Court Rules
magistrate Judge
Verified Current21 hours ago

Judge Lynne A. Sitarski

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Settlement Conference Submission
5 pgs
Settlement Conference Documents
20 pgs
Document
5 pgs
Document
20 pgs
Case Synopsis
5 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Filings (All filings)

Upon Request

Adjournments

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request

Communication

Letter Ecf

Chambers

Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

Emergencies
Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Email

Chambers

Technical Issues
Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Email

Chambers

Chambers_sitarski@paed.uscourts.gov
Scheduling
No Status Inquiries
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantCommunicationConferencesSettlementElectronicsDiscoveryTRO/InjunctionCourtroom ConductLetters

Detailed Drafting Rules

Communication ProtocolMandatory

All correspondence to court must be copied to all counsel of record

Judge Sitarski permits correspondence from counsel on all matters, with copies to all counsel of record. Except for settlement conference documents, everything sent to the Court must also be sent to all counsel of record, and be served in the same manner.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecCorrespondence with the Court
Communication ProtocolImportant

Chambers communication limited to logistical matters only

Judge Sitarski permits counsel to talk with her Deputy Clerk and law clerks regarding logistical matters, but never on the merits of the case. Counsel should never contact Chambers to inquire on the status of a pending motion.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecCommunications with Law Clerks
Communication ProtocolNote

Discovery disputes should be resolved without court intervention; chambers conferences available if good faith efforts fail

Judge Sitarski expects the parties to resolve discovery disputes without Court intervention. Should counsel be unable, in good faith, to resolve their dispute, Judge Sitarski permits contact with the Court so that telephone or chambers conferences may be set up to resolve outstanding issues.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 3
|SecDiscovery Matters
Communication ProtocolNote

Counsel may contact Deputy Clerk or law clerks with questions about courtroom practices.

Counsel should feel free to contact Judge Sitarski’s Deputy Clerk or law clerks if they have any questions about her courtroom practices or procedures.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    none
Prohibited
  • Hours
    unspecified
  • Status Inquiries
Page 8
|SecOTHER GENERAL MATTERS
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Settlement conference submissions limited to 5 pages.

Please complete the attached settlement conference form and email it to Chambers at Chambers_sitarski@paed.uscourts.gov on or before XXXXX , 20XX. As indicated on the attached form, counsel shall include a synopsis of the case with a discussion of the relevant facts, as well as a brief summary of the legal issues affecting the party’s settlement position. The Court anticipates that in most cases, the parties’ case summaries will not exceed five (5) pages.

Page 9
|SecSettlement Conference Order
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Document submissions for settlement conference limited to 20 pages without Court approval.

Counsel shall not submit more than 20 pages of documents without prior Court approval.

Page 10
|SecSettlement Conference Order
Communication ProtocolImportant

Status inquiries to Chambers are prohibited.

Counsel should never contact Chambers to inquire on the status of a pending motion.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Status Inquiries
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecCommunications with Law Clerks
Communication ProtocolNote

Counsel may contact chambers to schedule telephone or chambers conferences to resolve discovery disputes.

Should counsel be unable, in good faith, to resolve their dispute, Judge Sitarski permits contact with the Court so that telephone or chambers conferences may be set up to resolve outstanding issues.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesTechnical Issues
Page 3
|SecDiscovery Matters
Communication ProtocolNote

Telephone conferences for scheduling changes and extensions must be initiated by contacting the Deputy Clerk.

Generally, telephone conferences will be used to deal with routine matters such as scheduling changes, extensions of time, and routine discovery disputes. Counsel seeking any such relief are responsible for initiating the conference by contacting Judge Sitarski's Deputy Clerk.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Page 1
|SecTelephone Conferences versus In-Person Conferences
Communication ProtocolNote

Motion papers to chambers should be submitted by email.

Judge Sitarski expects that in most cases, these papers will be submitted by email.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesTechnical Issues
Page 3
|SecGeneral Motions Practice
Page or Word LimitImportant

Case summaries for settlement conferences should not exceed 5 pages.

The Court anticipates that in most cases, the parties' case summaries will not exceed five (5) pages.

Communication ProtocolNote

Counsel may contact Deputy Clerk or law clerks with questions about courtroom practices.

Counsel should feel free to contact Judge Sitarski's Deputy Clerk or law clerks if they have any questions about her courtroom practices or procedures.

Email

Direct to: Clerk

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Page 8
|SecOTHER GENERAL MATTERS
Communication ProtocolImportant

Counsel must remain in the Courthouse during jury deliberations and be available within 10 minutes.

In most cases, Judge Sitarski will expect counsel to remain in the Courthouse during deliberations, and will expect counsel to be available on short telephone notice and be able to be in the courtroom within 10 minutes.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Page 7
|SecAvailability of Counsel During Jury Deliberations
Page or Word LimitImportant

Supporting documents for settlement conferences are limited to 20 pages without prior approval.

Counsel shall not submit more than 20 pages of documents without prior Court approval.

Communication ProtocolMandatory

Settlement conference form must be emailed to Chambers at the specified email address by the deadline.

Please complete the attached settlement conference form and email it to Chambers at Chambers_sitarski@paed.uscourts.gov on or before XXXXX , 20XX.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page or Word LimitImportant

Case synopsis attachment for settlement conference is limited to 5 pages.

ATTACH SYNOPSIS OF CASE (UP TO FIVE [5] PAGES)

Page 11
|SecSettlement Conference Form

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