What should I do if my PDF is too large for the 9th Circuit?

Split it into consecutive parts that are each under 100 MB, never cutting a page in half, and file the first part as the main document and the rest as attachments named in order (for example "Exhibit A, Part 2 of 3"). For scanned documents, re-scanning in black and white at 300 dpi often shrinks the file enough to avoid splitting. Docket Prime can split the file for you in your browser.

Does the 9th Circuit require text-searchable PDFs?

The published rules we found don't require it. Documents saved directly from a word processor are searchable and much smaller than scans; for paper documents, OCR adds searchable text.

What page size does the 9th Circuit accept?

Letter size (8.5 × 11 inches) is expected. Legal-size or A4 pages may print badly or be refused, so resize them to letter.

9th Circuit e-filing PDF requirements (100 MB limit)

What the court requires

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit accepts PDFs of up to 100 MB each in CM/ECF. A larger document must be split into consecutive parts of 100 MB or less and filed as the main document followed by attachments, in order. Appendices and records are the documents most often over the limit; split them into volumes and check the circuit's rules on how volumes are numbered. Under Ninth Circuit Rule 25-5(d), each PDF attached to a filing may not exceed 100 MB.

The 9th Circuit hears appeals from federal courts in California, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands.

PDF requirements for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
E-filing system	CM/ECF
Maximum size per PDF	100 MB
Page size	Letter (8.5 × 11 in) expected
Text-searchable PDF	Not required by the rules we found
Bookmarks	Not required by the rules we found
Passwords / security settings	Not allowed (the system must be able to open the file)

E-filing system

CM/ECF

Maximum size per PDF

100 MB

Page size

Letter (8.5 × 11 in) expected

Text-searchable PDF

Not required by the rules we found

Bookmarks

Not required by the rules we found

Passwords / security settings

Not allowed (the system must be able to open the file)

Source: ecf.ca9.uscourts.gov. Rules change; confirm with the clerk's office before filing.

Common reasons filings are rejected

A single PDF is over 100 MB, usually a scanned exhibit or record.
Pages are legal size (8½ × 14 in) or A4 instead of letter.
The PDF is password-protected or has security restrictions, so CM/ECF can't open it.
The PDF is password-protected or has security restrictions, so the court's system can't open it.

Questions about the 9th Circuit's PDF rules

What is the maximum PDF file size for the 9th Circuit?: 100 MB per PDF.
What should I do if my PDF is too large for the 9th Circuit?: Split it into consecutive parts that are each under 100 MB, never cutting a page in half, and file the first part as the main document and the rest as attachments named in order (for example "Exhibit A, Part 2 of 3"). For scanned documents, re-scanning in black and white at 300 dpi often shrinks the file enough to avoid splitting. Docket Prime can split the file for you in your browser.
Does the 9th Circuit require text-searchable PDFs?: The published rules we found don't require it. Documents saved directly from a word processor are searchable and much smaller than scans; for paper documents, OCR adds searchable text.
What page size does the 9th Circuit accept?: Letter size (8.5 × 11 inches) is expected. Legal-size or A4 pages may print badly or be refused, so resize them to letter.

PDF requirements for e-filing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Check your PDF for the 9th Circuit

What the court requires

Common reasons filings are rejected

Questions about the 9th Circuit's PDF rules

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