Court Rules
district Judge
Verified Current9 days ago

Judge Kai N. Scott

Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Dispositive Motion
25 pgs
Reply Brief
10 pgs
Brief
25 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Filings (Motion, Sealed Document)

Required • Binding: Three Ring Binder

Adjournments

Notice Required
3Business Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Proposed New Dates
Notice Required
7Business Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Proposed New Dates
Notice Required
14Business Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Proposed New Dates
  • 3
    Good Cause
Notice Required
7Calendar Days
Notice Required
1Month
Notice Required
14Calendar Days

Communication

Email

Chambers

Chambers_of_Judge_Kai_Scott@paed.uscourts.gov
Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

Tayai_Lester@paed.uscourts.gov
Scheduling
Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Letter Fax

Chambers

Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Letter Ecf

Chambers

Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Email

Chambers

Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Email

Chambers

Scheduling
Advance Notice Required
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingCommunicationMemorandaTRO/InjunctionSettlementConferencesExhibitsCourtroom Conduct

Detailed Drafting Rules

Communication ProtocolNote

Email is the preferred method for general inquiries to chambers.

Email is the preferred method of communication. All general inquiries, including questions about these policies, may be emailed to Chambers_of_Judge_Kai_Scott@paed.uscourts.gov.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecI. COMMUNICATIONS WITH CHAMBERS
Communication ProtocolNote

Specific phone contacts for civil and criminal matters.

Telephone calls should be directed as follows: Judicial Assistant: Tayai Lester (267) 299-7590 Tayai_Lester@paed.uscourts.gov Contact about civil scheduling, case management, events, and general procedures. Courtroom Deputy: Sue Flaherty (267) 299-7598 Susan_Flaherty@paed.uscourts.gov Contact about all criminal matters, trial setup, courtroom logistics, and courtroom procedures.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecI. COMMUNICATIONS WITH CHAMBERS
Communication ProtocolImportant

Faxes and regular mail are strongly discouraged.

Letter Fax

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecI. COMMUNICATIONS WITH CHAMBERS
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Case communications must be made through ECF whenever possible.

Communications regarding cases must be made through filing a pleading, motion, or application through Electronic Case Filing (ECF) whenever possible.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecI. COMMUNICATIONS WITH CHAMBERS
Communication ProtocolNote

Email permitted for schedule changes under 7 days and case settlements.

Email correspondence regarding cases is permitted in the following situations: • To advise the Court of unanticipated schedule changes (less than seven (7) business days in advance of a deadline) or schedule changes due to personal or medical issues that counsel does not wish to file on the docket. • To promptly advise the Court that a case has been settled.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecI. COMMUNICATIONS WITH CHAMBERS
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Pro se litigants must communicate through clerk's office, not chambers.

All pro se communications must be sent to the clerks’ office to be docketed. Pro se litigants may not contact Judge Scott or her chambers directly.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Clerk

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecI. COMMUNICATIONS WITH CHAMBERS
Communication ProtocolNote

OSCAR is preferred for internship/clerkship applications; email for questions.

Judge Scott’s highly preferred method for receiving applications is through OSCAR. OSCAR will be consistently updated with deadlines and instructions. Applicants and schools may, however, email Chambers_of_Judge_Kai_Scott@paed.uscourts.gov with questions that are not resolved in OSCAR.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecI. COMMUNICATIONS WITH CHAMBERS
Communication ProtocolNote

Magistrate Judge Elizabeth T. Hey is designated for Judge Scott's docket.

The Honorable Elizabeth T. Hey is the designated magistrate judge for Judge Scott’s docket. Judge Hey’s contact information, policies, and forms are available on Judge Hey’s Court webpage https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/judges-info/magistrate-judges/elizabeth-t-hey.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecII. OTHER GENERAL POLICIES
Communication ProtocolNote

Parties may request Magistrate Judge Hey for settlement discussions.

Parties may request that Judge Hey preside over settlement discussion at the Rule 16 Conference or as soon as possible after the Rule 16 Conference. Judge Scott will then issue a referral order.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecII. OTHER GENERAL POLICIES
Format RequirementMandatory

Filings over 2 pages must be searchable PDFs.

Filings exceeding two pages of text must be filed as searchable PDFs.

Applies When:Page Threshold > 2
Required Format

PDF

Page 3
|SecGeneral Formatting
Format RequirementMandatory

Writings to chambers must be 12-point font, double-spaced, 1-1.5 inch margins (exceptions for Rule 26(f) report, single-page motions, proposed orders).

All writings submitted to Judge Scott's chambers must be in 12-point font and generally must be double-spaced and have 1-to-1.5-inch margins. (The Rule 26(f) report, single-page motions or requests, and proposed orders may be single-spaced.)

Typography
Size12 pt
Layout & Binding
Margins
Top:1"
Left:1"
Right:1.5"
Bottom:1.5"
Page 3
|SecGeneral Formatting
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Briefing over 25 pages requires a table of contents.

Any briefing exceeding twenty (25) pages must include a table of contents.

Page 3
|SecGeneral Formatting
Courtesy CopyMandatory

Courtesy copies required for large attachments (>50 pages or ≥5 exhibits) or sealed documents, must be binder with tabbed exhibits and index.

A courtesy copy must be submitted only if (1) there are large attachments to a motion or (2) a document is filed under seal. A filing has large attachments if the appendices or exhibits attached to the filing exceed 50 pages or there are five (5) or more exhibits. The courtesy copy of a filing with large attachments must be submitted to Judge Scott's chambers as a binder with tabbed exhibits and an exhibit index.

Courtesy Copies Required

When: Document Type Set
Logistics
Quantity1 Copy
TimingUpon Filing
MethodMail/Hand
Appearance
BindingThree Ring Binder
ECF HeaderRequired
Page 3
|SecCourtesy Copies
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Dispositive motions and supporting memoranda limited to 25 pages.

Any dispositive motion and its supporting memorandum of law must not exceed twenty (25) pages.

Page 6
|SecE. Motions Practice and Oral Argument
Page or Word LimitMandatory

One reply brief allowed within 14 business days (max 10 pages); additional briefings require leave.

One reply brief may be filed within fourteen (14) business days of service of the opponent’s brief in opposition; parties must seek leave from the Court to file any additional supplemental briefings, and Judge Scott rarely grants such requests. Reply or supplemental briefings must not exceed ten (10) pages and may not simply repeat arguments already made.

Page 6
|SecE. Motions Practice and Oral Argument
Page or Word LimitImportant

Factual statements don't count toward 25-page briefing limit unless argumentative

These factual statements must be brief and generally nonargumentative and cannot be used to evade page-limit requirements for briefs; factual statements do not count towards the 25-page limit for briefings unless there are substantial argumentative passages.

Page 7
|SecSummary Judgment Motions
Document RequirementNote

Joint appendix encouraged; if separate, moving party must provide full context and responding party must cite to moving party's appendix

Parties are encouraged to submit a joint appendix with the moving party’s briefings. If that is not practical, then the parties may file separate appendices, with the following restrictions: (1) the moving party must submit documents in their full relevant context rather than excerpts of documents, and (2) the responding party must cite to the moving party’s appendix wherever possible and is encouraged to mark exhibits as a continuation of the moving party’s appendix pages or exhibit numbers.

Document Type

Appendix

Content & Formatting
Full Context Documents
Page 7
|SecSummary Judgment Motions
Communication ProtocolNote

Final pretrial conference held 10 days before trial, or earlier if jointly requested

Judge Scott generally holds a final pretrial conference ten (10) days before a trial, but the conference may be held earlier, if jointly requested by the parties.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    joint request
Page 8
|SecFinal Pretrial Conference and Pretrial Preparation
Document RequirementMandatory

Parties must agree on search methodology with e-discovery liaisons.

The parties shall reach agreement as to the method of searching, and the words, terms, and phrases to be searched with the assistance of the respective e-discovery liaisons, who are charged with familiarity with the parties' respective systems.

Document Type

Discovery Agreement

Content & Formatting
Ai Disclosure
Proposed Order
Certificate Of Service
Local Rule Certificate
Certificate Of Conference
Notice Of Electronic Filing
Exhibit List
Legal Argument
Table Of Contents
Statement Of Facts
Table Of Authorities
Page 3
|SecSearch methodology