Court Rules
district Judge
Verified Current9 days ago

Judge Gerald J. Pappert

Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Motion To Compel
5 pgs
Brief
25 pgs
Reply Brief
10 pgs
Brief
5 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Filings (Joint Exhibit Book)

Required

Filings (Appellate Brief)

Required

Adjournments

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Adversary Position
  • 3
    Proposed New Dates

Communication

Chambers

SchedulingRoutine MattersDiscovery DisputesSettlement Notifications
No Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

267-299-7530
Advance Notice Required
No Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

SchedulingDiscovery DisputesEmergencies
Advance Notice Required
No Status Inquiries, Hours
Email

Chambers

Chambers_of_Judge_Pappert@paed.uscourts.gov
Technical Issues
No Status Inquiries
Email

Clerk

Scheduling
Letter Ecf

Chambers

No Status Inquiries
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingCommunicationMemorandaDiscoveryElectronicsConferencesTypographyJury

Detailed Drafting Rules

Communication ProtocolImportant

Correspondence with court limited to scheduling, discovery disputes, routine matters, and settlement notifications

Counsel and pro se parties may correspond with the Court concerning scheduling, discovery disputes, routine matters or to advise the Court that a case has been settled. All other communications with the Court should be made by the filing of pleadings, motions, applications, briefs or similar filing permitted by the Federal Rules of Civil or Criminal Procedure or the Local Rules of Criminal or Civil Procedure.

Contact Method

Approved Topics
SchedulingRoutine MattersDiscovery DisputesSettlement Notifications
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Telephone calls must go through Courtroom Deputy Clerk; direct contact with law clerks prohibited

Telephone calls regarding civil and criminal cases should be directed to Judge Pappert's Courtroom Deputy Clerk, Katie Rolon, at 267-299-7530. Direct communication with law clerks is prohibited.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    none
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolImportant

Telephone conferences for scheduling/discovery; moving party initiates in civil, USAO in criminal; no cell phones allowed

Judge Pappert may hold telephone conferences to resolve scheduling matters or discovery disputes. The Court will notify counsel of the date and time for the telephone conference. In a civil case, counsel for the moving party will be responsible for initiating the telephone conference and contacting Judge Pappert through his Civil Deputy Clerk after all parties are present on the call. In a criminal case, the United States Attorney's Office will be responsible for initiating the call and contacting Judge Pappert through his Criminal Deputy Clerk after all parties are present on the call. Counsel may not use cell phones on any telephone conferences with the Court.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingDiscovery Disputes
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    none
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolNote

No reserved days for oral arguments or evidentiary hearings; scheduled as warranted

Judge Pappert does not reserve certain days or times for oral arguments or evidentiary hearings. Judge Pappert will schedule oral arguments and evidentiary hearings when warranted.

Contact Method

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Format RequirementNote

Text searchable format for exhibits is encouraged but not required.

The filing of exhibits in text searchable format is encouraged, but not required.

Applies When:Document Type Set Undefined
Required Format

PDF

Page 4
|SecExhibits to Filings
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Motions to compel and responses limited to 5 pages each, double-spaced 12-point font.

If a discovery dispute is not resolved following a conference and a motion to compel becomes necessary, the motion and any supporting memorandum, together, shall not exceed 5 pages of double-spaced 12-point font. The responding party may file a response within 5 days, also limited to 5 pages of double-spaced 12-point font.

Page 3
|SecDiscovery Disputes
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Briefs/memoranda limited to 25 pages (excluding TOC, TOA, attachments), double-spaced 12-point font.

Absent an order stating otherwise, any brief or memorandum filed in support of or in opposition to a motion must be limited to 25 pages of double-spaced 12-point font, excluding the table of contents, table of authorities, and any attachments or exhibits.

Page 4
|SecBriefs / Legal Memoranda
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Reply briefs (max 10 pages) due within 7 days, limited to new issues, not allowed for motions in limine.

Reply briefs are permitted, except for motions in limine. See Section II. I. 7. Reply briefs must be filed within seven days of the date that a non-moving party files its opposition brief, may not exceed ten pages, and must be limited to issues newly raised in the opposing party’s response.

Page 4
|SecBriefs / Legal Memoranda
Document RequirementImportant

Briefs over 10 pages must include TOC and TOA.

Any brief longer than ten pages shall include a table of contents and table of authorities.

Document Type

Brief

Content & Formatting
Table Of Contents
Table Of Authorities
Page 4
|SecBriefs / Legal Memoranda
Document RequirementImportant

Motion to exceed page limit must be filed before principal filing deadline with reasons.

If a party believes that it will need more than 25 pages to explain its position to the Court, the party should file a motion to exceed the page limit, setting forth the reasons why the party believes it should be granted an exception to this rule. The motion to exceed the page limit should be filed prior to the memorandum deadline and allow the Court sufficient time to consider and rule on the motion.

Document Type

Motion To Exceed Page Limit

Content & Formatting
Reasons For Exception
Page 4
|SecBriefs / Legal Memoranda
Document RequirementImportant

Pending motion to exceed page limits does not extend principal filing deadline.

A pending motion to exceed page limits does not relieve a party of its responsibility to comply with the filing deadline for the principal filing.

Document Type

Motion To Exceed Page Limit

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Page 4
|SecBriefs / Legal Memoranda
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Proposed jury instructions must be emailed to chambers in Word format.

In addition to filing the proposed jury instructions and verdict form on the Court’s docket, the parties must e-mail the documents in Word format to Chambers_of_Judge_Pappert@paed.uscourts.gov.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolNote

Scheduling questions directed to Civil Deputy Clerk.

Questions relating to scheduling matters should be directed to Judge Pappert’s Civil Deputy Clerk.

Email

Direct to: Clerk

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Motions in limine briefs limited to 5 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font; no reply briefs allowed.

Any brief or memorandum filed in support of or in opposition to a motion in limine must be limited to 5 pages of double-spaced 12-point font. Reply briefs are not permitted.

Communication ProtocolMandatory

Counsel must remain near courthouse and be available within 10 minutes during jury deliberations.

Unless excused by the Court, counsel must remain in the general vicinity of the courthouse and be available on ten minutes’ notice during jury deliberations.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Emergencies
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    10 minutes
Prohibited
  • Hours
    during jury deliberations
Communication ProtocolNote

Telephone scheduling conference held shortly after arraignment in criminal cases.

Judge Pappert will generally hold a telephone scheduling conference with counsel in criminal cases shortly after arraignment. At the conclusion of the conference, the Court will issue a Scheduling Order governing speedy trial issues, discovery, time for filing motions and the trial date.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Prohibited
  • Hours
    shortly after arraignment
Communication ProtocolImportant

Counsel must discuss matters with opposing counsel before bringing to court's attention.

In general, Judge Pappert expects counsel to bring matters to his attention only after they have been discussed with opposing counsel. When communicating with the Court, counsel shall be prepared to state the position of opposing counsel.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Status Inquiries
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolImportant

Counsel must be punctual, courteous, professional, and direct comments only to Court or witness.

Counsel shall be punctual, courteous, and professional at all times, both in the presence of the Court and otherwise. Counsel should examine witnesses from the lectern or from counsel table. Counsel will direct all comments to the Court or to the witness under examination and not to other counsel or the jury.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Status Inquiries
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries