Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Filings (Exhibits, Sealed Case)
Upon Request
Filings
Not Required
Filings (All filings)
Upon Request
Adjournments
Must Include
- 1Reason For Request
- 2Original Date
- 3Proposed New Dates
Must Include
- 1Reason For Request
- 2Original Date
- 3Proposed New Dates
Must Include
- 1Reason For Request
- 2Original Date
- 3Proposed New Dates
Must Include
- 1Reason For Request
- 2Adversary Position
Must Include
- 1Reason For Request
- 2Original Date
- 3Adversary Position
- 4Proposed New Dates
- 5Affects Other Dates
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Letter Ecf
Chambers
Phone
Clerk
Chambers
Letter Fax
Chambers
Detailed Drafting Rules
Continuance requests must be submitted in writing via email only
Continuance requests must be put in writing via email only.
Direct to: Chambers
- Status Inquiries
Reply briefs limited to 10 pages and must be filed within 7 days of opposition brief.
Reply briefs, addressing only issues raised in the brief in opposition and not repeating arguments in the brief, may be filed within seven days of service of the opponent’s brief in opposition and shall be limited to ten pages. No further briefs may be filed.
Briefs/memoranda limited to 25 pages; motion to exceed requires showing good cause.
All grounds for relief should be set forth in a single, comprehensive motion. A motion to dismiss, for example, should not be divided into separate motions for each count, but rather should include all bases for relief. Any brief or memorandum should be limited to twenty-five pages. If a party requires more than twenty-five pages to explain its position to the court, a motion to exceed the page limit should be filed, setting forth good cause for granting an exception.
Discovery motions limited to 5 pages, no exhibits or memorandum of law.
The motion shall not exceed five pages, shall not contain exhibits, and shall not include a memorandum of law.
Final pretrial memoranda limited to 5 pages, no exhibits or legal briefs.
limited to five pages and shall not include exhibits or a brief or memorandum of law.
Telephone conferences allowed to resolve deposition disputes.
Judge Schmehl permits telephone conferences to resolve disputes during depositions in cases where the deposition would otherwise have to be adjourned.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
TRO and preliminary injunction requests will be promptly listed.
Judge Schmehl will promptly list any request for a temporary restraining order ("TRO") or a preliminary injunction assigned to him.
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Counsel must provide phone numbers and be available to return to courthouse within 10-15 minutes during jury deliberations.
phone numbers with the Civil or Criminal Deputy Clerk and be able to return to the courthouse within ten to fifteen minutes.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required10-15 minutes availability
- Hoursduring jury deliberations
Judge generally does not hold telephone scheduling conferences in criminal cases unless requested; scheduling handled by Criminal Deputy Clerk.
Judge Schmehl does not generally hold a telephone scheduling conference with counsel in criminal cases, unless counsel specifically request one. All scheduling of criminal matters is handled by the Judge’s Criminal Deputy Clerk.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredunless specifically requested
- Status Inquiries
Counsel should not communicate with law clerks unless contacted first; law clerks cannot grant continuances or give legal advice.
Law clerks have no authority to grant continuances or to give advice on substantive or procedural matters. Therefore, unless contacted by a law clerk, counsel should not communicate with the law clerk.
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredunless contacted by a law clerk
- Status Inquiries
Telephone inquiries for civil and criminal cases must be directed to Deputy Clerk Brian R. Dixon at 610-320-5099.
Telephone inquiries regarding civil and criminal cases should be directed to Brian R. Dixon, Deputy Clerk, at 610-320-5099.
Phone
Direct to: Clerk
Email is the preferred method for written correspondence with chambers.
Email is preferred for most written correspondence with chambers, and the address is Chambers_of_Judge_Jeffrey_L_Schmehl@paed.uscourts.gov.
Direct to: Chambers
Fax communications are not accepted by chambers.
Faxes are not accepted.
Letter Fax
Direct to: Chambers
- Status Inquiries
All documents must be submitted in Word format.
All documents submitted shall be in Word format.
DOCX
Reply briefs limited to 10 pages, filed within 7 days of opposition brief service; sur-replies prohibited.
Reply briefs, addressing only issues raised in the brief in opposition and not repeating arguments in the brief, may be filed within seven days of service of the opponent's brief in opposition and shall be limited to ten pages. No further briefs may be filed.
Briefs and memoranda limited to 25 pages; motion with good cause required to exceed limit.
Any brief or memorandum should be limited to twenty-five pages. If a party requires more than twenty-five pages to explain its position to the court, a motion to exceed the page limit should be filed, setting forth good cause for granting an exception.
Discovery motions limited to 5 pages without exhibits or memorandum of law.
The motion shall not exceed five pages, shall not contain exhibits, and shall not include a memorandum of law.
Telephone conferences are permitted to resolve deposition disputes that would otherwise require adjournment.
Judge Schmehl permits telephone conferences to resolve disputes during depositions in cases where the deposition would otherwise have to be adjourned.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
Scheduling questions must be directed to the Civil Deputy Clerk via email.
Questions relating to scheduling matters should be directed to Judge Schmehl's Civil Deputy Clerk via email.
Direct to: Chambers
Proposed jury instructions must be submitted to chambers via email.
Counsel should submit a copy of the proposed jury instructions to chambers via email.
Direct to: Chambers
Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law must be submitted to chambers via email.
Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law in non-jury cases should be submitted to chambers via email at least seven days before the trial date.
Direct to: Chambers
Email address for submitting Joint Status Report to Judge Schmehl's Chambers.
Chambers_of_Judge_Jeffrey_L_Schmehl@paed.uscourts.gov
Direct to: Chambers
The Joint Status Report form must be submitted to Chambers by email (preferred) or hard copy.
This form should be submitted to Chambers by email (preferred) or hard copy.
Direct to: Chambers