Civil procedure includes the procedures and rules that govern civil (non-criminal) litigation in state and federal courts. Many states have rules of civil procedure written by the state supreme court, for example, and other states include their rules of procedure in state statutes enacted by the state legislature.
In New York, civil procedure is governed by a combination of state statutes and rules established by the courts. The primary source of civil procedure rules is the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR), which is a comprehensive statute enacted by the state legislature. The CPLR covers various aspects of civil litigation, including the jurisdiction of the courts, the commencement of actions, service of process, pleadings, motions, discovery, trial procedure, judgments, and appeals. Additionally, the New York State Unified Court System has established the Uniform Rules for the New York State Trial Courts, which supplement the CPLR and provide detailed guidance on the conduct of civil litigation in the state's trial courts. Federal courts in New York, on the other hand, follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which are applicable to all federal district courts across the United States. These rules are established by the United States Supreme Court under the authority granted by Congress and govern procedural matters in civil cases in federal courts.