Court Rules
district Judge
Verified Current9 days ago

Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge

Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Response Memorandum
20 pgs
Response To Motion For Summary Judgment
25 pgs
Reply To Motion For Summary Judgment
10 pgs
Brief
25 pgs
Reply Brief
10 pgs
Surreply
5 pgs
Motion For Summary Judgment
25 pgs
Surreply To Motion For Summary Judgment
10 pgs
Motion To Exceed Page Limit
25 pgs
Supporting Memorandum
20 pgs
Reply Memorandum
10 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Filings (>25 pages)

Required • Binding: Three Ring Binder

Adjournments

Notice Required
14Calendar Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Speedy Trial Waiver

Communication

Email

Chambers

Scheduling
No Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingCommunicationMemorandaSummary JudgmentElectronicsExhibitsLettersConferences

Detailed Drafting Rules

Page or Word LimitMandatory

Response memoranda limited to 20 double-spaced pages

Response memoranda shall not exceed twenty (20) double-spaced pages.

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|SecA. Motions Practice
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Rule 56 responses are limited to 25 pages.

The response may not exceed twenty-five (25) pages.

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|SecIII. CIVIL CASES – SUBMISSIONS TO THE COURT
Communication ProtocolImportant

Chambers communications must include both email and letter for scheduling/non-substantive matters.

Judge Hodge permits communications with Chambers by telephone, or letter sent via email regarding scheduling and other non-substantive matters. An email request without a letter will not be considered.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingStatus Inquiries
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
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|SecI. GENERAL INFORMATION
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Personal email communications to Judge Hodge are prohibited.

Judge Hodge prohibits any communications to her personal email.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
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|SecI. GENERAL INFORMATION
Communication ProtocolNote

Telephone/video conferences allowed for straightforward discovery disputes only.

Counsel may request a telephone or video conference with Judge Hodge to resolve straightforward discovery disputes and other issues, but complicated matters should be resolved by formal motion and briefing.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
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|SecI. GENERAL INFORMATION
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Email requests for telephone conferences must include an attached letter.

Counsel should submit a letter by email to Chambers summarizing the reason for the requested telephone conference. An email request without a letter attached will not be considered.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingStatus Inquiries
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
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|SecI. GENERAL INFORMATION
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Stipulations requiring approval must be emailed with basis for relief.

Any stipulations requiring Court approval or the Judge’s signature must be submitted by email to Chambers. Counsel must provide the basis for any relief sought by stipulation. A stipulation absent any basis for the requested relief will be rejected by the Court.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingStatus Inquiries
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
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|SecI. GENERAL INFORMATION
Courtesy CopyMandatory

Two courtesy copies required for documents over 25 pages, bound in 3-ring binder.

Parties must provide two (2) courtesy copies to the Court of any document submitted which is twenty-five (25) pages or more, including exhibits. The exhibits in the Court’s courtesy copies shall be clearly marked, tabbed, and bound in a 3-ring binder. Courtesy copies should be delivered by first-class mail or other delivery service. Courtesy copies will not be accepted via email.

Courtesy Copies Required

When: Page Threshold >= 25
Logistics
Quantity2 Copy
TimingUpon Filing
MethodMail
Appearance
BindingThree Ring Binder
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|SecI. GENERAL INFORMATION
Format RequirementMandatory

Documents must be in 12-point Times New Roman with one-inch margins and searchable PDFs.

All documents shall be filed in 12-point Times New Roman font with one-inch margins. All PDF documents filed must be text searchable.

Typography
Font FamilyTimes New Roman
Size12 pt
Layout & Binding
Margins
Top:1"
Left:1"
Right:1"
Bottom:1"
Required Format

PDF

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|SecI. GENERAL INFORMATION
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Rule 56 replies are limited to 10 pages and must cite record with exhibit, page, and line numbers.

The reply must specify the relevant exhibit, page, and line numbers when referring to the record. The reply may not exceed ten (10) pages.

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|SecIII. CIVIL CASES – SUBMISSIONS TO THE COURT
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Briefs in support of motions and oppositions are limited to 25 pages.

Any brief or memorandum filed in support of the motion should be limited to twenty-five (25) pages. Any brief or memorandum filed in opposition or in response to a motion is subject to the same page limitation.

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|SecIII. CIVIL CASES – SUBMISSIONS TO THE COURT
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Reply briefs are limited to 10 pages and must be filed within 7 days of opposition.

Reply briefs, addressing only issues raised in the brief in opposition and not repeating arguments in the brief, may be filed within seven (7) days of service of the opponent’s brief in opposition and shall be limited to ten (10) pages.

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|SecIII. CIVIL CASES – SUBMISSIONS TO THE COURT
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Surreplies require leave of court and are limited to 5 pages.

The parties must seek leave of court prior to file a surreply. If leave is granted, surreplies may not exceed five (5) pages.

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|SecIII. CIVIL CASES – SUBMISSIONS TO THE COURT
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Rule 56 motions by moving party are limited to 25 pages (excluding Statement of Facts).

The initial filing by the moving party should not exceed twenty-five (25) double-spaced, typewritten pages, excluding the Statement of Undisputed Material Facts.

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|SecIII. CIVIL CASES – SUBMISSIONS TO THE COURT
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Rule 56 surreplies are limited to 10 pages, must cite record with exhibit, page, and line numbers, and must be filed within 7 days of reply.

The non-moving party may, within seven (7) days after the reply is received, file a surreply. The surreply must specify the relevant exhibit, page, and line numbers when referring to the record and may not exceed ten (10) pages.

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|SecIII. CIVIL CASES – SUBMISSIONS TO THE COURT
Page or Word LimitImportant

Motions to exceed page limits require showing good cause and must be filed before the deadline.

If a party requires more than twenty-five (25) pages to explain its position to the Court, a motion to exceed the page limit shall be filed prior to the deadline, setting forth good cause for granting an exception to this rule.

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|SecIII. CIVIL CASES – SUBMISSIONS TO THE COURT
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Multi-defendant motions heard jointly; joining requires leave; supporting memoranda max 20 pages

In multi-defendant proceedings, all motions will be heard jointly. Defendants may not join in codefendants’ pretrial motions without leave of the Court. If granted leave, supporting memoranda shall be filed as soon as possible and no later than seven (7) days before the hearing. Such supporting memoranda shall not exceed twenty (20) double-spaced pages.

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|SecA. Motions Practice
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Reply/surreply memoranda require leave of Court and max 10 double-spaced pages

Reply and surreply memoranda may be filed only with leave of Court and shall not exceed ten (10) double-spaced pages.

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|SecA. Motions Practice