Electronic Brief Uploading

In addition to providing the required number of paper copies of briefs, all parties (except pro se
parties) are required to upload the brief in electronic format to the court’s Web site as described in 11th
Cir. R. 31-5 and these instructions. The electronic brief must be completely contained in a single Adobe
Acrobat® PDF file (see instructions for generating the PDF file below), i.e., the cover page through and
including the certificate of service shall be contained in one file. Appendices need not be included in the
electronic brief. Hypertext links to cases, statutes and other reference materials available on the Internet
are authorized. The certificate of service shall continue to indicate service of the brief in paper format.

In order to gain access to the system, you will need your individual identification number (EDF User
ID), which is printed on the address wrapper accompanying the brief scheduling letter.

Please note that we currently accept briefs in electronic format only. Do not upload motions, responses
to motions, petitions for rehearing or any documents other than briefs.

Go to this court’s Web site at www.ca11.uscourts.gov

Click the link “Electronic Filing” (located on the upper right side of the main web page)
This will display the EDF Login Select page.

First time users:

• Click the Attorney Registration button. This will display the EDF Attorney Validation page.
• Enter your EDF User ID and Eleventh Circuit docket number in the format 05-12345.
• Click the Submit button. This will display the EDF Attorney Registration Page.
• Enter or verify your email address in the E-Mail Address text box.
• Enter a password using the format specified on the website.
Note that your password will be displayed as dots (••••••) or asterisks (******).
• Click the Submit button to complete the registration process.
If you receive an error message indicating that the email address or password is invalid, click the
submit button to begin the registration process again.
If your email address and password are valid, you will receive a message indicating they are valid
and have been updated.
• Click the link labeled Return to return to the EDF Login Select page.

Registered users:
Before continuing, you should already have your brief in PDF format available.
• Click the Login button on the EDF Login Select page.
• Enter your EDF User ID and password.
• Click the Log In button. This will display the Docket Selection Page.
• Select the case for which you want to upload a brief.
Only cases in which you have filed an Appearance of Counsel Form and are currently active will
appear in the list. If a case does not appear in the list in which you have filed your Appearance of
Counsel Form, please contact the docket clerk assigned to your case.
• Click the Submit Docket # button. This will display the Brief Upload Page.
• Select the type of brief you are submitting from the list of brief types.
If you have any doubt as to the type of brief you are submitting, contact the docket clerk assigned
to your case for assistance in determining the type of brief you are filing.
• Click the Browse button. This will display a File Upload box from which you can select your
Found at:
The Florida Legal Blog
www.floridalegalblog.org
 PDF file. Simply locate the file on your computer and click the Open button.
• Click the Submit File button.
This should display the Brief Upload Result Page indicating your brief has been successfully
received. This page will indicate the type of brief, docket number, date and time of your upload
as well as the attorney name and EDF User ID.
To verify your upload, you may view the file we received by clicking on the View Uploaded
Brief link. You may also wish to print this page for your records.
• Click the link labeled Please Logout When You Are Done to log out.

We review your electronically filed brief the following business day to ensure the case information and
brief type selected are correct. If a problem is discovered with the upload, you will be notified via the
email address you specified when you registered. Otherwise, your brief will be available in PACER no
later than the following business day.

Instructions for Generating a text searchable PDF File:

You can get a PDF creation utility from any source of your choosing, including Adobe
(www.adobe.com), www.cutepdf.com, www.pdf995.com, www.PDFStore.com or from another vendor.
If you use WordPerfect version 9 or later, you can generate the PDF file by selecting “Publish to PDF”
from the File menu. Additionally, Adobe can perform the conversion for you on their website as well as
Neevia (http://convert.neevia.com).

Please note that employees of the Court cannot convert files to PDF format for you, nor can they accept
e-mailed submissions and post them for you. If you have problems uploading your brief, you may email
EDF Support using the link at the bottom of the electronic filing page, or call the help desk at (404) 335-
6399.

Common error messages:

Sorry, we only accept briefs in PDF format. You might wish to check out our Electronic Filing
Instructions.
This message indicates that the file you selected in step 4 was not a PDF file. Make sure you select
the PDF file from your computer.

PDF File is too large. You might wish to check out our Electronic Filing Instructions.
Your PDF file cannot be larger than 750KB.
If you scanned in your brief, our rules indicate that scanning is not permissible. You must generate
your PDF file directly from your word processor.
If you generated your brief directly from your word processor, consult the manual or help file for
your word processor or PDF program to compress the text in your PDF file.

Found at:
The Florida Legal Blog
www.floridalegalblog.org