Vt. R. Elec. Filing. 7
Reporter's Notes-2020
Rule 7 provides the formatting requirements for electronically and nonelectronically filed documents. The requirements are mandatory and are largely self-explanatory. Failure to follow them can result in the rejection of a filed document.
The general requirement is that a document be filed in PDF format, but the court can order a different format. The court may order the filing of a specific document in another format-for example, the court could order a proposed order or findings of fact to be filed in MS Word so that the content can be more easily edited and used by the court. A filer who is filing a document in a different format pursuant to this exception must also file the court order authorizing use of this format so the staff reviewing the filing is aware of the court authorization.
Subdivision (b) states that the PDF format be text-searchable so the text can be captured for different purposes. For instructions on creating or converting a document to text searchable PDF see U.S. Ct. of App. for the Second Circuit, Making a PDF Text-Searchable, http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/clerk/case_filing/electronic_filing/how _to_use_cmecf/text_searchable_pdfs.html [https://perma.cc/6L6B-LY73].
The requirement that the document be text-searchable does not apply to attachments and exhibits as they are not documents created for litigation.
Rule 7(c) provides formatting requirements for nonelectronically filed documents. The rule provides that generally documents should be legible with text visible. Because court staff will scan these documents, it is highly recommended that filers do not use staples to secure pages or exhibit separator pages.
Reporter's Notes-2021 Amendments
This rule is amended in connection with the introduction of efiling in the Vermont Supreme Court. Subdivision (a) is amended to modify the cross-reference to Rule 5 to reflect the relettering of the applicable sections and to make clear that the cross-reference to Rule 5 is only to subdivisions that apply to the efiler. It is also amended to reflect another system requirement that the document not contain an embedded or live hyperlink or internal document. The document may contain an internet path that is not live but can be used by copying it into an internet browser.
Subdivision (d) is added to make clear that the formatting requirements of this rule are additional to any form or formatting requirements imposed by other procedural rules. An example of such rules are the formatting requirements contain in the 2021 amendments to V.R.A.P. 32.