Judge Pamela A. Carlos
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Adjournments
Must Include
- 1Reason For Request
- 2Adversary Position
Must Include
- 1Reason For Request
- 2Proposed New Dates
- 3Adversary Position
Must Include
- 1Reason For Request
- 2Proposed New Dates
Communication
Letter Ecf
Chambers
Chambers
In Person
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Chambers
Chambers
Chambers
Detailed Drafting Rules
Correspondence allowed if copies sent to all parties.
Judge Carlos permits correspondence from counsel on any matters so long as all other counsel or unrepresented parties are sent copies of such correspondence.
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Counsel may contact law clerks for scheduling/administrative matters only.
Judge Carlos permits counsel to communicate with her law clerks on scheduling and administrative matters, but never on the merits of a case.
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Settlement conferences must be in-person at Allentown courthouse.
Judge Carlos prefers that counsel and the parties come to the U.S. Courthouse in Allentown, Pennsylvania for all settlement conferences.
In Person
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Status conferences and discovery disputes by phone; Rule 16 conferences by Zoom.
Telephone conferences are utilized for status conferences and routine discovery disputes. Rule 16 conferences are generally conducted by Zoom.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Oral arguments and evidentiary hearings must be in-person.
Oral argument and evidentiary hearings will be conducted in person.
In Person
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Oral argument scheduled only if helpful to case resolution.
Judge Carlos will schedule oral argument on motions only if it appears likely to be helpful to the Court's resolution of the matter.
In Person
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Reply/supplemental briefs require prior court permission.
Judge Carlos will not normally permit reply or supplemental briefs. Counsel desiring to file a such a brief must first seek permission of the Court before such a brief will be accepted.
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Counsel must attempt to resolve discovery disputes before contacting court.
Judge Carlos expects counsel to attempt to resolve disputes prior to bringing them to her attention, pursuant to Rule 26.1(f) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Contact deputy clerk to schedule discovery dispute conferences.
Judge Carlos permits contact with the Court through her deputy clerk to set up telephone or chambers conferences to resolve outstanding issues.
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Discovery disputes should be submitted via letter memoranda.
Generally, Judge Carlos prefers letter memoranda outlining the discovery dispute.
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Motion practice discouraged for discovery matters except subpoenas to non-parties.
Except for subpoenas issued to non-parties, the use of motion practice in discovery matters is discouraged.
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Settlement conference memoranda must be submitted one week before conference, max 4 pages, in Word format.
Judge Carlos will normally require counsel to submit a conference memorandum one week before the scheduled conference. It shall include an offer/demand settlement proposal. This memorandum should not exceed four (4) pages and should be submitted in Word format.
Document Type
Settlement Conference Memorandum
Settlement conference memoranda limited to 4 pages.
This memorandum should not exceed four (4) pages and should be submitted in Word format.
Settlement conference memoranda must be emailed to chambers, not filed with clerk.
The memoranda are not to be filed with the Clerk’s office. Instead, they should be sent to chambers via email at: PAED_Carlos_Chambers@paed.uscourts.gov.
Direct to: Chambers
- Status Inquiries
Counsel must provide phone number and be available by phone during jury deliberations.
Judge Carlos will not require counsel to remain in the courthouse during deliberations but will require counsel to be available on short telephone notice. Counsel must provide the deputy clerk with their phone number.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredshort_telephone_notice
- Hoursduring_jury_deliberations
- Status Inquiries
Counsel may contact deputy clerk or law clerks with questions about courtroom practices.
Counsel should feel free to contact Judge Carlos' deputy clerk or law clerks if they have any questions about her courtroom practices or procedures.
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requirednone
- Hoursbusiness_hours
- Status Inquiries
Plaintiff and counsel report at 9:30 AM, defense counsel at 10:30 AM for settlement conference.
PLAINTIFF AND COUNSEL ARE TO REPORT TO CHAMBERS AT 9:30 A.M. ON THE DATE STATED ABOVE. DEFENSE COUNSEL SHALL REPORT AT 10:30 A.M.
Chambers
Direct to: Chambers
- Hours9:30 AM for plaintiff/counsel, 10:30 AM for defense counsel
Parties must email chambers confirming settlement demand/offer status.
LETTER TO CHAMBERS, VIA EMAIL, INDICATING WHETHER A SETTLEMENT DEMAND AND A SETTLEMENT OFFER HAVE BEEN MADE. THE PARTIES ARE ALSO DIRECTED TO CONFIRM WHETHER BASED UPON THE STATUS OF NEGOTIATIONS THERE IS AN AGREEMENT TO PROCEED WITH A GOOD FAITH SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE.
Direct to: Chambers
Settlement memorandum must include participant info, 4-page synopsis, exhibits, expert reports, and deposition excerpts.
The settlement conference memorandum shall include: 1. Name, title and email of all persons participating in the settlement conference. 2. An updated case synopsis, limited to four pages, which shall be in Microsoft Word format. 3. Critical exhibits in support of the parties' liability and damage claims or defenses. The parties should coordinate with one another as to which party will produce the specific documents if possible. Duplicate submission are discouraged. 4. Affirmative and rebuttal experts reports, if any. 5. Relevant portions of deposition testimony may be submitted. Submission of entire deposition transcripts is strongly discouraged.
Document Type
Settlement Conference Memorandum
Settlement conference communications should be sent to PAED_Carlos_Chambers@paed.uscourts.gov.
The Email address is PAED_Carlos_Chambers@paed.uscourts.gov.
Direct to: Chambers