Judge Karen Spencer Marston
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Filings (All filings)
Required
Filings (Sealed Filing, Motion)
Required
Adjournments
Must Include
- 1Reason For Request
- 2Original Date
- 3Number Of Previous Requests
- 4Previous Requests Granted Or Denied
- 5Adversary Position
- 6Proposed New Dates
- 7Affects Other Dates
Communication
Chambers
Letter Ecf
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Letter Ecf
Chambers
Chambers
In Person
Chambers
Detailed Drafting Rules
All PDF documents must be text searchable
All PDF documents filed must be text searchable.
Page limits section referenced
5. Page Limits..................................................................................................................... 10
Communications with law clerks are prohibited; direct administrative/procedural matters to Courtroom Deputies or Chambers.
Counsel and pro se parties should direct communications concerning administrative or procedural matters to Courtroom Deputies or Chambers. Direct communications with law clerks is prohibited.
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requirednone
- Status Inquiries
Emails to court limited to routine matters with no anticipated opposition; responsive letters only at court's request.
Letters may be submitted to the Court via e-mail, but such communications should be limited to routine matters for which no opposition is anticipated or required. Responsive letters should only be submitted at the Court’s request.
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requirednone
- Status Inquiries
Copies of correspondence between counsel should not be sent to the Court.
Counsel shall not send copies of correspondence among and between counsel to the Court.
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requirednone
- Status Inquiries
Court must be promptly advised in writing when any case is resolved.
The Court expects to be promptly advised in writing whenever any case has been resolved.
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requirednone
- Status Inquiries
In civil cases, moving party's counsel initiates phone conferences; in criminal cases, USAO initiates. Contact Deputy Clerk at 267-299-7370 after all parties are present.
In a civil case, counsel for the moving party will be responsible for initiating the telephone conference and contacting Judge Marston through her Deputy Clerk (via Chambers line 267-299-7370) 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 Marston through her Deputy Clerk (via Chambers line 267-299-7370) after all the parties are present on the call.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requirednone
- Status Inquiries
Recording of conferences or proceedings, including via AI tools, is prohibited.
Counsel and parties are prohibited from recording any conferences or proceedings, including via any artificial intelligence tool.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requirednone
- Status Inquiries
Telephone contact with Chambers permitted for scheduling, witnesses, exhibits, discovery disputes, and necessary extensions when written communication is insufficient.
When a written communication concerning a case cannot timely address a problem, counsel may initiate necessary telephone communications with Chambers. Issues appropriately addressed by telephone contact include: a. Scheduling conferences; b. Attendance of witnesses; c. Exhibit handling or arrangements for video replay; d. Arrangements for telephone conferences regarding discovery disputes; e. Requests for absolutely necessary extensions of time to file any response, reply, brief, memorandum of law or the like.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requirednone
- Status Inquiries
Ex parte communications with Chambers personnel about substantive matters are prohibited.
Under no circumstances may any party or counsel communicate ex parte with any Chambers personnel concerning substantive matters.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requirednone
- Status Inquiries
All counsel must be registered on ECF and file directly onto the system.
The Court expects all counsel (including pro se Plaintiffs or Defendants) to be registered on the ECF system for the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. All official filings submitted to the Clerk of Court must be filed directly by the filing attorney onto ECF.
Direct to: Clerk
- Status Inquiries
Requests for ECF exemption must be made in writing to Judge Marston.
Requests to be excused from ECF registration must be made in writing directly to Judge Marston.
Opening briefs limited to 25 pages, replies to 10 pages, sur-replies to 7 pages
Opening briefs in support of and in opposition to a motion shall not exceed twenty-five (25) double-spaced pages. Replies and sur-replies must be limited to ten (10) and seven (7)
Courtesy copies required for sealed filings (same day email) and motions with >5 pages or >50 pages of exhibits (2 days, hard copy + thumb drive).
The Court generally does not require courtesy copies, with the following two exceptions. First, for any filings made under seal, the filing party shall send a courtesy copy via e-mail to Chambers the same day as the filing. Second, for any motions with more than five (5) or more than fifty (50) pages of exhibits, the parties shall provide the Court with a courtesy copy of the exhibits within two (2) days of filing. Courtesy copies should be submitted as a hard copy and on a thumb drive.
Courtesy Copies Required
Logistics
Proposed jury instructions and verdict forms 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_Judge_Marston@paed.uscourts.gov.
Direct to: Chambers
- Hours9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Motions in limine briefs limited to 5 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font.
Any brief or memorandum filed in support of or in opposition to a motion in limine must be limited to five (5) pages of double-spaced 12-point font.
Courtroom protocol: address from table/podium during arguments, podium when examining witnesses, seek permission to approach witnesses, direct comments to Court/witness only.
During oral arguments outside the presence of the jury, counsel can address the Court from counsel table or the podium, at counsel’s discretion. When examining a witness, counsel should speak from the podium. Counsel should seek permission to approach a witness. Counsel shall direct all comments and questions to the Court or the witness, not to opposing counsel or the jury.
In Person
- Direct Comments To Court Or Witness Only
No speaking objections; request sidebar for immediate matters; raise evidentiary issues at final pretrial conference or outside jury presence.
The Court does not permit speaking objections. If counsel needs to be heard on a matter immediately, request a sidebar. The Court generally prefers to avoid sidebars. Therefore, the Court encourages counsel to raise evidentiary issues at the final pretrial conference or outside the presence of the jury, whenever possible.
In Person
- No Speaking Objections
- Prefer Sidebar Avoidance