Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 167 rules apply across Superior Court of Delaware, New Castle County. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 50
  • Applies to
    Pending appeals inventory

    The Prothonotary of each county must prepare a Pending Appeals Inventory at the end of each month.

  • Applies to
    Case information statement

    A party identifies a qualifying case by entering the CCLD civil case code and Complex Commercial Litigation civil case type on the Case Information Statement.

  • Applies to
    Pleadings and other filed papers

    All pleadings and other papers filed with the court must include CCLD.

Filing Timing

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  • A motion opposing CCLD case identification must be filed before the Rule 16 scheduling conference unless the Panel Judge directs otherwise, and filing it does not extend deadlines for other pleadings, motions, or responses.

  • For non-expedited Rule 7(c)(1) motions, the general briefing schedule calls for an opening brief 30 days after filing, an answering brief 30 days later, and a reply 15 days after that.

  • Deadline
    14 calendar days

    For non-expedited motions other than Rule 7(c)(1) motions, the opposition is generally due 14 calendar days after filing and the reply seven calendar days later.

Communication

All 23
  • A lawyer should give all affected parties reasonable notice, whenever possible, before communicating with a court concerning pending or prospective litigation.

  • Ex parte communications with the court on pending matters should be avoided unless permitted by law.

  • Contact
    Email to duty judge

    Direct email to judicial officers is reserved for a true emergency arising outside regular business hours.

Formatting

All 11
  • Appendices and compendia should use tabs.

  • Parties should submit joint exhibits rather than separate plaintiff or defense exhibit sets.

  • Exhibits should be organized chronologically, or, when chronological ordering is not feasible in a highly expedited matter, parties should provide a chronological exhibit list as soon as practicable.

About Judge Paul R. Wallace

The Honorable Paul R. Wallace was appointed to the Superior Court of Delaware by Governor Jack A. Markell and began serving in January 2013.

Administrative contact: Dawn Pillarelli. Chambers phone: (302) 255-0660. Preference page updated September 8, 2026.

Common questions about Judge Paul R. Wallace's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Paul R. Wallace?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for motions and responses. Details: 1 copy. The original case-dispositive motion and response must be filed with the Prothonotary, with one courtesy copy including exhibits delivered to Judge Wallace’s chambers.

View ruleSource: page 5, section ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES — Case Dispositive Motions

Does Judge Paul R. Wallace require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Paul R. Wallace's rules set a pre-motion procedure for covered motions. Before filing a dispositive motion, counsel must obtain possible hearing dates and times from Judge Wallace’s Administrative Specialist, agree on a proposed date and time, and notice the motion accordingly.

View ruleSource: page 6, section VII. MOTIONS PRACTICE — A. DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS — 1. Time of Hearing

What page or word limits apply to letter before Judge Paul R. Wallace?

Judge Paul R. Wallace's rule states these limits: 1000 words. A letter to the court may not exceed 1,000 words.

View ruleSource: page 7, section D. LETTERS

What page or word limits apply to brief before Judge Paul R. Wallace?

Judge Paul R. Wallace's rule states these limits: 750 words. Excludes appendices. A defendant’s separate joinder or supporting brief must be served within three business days and may not exceed 750 words, excluding appendices.

View ruleSource: page 6, section VI. MOTIONS PRACTICE — A. DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Paul R. Wallace?

Judge Paul R. Wallace's formatting rule includes must be individually tabbed. Brief exhibits, motion courtesy copies, and letters must each be individually tabbed.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Motions & Briefing – Formatting

What must be included with opening brief filings before Judge Paul R. Wallace?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Every dispositive motion must be accompanied by an opening brief supporting it.

View ruleSource: page 5, section VI. MOTIONS PRACTICE — A. DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS

What must be included with motion filings before Judge Paul R. Wallace?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A case-dispositive motion must include a notice page indicating the date and time of the motion hearing.

View ruleSource: page 5, section ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES — Case Dispositive Motions

How may parties contact Judge Paul R. Wallace's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Paul R. Wallace's chambers. Plaintiff’s counsel must immediately notify chambers by email if the case settles.

View ruleSource: page 5, section ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES — Settlement Negotiations

How does Judge Paul R. Wallace handle sealed or redacted filings?

Judge Paul R. Wallace's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Any court filing that communicates Confidential Discovery Material must be filed confidentially and withheld from public access under Superior Court Civil Rules 5(g) and 79.1.

View ruleSource: page 10, section Paragraph 11

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Paul R. Wallace?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. If all counsel expect an early settlement, plaintiff’s counsel may request postponement of the scheduling conference.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Initial Stages – Initial Scheduling Conferences

Does Judge Paul R. Wallace require motion papers to be bundled?

Bundling is optional for covered papers before Judge Paul R. Wallace. A case referred to a special discovery master may use a modified discovery-motion practice protocol.

View ruleSource: page 6, section VI. MOTIONS PRACTICE — B. DISCOVERY AND OTHER MOTIONS

Are filing fees or waivers addressed before Judge Paul R. Wallace?

A fee is required for covered filings. The trial fee must be paid no later than the pretrial conference; if unpaid within two business days after the conference, the case will be removed from the trial calendar and a new trial date will be scheduled upon payment.

View ruleSource: page 3, section Trial Fee

Is electronic filing required before Judge Paul R. Wallace?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. A substantive email must be docketed by the sender and may be sent only with Judge Wallace’s approval or in exigent circumstances.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Communications

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Paul R. Wallace?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. A separate joinder or supporting brief must be served within three business days after service of the motion or opposition.

View ruleSource: page 6, section VI. MOTIONS PRACTICE — A. DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS

What service or proof of service rules apply before Judge Paul R. Wallace?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. When a new party is added, the party adding it must serve the new party with the Case Management Order at the same time it serves the pleading joining the new party.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. GENERAL
Complete rules summary for Judge Paul R. Wallace

A letter to the court may not exceed 1,000 words.

When a new party is added, the party adding it must serve the new party with the Case Management Order at the same time it serves the pleading joining the new party.

Documents initiating specified discovery requests and responses to them must be served electronically through LEXIS/NEXIS, excluding the actual production of documents.

Dispositive motions may be filed on or before the date stated in the scheduling order.

A response to a dispositive motion is due no later than 30 days after the motion is filed, with briefing and further proceedings governed by Section VI-A.

Before filing a dispositive motion, counsel must obtain possible hearing dates and times from Judge Wallace’s Administrative Specialist, agree on a proposed date and time, and notice the motion accordingly.

Every dispositive motion must be accompanied by an opening brief supporting it.

A defendant’s separate joinder or supporting brief must be served within three business days and may not exceed 750 words, excluding appendices.

A separate joinder or supporting brief must be served within three business days after service of the motion or opposition.

A separate joinder or supporting brief is limited to 750 words and must comply with Superior Court Civil Rule 107(b)’s typeface requirement, excluding appendices.

Unless an alternative schedule applies, an answering brief must be filed and served by the later of 30 days after motion service or 30 days after a separate joinder or supporting brief is filed.

If a reply brief is filed on a dispositive motion, it may be filed 14 days after responses are received but no later than seven days before the hearing.

A reply brief on a dispositive motion may be filed fourteen days after responses are received.

A reply brief must be filed no later than seven days before the motion hearing.

Every brief on a dispositive motion must conform to Superior Court Civil Rule 107.

A discovery motion or other non-dispositive, non-in-limine motion must be a speaking motion limited to 2,500 words, comply with Rule 107(b)’s typeface requirement, and ordinarily be noticed on a Monday 9:00 a.m. routine motions calendar.

Discovery and other non-dispositive, non-in-limine motions must be speaking motions limited to 2,500 words and comply with Rule 107(b)’s typeface requirement.

Discovery and other non-dispositive, non-in-limine motions must be speaking motions limited to 2,500 words.

Absent leave of the Court, discovery and other motions must be filed at least 15 calendar days before the noticed hearing date.

Responses must be filed no later than seven (7) calendar days after the motion is filed.

Responses to discovery and other motions must also be filed no later than the Wednesday before the motion hearing.

Responses to discovery and other motions are limited to 2,500 words.

The order establishes separate filing deadlines for motions in limine and their responses, but the dates are left blank.

Each motion in limine and each response is limited to 2,500 words.

Each motion in limine must comply with the typeface requirements of Rule 107(b).

A case-dispositive motion must include a notice page indicating the date and time of the motion hearing.

Responses to dispositive motions are due 14 business days after filing.

Motions in limine must include all supporting authority.

Unless a specific order provides otherwise, a response to a motion in limine with all supporting authority is due no later than 7 business days after filing.

The interim status report is due no more than 14 days after mandatory ADR is conducted.

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