NEWS FROM U.S. DISTRICT COURT
December 12, 2025
Documents Requiring the Signature of More Than One Party. Pursuant to D.S.D. Civ. LR 5.1(D) and D.S.D. Crim. LR 49.1(D), documents requiring the signatures of more than one party may be e-filed by either by (a) submitting a scanned document containing all necessary signatures, or (b) in any other manner approved by the court. It is never permissible for a filer to sign a document for another person by typing an “/s/” and the other person’s name on a signature line. Only the filing party may utilize an electronic signature on documents requiring the signature of more than one party.
Multifactor Authentication Update. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) continues to be rolled out to all PACER users over the next few months. This shift to MFA is critical to ensuring the security of our systems.This rollout has led to questions about when users should contact the PACER Service Center (PSC), and when they can enroll in MFA without assistance from the PSC.
• Password Reset: On October 16, 2025, PACER released an update that allows users with CM/ECF-level access (e.g., filers, interested parties, etc.) whose account search status becomes inactive due to search inactivity the ability to reset their own password without contacting the PSC.
• MFA Enrollment: Users should only enroll in MFA if prompted when logging into PACER. No action is necessary unless users receive an MFA enrollment prompt.
• Inactive Search Status: Users with CM/ECF-level access are allowed to continue to file even if they have an inactive search status. They are still required to contact the PSC if they wish to reactivate their search status if their account has been deactivated due to six months of inactivity.
Some common questions are answered on the MFA Tips and Resources page of the PACER website. Please visit this page before contacting the PSC.
2026 Holiday Schedule. The Court has issued its 2026 Holiday Schedule.
Closure Reminder. The court will be closed on Thursday, December 25ᵗʰ for Christmas and Friday, December 26ᵗʰ for a local holiday. It will also be closed for New Year’s on January 1, 2026.