D.R.I. LR Gen 201

(a) Requirement of Membership in Local Bar. In order to appear in and/or practice before

this Court, a person must be a member of the Bar of this Court unless these Local Rules

expressly provide otherwise.

A person who is not a member of the Bar of this Court may not sign any pleading or

motion filed on behalf of a party unless these Local Rules expressly provide otherwise.

(b) Exceptions to Requirement of Membership. Notwithstanding the provisions of

subsection (a), the following individuals may appear and/or practice before this Court:

(1) Attorneys for the United States. An attorney who is a member in good standing

of the bar of another federal district court and each jurisdiction in which that

attorney has been admitted to practice may appear and practice in this Court as an

attorney for the United States or for any agency of the United States or for an

officer of the United States in his or her official capacity.

(2) Pro Hac Vice Counsel. An attorney who satisfies the requirements of LR Gen

204(b) may appear and practice in this Court if admitted as pro hac vice counsel

in accordance with the provisions of LR Gen 204.

(3) Attorneys in Removal Cases. An attorney who is a member of the bar of the

Rhode Island Supreme Court, and who represents a party in a case removed

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1441 et seq other than a party joining in the removal

request, may appear and practice in this Court in that case, unless that attorney has

been suspended or disbarred as a member of the bar of this Court.

(4) Parties Appearing Pro se. An individual who is not represented by counsel and

who is a party to a pending case may appear on his or her own behalf subject to

the limitations set forth in LR Gen 205. A pro se party shall be subject to and

required to comply with all other applicable provisions of these rules.

(5) Attorneys in Transferred Cases. An attorney who is a member in good standing

of the bar of another federal district court, and who represents a party in a case

transferred to the District of Rhode Island from another district, may appear and

practice in this Court in that case.

(6) Law Student Counsel. A Senior Law Student who is eligible to appear pursuant

to LR Gen 206(e) may appear in this Court as a Law Student Counsel subject to the

limitations in LR Gen 206(e).

(7) Federal Defenders. An attorney employed in the Federal Defender’s Office in

this District may appear and practice as an attorney pursuant to a court

appointment or on behalf of his or her office.

(8) Law Professors. An attorney who is employed by a law school in Rhode Island

and is a member in good standing of the bar of another state bar or federal district

court and each jurisdiction in which that attorney has been admitted to practice,

may appear and practice in this Court as an attorney.

Effective 4/1/24: §(b)(7) and (8) added. Effective 12/1/18: §(b)(6) amended. Effective 1/15/13: §(b)(6) added.

Effective 1/3/11: §(b)(5) added. Effective 3/17/08: §(b)(3) amended.