Eastern District of Pennsylvania Filing Rules
2434 individual rules extracted from judicial documents in EDPA
These rules are extracted from individual judges' practices, standing orders, and policies published by the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. They supplement the court's local rules and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Requirements vary significantly between judges in the same district, so always verify the specific rules for your assigned judge.
- Judge Gerald J. Pappert
Settlement conferences referred to Magistrate Judge.
- Judge Joseph F. Leeson, Jr.
Oral argument must be requested by letter or in motion/responsive pleading.
- Judge Caroline Goldner Cinquanto
Counsel must be patient as settlement is a process that takes time.
- Judge Carol Sandra Moore Wells
Parties must obtain permission before filing supplemental briefs.
- Judge Juan R. Sánchez
Joint exhibit chart in PDF format required with neutral descriptions
- Judge Carol Sandra Moore Wells
Counsel may correspond with the Court on all matters, but disputes are preferably handled through joint telephone conferences.
- Judge Joshua D. Wolson
Chambers physical address provided
- Judge Wendy Beetlestone
Judge Beetlestone permits correspondence with the Court under specific circumstances.
- Judge Paul S. Diamond
Preliminary pretrial conference in Chambers after responsive pleading; Lead Counsel must attend with client or corporate representative; no telephonic/Zoom appearances.
- Judge Juan R. Sánchez
Chambers communication limited to scheduling and non-substantive matters only; no ex parte substantive communications allowed.
- Judge Carol Sandra Moore Wells
No fixed minimum advance notice period is imposed for continuance or extension requests.
- Judge Wendy Beetlestone
Extensions for trial dates, discovery deadlines, or dispositive motions must be made sufficiently in advance.
- Judge Paul S. Diamond
Discovery must begin immediately; no extensions will be granted; discovery should be well underway by preliminary pretrial conference.
- Judge Juan R. Sánchez
Continuance or extension requests must be submitted by letter to Judge Sánchez.
- Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl
Rule 26(f) meeting must occur within 21 days before Rule 16 conference
- Judge Wendy Beetlestone
Standard track cases get 90 days for discovery from Rule 16 conference date.
- Judge Paul S. Diamond
Motion papers must be double-spaced, 14-point Times New Roman, 1-inch margins. Supporting memoranda limited to 25 pages, replies to 12 pages, declarations to 20 pages.
- Judge Juan R. Sánchez
Motions and opposition briefs limited to 15 pages each.
- Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl
Reply briefs limited to 10 pages and must be filed within 7 days of opposition brief.
- Judge Gerald J. Pappert
Standard discovery period is 90-120 days from Rule 16 conference
- Judge Carol Sandra Moore Wells
Pretrial conferences in criminal cases are generally not held, but may be conducted if counsel requests one.
- Judge Wendy Beetlestone
Motion to compel may be filed if telephone conference doesn't resolve discovery dispute.
- Judge Paul S. Diamond
Oral argument is generally not required for motions.
- Judge Juan R. Sánchez
Final pretrial conference held at least 30 days after discovery closes and during week before trial.
- Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl
Motions in limine must be filed 10 days before trial.
- Judge Karen Spencer Marston
All PDF documents must be text searchable
- Judge Carol Sandra Moore Wells
Exhibit submissions to the Court must be presented in a loose-leaf binder.
- Judge Juan R. Sánchez
Exhibit chart must contain functioning hyperlinks to files
- Judge Wendy Beetlestone
Exhibits must be in binders with detailed table of contents.
- Judge Paul S. Diamond
All documents must be filed electronically via ECF; stipulations and proposed orders should not be delivered to Clerk.
- Judge Carol Sandra Moore Wells
Courtesy copies of motion papers to chambers are encouraged, particularly by electronic delivery.
- Judge Wendy Beetlestone
Courtesy copies required for documents over 10 pages.
- Judge Paul S. Diamond
Documentary evidence over 50 pages must be delivered to Chambers in hard copy with specific formatting.
- Judge Juan R. Sánchez
Courtesy copies not required unless requested; encouraged for filings over 50 pages with tabbed exhibits.
- Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl
Courtesy copies only required for voluminous exhibits or sealed cases, after email confirmation.
- Judge Wendy Beetlestone
Confidentiality/sealing orders require good cause and specific language.
- Judge Juan R. Sánchez
Sealed documents must comply with Local Rule 5.1.2, Section 6 and require a motion for leave to file under seal.
- Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl
Confidentiality/sealing orders require good cause.
- Judge Joseph F. Leeson, Jr.
Confidentiality orders require detailed explanation of injury and specific categories of protected information.
- Judge Joshua D. Wolson
Motion to seal required before filing sealed documents, with courtesy copies.
- Judge Wendy Beetlestone
Multiple attorneys may examine different witnesses or argue different points, but not the same witness or point.
- Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl
Multiple attorneys may examine different witnesses or argue different points, but only one per side may address the jury.
- Judge Gerald J. Pappert
Multiple attorneys may examine different witnesses or argue different points, but only one attorney per side may examine same witness or address jury.
- Judge Joshua D. Wolson
Only one attorney per side may examine witnesses or address jury without leave of court.
- Judge John M. Gallagher
Section on development of young attorneys
- Judge Carol Sandra Moore Wells
Motions in limine should be bundled with the final pretrial memorandum and are usually addressed at the final pretrial conference.
- Judge Wendy Beetlestone
Parties should collaborate to create a single numbered exhibit set for trial.
- Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl
No Rule 16 conference or scheduling order in arbitration track cases (except de novo appeals).
- Judge John Milton Younge
Joinder in substantive motions of other parties is strongly disfavored and normally not permitted.
- Judge John M. Gallagher
Appendix should be filed in same ECF entry as motion or response when practicable.