Court Rules
district Judge
Verified Current9 days ago

Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl

Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Reply Brief
10 pgs
Brief
25 pgs
Discovery Motion
5 pgs
Final Pretrial Memorandum
5 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Filings (Exhibits, Sealed Case)

Upon Request

Adjournments

Notice Required
21Calendar Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Original Date
  • 3
    Proposed New Dates
Notice Required
7Calendar Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Original Date
  • 3
    Proposed New Dates
Notice Required
10Calendar Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Original Date
  • 3
    Proposed New Dates

Communication

Email

Chambers

Emergencies
Advance Notice Required
No Status Inquiries, Hours
Phone

Chambers

SchedulingEmergencies
Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Email

Chambers

Chambers_of_Judge_Jeffrey_L_Schmehl@paed.uscourts.gov
Scheduling
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantCommunicationMemorandaElectronicsExhibitsConferencesPage LimitsMotion to DismissDiscovery

Detailed Drafting Rules

Communication ProtocolMandatory

Continuance requests must be submitted in writing via email only

Continuance requests must be put in writing via email only.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 4
|SecContinuances and Extensions
Page or Word LimitMandatory

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.

Page or Word LimitMandatory

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.

Page or Word LimitMandatory

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.

Page or Word LimitMandatory

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.

Page 7
|SecG. Final Pretrial Memoranda
Communication ProtocolNote

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

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 7
|SecI. DEPOSITIONS
Communication ProtocolNote

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.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 8
|SecH. Injunctions
Communication ProtocolImportant

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

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergencies
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    10-15 minutes availability
Prohibited
  • Hours
    during jury deliberations
Page 14
|SecJury Deliberations
Communication ProtocolNote

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

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    unless specifically requested
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 14
|SecCriminal Cases
Communication ProtocolNote

Email address for submitting Joint Status Report to Judge Schmehl's Chambers.

Chambers_of_Judge_Jeffrey_L_Schmehl@paed.uscourts.gov

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Page 1
|SecJoint Status Report