Court Rules

District of Delaware Chambers Communication Rules

45 rules from official source documents

Rules for contacting chambers: permitted methods, hours, and purposes. This page is scoped to District of Delaware; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.

Chief Judge Colm F. ConnollydedCRITICAL

Joint Claim Construction Chart must be emailed to cfc_civil@ded.uscourts.gov simultaneously with filing.

Source text: The Joint Claim Construction Chart, in Word format, shall be e-mailed simultaneously with filing to cfc_civil@ded.uscourts.gov.

Chief Judge Colm F. ConnollydedCRITICAL

Contact Case Manager to schedule in-person conference for discovery disputes.

Source text: Should counsel find that they are unable to resolve a dispute relating to a discovery matter or protective order, the parties shall contact the Court's Case Manager to schedule an in-person conference/argument.

Judge Gregory B. WilliamsdedCRITICAL

Objections to evidence must be emailed to chambers by 6:00 a.m. on the trial day.

Source text: Delaware counsel, on behalf of the parties, shall notify the Court by email (gbw_civil@ded.uscourts.gov) by 6:00 a.m. of any objections to demonstratives, witnesses, deposition designations, or other evidence to be presented that trial day.

Judge Gregory B. WilliamsdedCRITICAL

Parties must email revised proposed jury instructions and verdict sheet to chambers before the charge conference.

Source text: Prior to the charge conference, the parties shall file and email chambers (gbw_civil@ded.uscourts.gov) revised versions of their proposed final jury instructions and verdict sheet.

Judge Gregory B. WilliamsdedCRITICAL

Parties must email glossary, witness list, and pronunciation guide to court reporter and chambers at least 3 business days before trial.

Source text: At least three (3) business days before the start of the jury trial, the parties shall email the court reporter and chambers a glossary of terms and names, a list of possible witnesses who may appear at trial, and a list of phonetic pronunciation of attorneys' and witnesses' names.

Judge Gregory B. WilliamsdedCRITICAL

Parties must notify court by joint letter about testimony request and time allocation for claim construction hearing

Source text: The parties shall notify the Court, by joint letter submission, no later than the date on which their answering claim construction briefs are due: (i) whether they request leave to present testimony at the hearing; and (ii) the amount of time they are requesting be allocated to them for the hearing.

Judge Gregory B. WilliamsdedCRITICAL

Interim status report required by joint letter on specified date

Source text: On , counsel shall submit a joint letter to the Court with an interim report of the matters in issue and the progress of discovery to date.

Judge Maryellen NoreikadedCRITICAL

When amendment is by matter of course, counsel must email a PDF amended pleading to the judicial administrator at the specified address.

Source text: If by matter of course, counsel shall email a PDF version of the amended pleading to the Court’s judicial administrator, Diana Welham, at diana_welham@ded.uscourts.gov.

Judge Maryellen NoreikadedCRITICAL

Local counsel must be involved in all calls to Chambers.

Source text: Local counsel shall be involved on all calls to Chambers.

Magistrate Judge Christopher J. BurkededCRITICAL

Joint Claim Construction Chart must be emailed in Word format to chambers at Samantha_Miller@ded.uscourts.gov.

Source text: The Joint Claim Construction Chart, in Word format, shall be e-mailed simultaneously with filing to Samantha_Miller@ded.uscourts.gov.

Magistrate Judge Mary Pat ThyngededCRITICAL

Telephonic Rule 16 status conference scheduled with specific coordination requirement

Source text: Status Conference. On ____________, 20__, the Court will hold a telephonic Rule 16 status conference with counsel beginning at ______ _.m. Plaintiff’s counsel shall coordinate the call to chambers.

Magistrate Judge Mary Pat ThyngededCRITICAL

In-person mediation conference scheduled with specific timing and location requirements.

Source text: An in-person mediation conference is scheduled for __day, ____ __, 2022 beginning at __:00 a.m. Eastern Time. All required participants (see ¶ 2) are to report at this time to Courtroom 2B and are to remain available until excused by the Court.

Magistrate Judge Mary Pat ThyngededCRITICAL

Counsel must notify Judge and law clerk by email if matter settles before mediation.

Source text: It is counsel’s responsibility to notify Judge Thynge by email, with a copy to the Judge’s law clerk, Daniel Taylor, should the matter settle prior to the mediation date.

Magistrate Judge Mary Pat ThyngededCRITICAL

Counsel must notify Judge and law clerk via joint email if mediation is cancelled.

Source text: Should the mediation be cancelled, counsel shall advise the Judge and her law clerk via joint email prior to ___day, ______ __, 2022.

Magistrate Judge Mary Pat ThyngededCRITICAL

ADR/mediation communications must not be e-filed or docketed; follow Magistrate Judge's designated procedures.

Source text: IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any communications regarding the ADR/mediation process, including but not limited to the scheduling or rescheduling of teleconferences or mediation dates, are not to be e-filed or docketed. Such communications are to be made as designated or ordered by the Magistrate Judge. Mediation statements are not to be e-filed or docketed.

Magistrate Judge Mary Pat ThyngededCRITICAL

Counsel must notify Judge and law clerk by 5:00 p.m. if switching to video/virtual format.

Source text: Should counsel and their clients wish to proceed in a video/virtual format, counsel shall advise the Judge and her law clerk on or before ___day, ______ __, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. in a single, joint email.

Magistrate Judge Mary Pat ThyngededCRITICAL

Plaintiff responsible for arranging joint video conference link.

Source text: Plaintiff shall arrange for a video conference link for a joint discussion line for the Judge and all counsel to use during the mediation session.

Magistrate Judge Mary Pat ThyngededCRITICAL

Plaintiff must arrange separate video link for private Judge discussions.

Source text: Plaintiff shall also arrange for a separate video conference link for private discussions with the Judge throughout the mediation session.

Magistrate Judge Mary Pat ThyngededCRITICAL

Defendants must arrange separate video link for private Judge discussions.

Source text: Defendants shall arrange for a separate video conference link for private discussions with the Judge throughout the mediation session.

Magistrate Judge Mary Pat ThyngededCRITICAL

Plaintiff counsel must email video links to Judge and law clerk by 5:00 p.m.

Source text: Counsel for Plaintiff shall provide by email to the Judge, with a copy to her law clerk, Daniel Taylor, the Joint video conference link and Plaintiff’s video conference link no later than and no earlier than ___day, ______ __, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Magistrate Judge Mary Pat ThyngededCRITICAL

Defense counsel must email video link to Judge and law clerk by 5:00 p.m.

Source text: Counsel for Defendants shall provide by email to the Judge, with a copy to her law clerk, Daniel Taylor, the defense video conference link no later than and no earlier than ___day, ______ __, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Magistrate Judge Mary Pat ThyngededCRITICAL

Video conference emails must include links and joining instructions.

Source text: These emails shall include the links, along with instructions on how to join the video conference for each conference line.

Magistrate Judge Mary Pat ThyngededCRITICAL

ADR-related communications and mediation statements must not be e-filed or docketed; parties must communicate as designated by the Magistrate Judge.

Source text: IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any communications regarding the ADR/mediation process, including but not limited to the scheduling or rescheduling of teleconferences or mediation dates, are not to be e-filed or docketed. Such communications are to be made as designated or ordered by the Magistrate Judge. Mediation statements are not to be e-filed or docketed.

Senior Judge Richard G. AndrewsdedCRITICAL

Joint Claim Construction Chart must be emailed to rga_civil@ded.uscourts.gov simultaneously with filing.

Source text: The Joint Claim Construction Chart, in Word format, shall be e-mailed simultaneously with filing to rga_civil@ded.uscourts.gov.

Senior Judge Richard G. AndrewsdedCRITICAL

Scheduling order must be emailed in Word format to chambers simultaneously with filing.

Source text: order shall be e-mailed, in Word format, simultaneously with filing to rga_civil@ded.uscourts.gov.

Senior Judge Richard G. AndrewsdedCRITICAL

Jury instruction documents must be submitted in Word format via email to rga_civil@ded.uscourts.gov simultaneously with filing.

Source text: The parties shall submit simultaneously with filing each of the foregoing four documents in Word format to rga_civil@ded.uscourts.gov.

Visiting Mark A. KearneydedCRITICAL

Letter requests for rule- or order-mandated extensions of time are prohibited.

Source text: Judge Kearney will not accept letter requests for extensions of time set by the Federal or Local Rules or our scheduling Orders.

Visiting Mark A. KearneydedCRITICAL

Unsolicited communications are prohibited unless pre-approved by Judge Kearney.

Source text: We will not accept unsolicited communications unless pre-approved by Judge Kearney.

Visiting Mark A. KearneydedCRITICAL

Pro se parties are prohibited from telephone communications unless approved by Judge Kearney with ESR present.

Source text: Telephone and fax communications by a pro se party are prohibited unless approved by Judge Kearney beforehand and an ESR/Court Reporter is present. Pro se parties may not appear for hearings by telephone unless permitted for good cause, such as incarcerated persons in civil cases.

Visiting Mark A. KearneydedCRITICAL

Counsel and parties may not communicate with law clerks or interns unless directed by Judge Kearney.

Source text: Counsel and parties are not permitted to communicate with the Judge’s law clerks or interns unless specifically directed by the Judge on a particular issue.

Visiting Mark A. KearneydedCRITICAL

Parties using electronic equipment at trial must submit a letter to chambers no later than one week before trial.

Source text: Any party planning to use such equipment must submit a letter to chambers, as early as possible, but no later than one week before trial.

Visiting Mark A. KearneydedCRITICAL

Change of plea memoranda must be emailed to chambers at the specified address.

Source text: The change of plea memorandum shall be provided in Microsoft Word Format by email to Chambers_of_Judge_Kearney@paed.uscourts.gov.

Visiting Mark A. KearneydedCRITICAL

PSI reports and sentencing memoranda must be emailed to chambers at the specified address.

Source text: Pre-Sentence Investigation Reports and Sentencing Memoranda shall also be promptly delivered to chambers in Microsoft Word Format by email to Chambers_of_Judge_Kearney@paed.uscourts.gov.

Judge Gregory B. WilliamsdedWARNING

Joint Claim Construction Chart must be in Word format and emailed to gbw_civil@ded.uscourts.gov simultaneously with filing.

Source text: The Joint Claim Construction Chart, in Word format shall be e-mailed simultaneously with filing to gbw_civil@ded.uscourts.gov.

Judge Maryellen NoreikadedWARNING

All phone calls to Chambers must include local counsel.

Source text: Local counsel shall be involved on all calls to Chambers.

Magistrate Judge Mary Pat ThyngededWARNING

Counsel must designate one person to send joint email for format changes.

Source text: Counsel shall determine who will be responsible for sending this joint email.

Magistrate Judge Sherry R. FallondedWARNING

Counsel must discuss discovery issues before seeking court intervention

Source text: Counsel are expected to verbally discuss the issues/concerns before seeking the Court's intervention.

Visiting Mark A. KearneydedWARNING

Counsel may not send copies of correspondence between themselves to Judge Kearney.

Source text: Counsel shall not send copies of correspondence among themselves to Judge Kearney.

Judge Gregory B. WilliamsdedINFO

All trial correspondence must go through the GBW Civil email mailbox.

Source text: Any and all trial correspondence should be via Delaware counsel through the GBW Civil mailbox (gbw_civil@ded.uscourts.gov).

Visiting Jennifer Choe-GrovesdedINFO

Parties must contact Steve Taronji via email or phone at least two days in advance to request a court reporter.

Source text: reporter, the Parties should reach out to the court at least two days in advance via email to Steve Taronji, Case Manager for Judge Choe-Groves, at steve_taronji@cit.uscourts.gov or by phone at (212) 264-1611.

Visiting Mark A. KearneydedINFO

Chambers contact email, phone number, and fax number are provided for official communications.

Source text: Chambers_of_Judge_Kearney@paed.uscourts.gov 267-299-7680 Fax: 267-299-5023

Visiting Mark A. KearneydedINFO

Telephone inquiries should be directed to Courtroom Deputy Ulrike Bower with a copy to Chambers email.

Source text: telephone inquiries should be directed as appropriate to Courtroom Deputy Ulrike Bower at 267-299-7688 or Ulrike Bower@paed.uscourts.gov with a copy to Chambers_of_Judge_Kearney@paed.uscourts.gov

Visiting Mark A. KearneydedINFO

Telephone conferences are scheduled by Chambers, who will notify counsel of date and time.

Source text: Judge Kearney may hold telephone conferences. Chambers will notify counsel of the date and time for the telephone conference.

Visiting Mark A. KearneydedINFO

Telephone conferences with Judge Kearney in criminal cases are only held if counsel requests or Judge Kearney deems appropriate; scheduling is handled by the Courtroom Deputy.

Source text: Judge Kearney does not generally hold telephone conferences with counsel in criminal cases, unless counsel specifically requests one or Judge Kearney finds a conference is appropriate. The Courtroom Deputy handles scheduling of criminal matters.

Visiting Stephanos BibasdedINFO

Parties must email Word (DOCX) versions of proposed voir dire, jury instructions, and special verdict forms to Chambers.

Source text: The parties should also email Word versions of each document to Chambers.

Common questions about District of Delaware chambers communication rules

How may parties contact District of Delaware?

Parties may contact the court by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email diana_welham@ded.uscourts.gov. When amendment is by matter of course, counsel must email a PDF amended pleading to the judicial administrator at the specified address.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Unlabeled section (amended pleadings)

How may parties contact District of Delaware?

Parties may contact the court by phone only as allowed by the rule. Pro se parties are prohibited from telephone communications unless approved by Judge Kearney with ESR present.

View ruleSource: page 2, section I.C