadings: If an attorney is responding to a motion or filing a counter-motion related to an existing motion, they should use the same Docket Control Number. For example, any response that is related to "JKD-1" would also carry the DCN "JKD-1". This practice assists the court in tracking motions that are linked within the same case.

  4. DCN’s Used by Court: Occasionally, the court will initiate a hearing using a court-specific DCN, such as “CAE-1.” When filing pleadings relating to these proceedings, attorneys should include the court’s DCN.

It's important to note that this numbering system resets with each new bankruptcy case or adversary proceeding that an attorney or law firm handles. This approach ensures that the management of court documents is streamlined and organized, facilitating easier tracking and reference.

To search for an existing Docket Control Number, please use the “Ctrl + F” function.

For a more comprehensive understanding, you can view the video titled "Docket Control Numbers" which is about 5 minutes long and provides additional information on this topic.