Judge Scott W. Reid
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- 1 copy
Adjournments
- Extensions require good cause letter brief and usually a conference with Judge.
Request must include
- Continuance requests for settlement conferences must be made within 14 days of notice and only for compelling reasons.
Communication
Phone
Phone
Chambers
Page & Word Limits2 rules
Memoranda must not exceed twenty-five (25) pages in length (excluding table of contents and appendices), must be double spaced and must use 12-point Times New Roman font.
Memorandum
25 pages
Applies to: Attorney
Judge Reid will permit reply briefs not to exceed fifteen (15) pages.
Reply Brief
15 pages
Applies to: Attorney
Document Filing Requirements29 rules
Videotaped depositions must be reviewed and edited to present only essential evidence; objections resolved before offering video.
Judge Reid requires counsel to review all videotaped depositions and to have them edited such as to fairly present only the essential evidence of the witnesses involved. Counsel are expected to resolve all matters pertaining to objections before offering the video into evidence.
DocumentVideotaped Deposition
Prior to commencement of trial, exhibits are to be pre- marked and exchanged by counsel. Counsel should provide Judge Reid with two (2) copies of each exhibit, together with a schedule of exhibits that briefly describes each exhibit. Counsel is encouraged, however, to provide the Court with only the essential and relevant portions of bulky exhibits, together with sufficient material to provide context for the relevant portion of the exhibits.
DocumentExhibit
Once the Court has ordered that a defendant be detained or has set conditions of release, any proposed changes thereto must be submitted to the Court by written motion.
DocumentMotion
Settlement conference summary (max 5 pages) required one week before conference.
Judge Reid requires counsel to submit to Chambers a brief confidential written settlement conference summary, including an offer/demand, one week before the scheduled conference. This summary should not exceed five (5) pages, excluding attachments.
DocumentSettlement Conference Summary
Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law required for non-jury cases at final pretrial conference.
Judge Reid requires counsel to submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law in non-jury cases at the final pretrial conference or at such a date as set forth in a scheduling order. A supplementation will be permitted at the close of trial or, in an appropriate case, after trial.
DocumentProposed Findings Conclusions
Judge Reid requires that counsel exchange the offer/demand only in advance of the scheduled conference.
DocumentSettlement Conference
Joint proposed jury instructions with citations required by scheduling order deadline.
Judge Reid requires counsel to submit joint proposed jury instructions, noting areas of agreement as well as objections. The points for charge should be submitted with appropriate citations of legal authority and shall be provided to the Court in accordance with the deadline set forth in the scheduling order.
DocumentJury Instructions
AI disclosure required for legal citations with verification certification.
If any attorney for a party, or a pro se party (in both civil and criminal cases), has used generative Artificial Intelligence (“AI”)—including but not limited to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or any other program that uses machine learning to create new content—in a citation of any legal authority filed with the Court, and assigned or referred to Judge Scott W. Reid, then they MUST, in a clear and plain factual statement, disclose that generative AI has been used to assist with the citation of legal authority, disclose what specific generative AI program was used, and CERTIFY that each and every citation of legal authority has been verified as accurate.
DocumentLegal Citation
Judge Reid will not normally permit sur-reply briefs and counsel desiring to file a sur-reply must first seek permission of the Court before such a brief will be accepted.
DocumentSur Reply Brief
Memoranda over fifteen (15) pages in length must include a table of contents and table of authorities.
DocumentMemorandum
Counsel will submit a jointly prepared verdict form or proposed special interrogatories in accordance with the deadline set forth in the scheduling order. If counsel are unable to agree, they may submit separate proposed forms of interrogatories.
DocumentVerdict Form
Judge Reid discourages the use of sidebar conferences. Counsel are encouraged to raise particular evidentiary issues before trial or during recesses or adjournments.
DocumentSidebar Conference
Judge Reid will not normally permit more than one attorney for the party to examine the same witness or more than one attorney to present argument on behalf of the party on the same point.
DocumentAttorney Examination Argument
Judge Reid will generally restrict counsel from examining witnesses beyond re-direct and re-cross.
DocumentWitness Examination
Judge Reid does not favor the dual representation of defendants by a single attorney at any criminal proceeding, apart, perhaps, from the initial appearance.
Judge Reid encourages the submission of trial briefs when they are necessary or likely to be helpful to the Court.
DocumentTrial Brief
Judge Reid will accept in limine motions in advance of the final pretrial conference and in accordance with his scheduling order so as to give him an opportunity to consider the merits of the motion.
DocumentIn Limine Motion
Judge Reid will permit witnesses to be taken out of turn in appropriate circumstances.
DocumentWitness Examination
Judge Reid usually permits counsel to conduct all voir dire.
DocumentVoir Dire
Judge Reid expects counsel to reach agreement in advance as to the admission of exhibits. Judge Reid has no particular procedure as to when an exhibit may be formally offered into evidence.
DocumentExhibit Admission
No usual verdict practice; written interrogatories provided to jury during deliberations when appropriate.
Judge Reid has no usual practice with respect to taking a verdict. Judge Reid will submit written interrogatories to the jury in the appropriate case. A copy of the interrogatories shall be given to the jury during their deliberations.
DocumentVerdict Form
Counsel are expected to be mindful of the mandate of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 1 that the procedural rules “should be construed, administered, and employed by the court and the parties to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action and proceeding.”
DocumentGeneral
Judge Reid will make a determination on a case by case basis when requests are made to read back testimony or replay tapes.
DocumentJury Procedure
Judge Reid will consider what exhibits should be sent out to the jury during their deliberations on a case by case basis.
DocumentExhibits
Judge Reid has no particular practice or policy on submitting a copy of instructions to the jury.
DocumentJury Instructions
Judge Reid will encourage counsel to agree upon a less than unanimous verdict.
DocumentVerdict Form
Juror interviews permitted after verdict recording and discharge with clear notice of no obligation.
Judge Reid will permit counsel to interview jurors, but only after the verdict has been recorded, the jury has been discharged and they have been told in clear terms that they have no obligation to speak with counsel.
DocumentJury Procedure
Oral pro hac vice motions allowed on first appearance day.
Judge Reid will permit oral motions for pro hac vice admissions on the day that the attorney to be admitted first appears. On or before the date of the non-admitted attorney’s first appearance, counsel must prepare an appropriate Order to memorialize the pro hac vice admission.
DocumentPro Hac Vice Order
Judge Reid will, if requested, permit the jury to be polled.
DocumentJury Procedure
Filing & Service rules
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Courtesy copy of all motions papers required for Chambers.
Judge Reid requires a courtesy copy of all motions papers to be sent directly to Chambers.
Judge Reid prefers to receive copies of appellate briefs when his decisions are appealed.
When a decision rendered by this Court is appealed, Judge Reid prefers to receive copies of appellate briefs.
Page 11 | IV. OTHER MATTERS
Sealing & Redaction Procedures
Sealing orders require good cause and specific language.
Judge Reid will approve confidentiality or sealing orders for good cause shown. See Pansy v Borough of Stroudsburg, 23 F.3d 772 (3d Cir. 1994). Such orders must contain this language: “the Court retains the right to allow disclosure of any subject covered by this stipulation or to modify this stipulation at any time in the interest of justice.”
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuance requests for settlement conferences must be made within 14 days of notice and only for compelling reasons.
Settlement conferences are scheduled by order of the Court and are not discretionary. Counsel and participants should use all efforts to be available for this conference. Due to the large to reschedule the conference could cause a delay of that conference for several weeks. For this reason, any continuance requests should be made within fourteen (14) days of receipt of the notice scheduling the conference. Continuance requests will only be granted for the most compelling reasons.
Extensions require good cause letter brief and usually a conference with Judge.
Extensions will be entertained upon a good cause showing that circumstances beyond the reasonable expectation of counsel have hampered the progress of the case. Judge Reid requires a letter brief requesting an extension. In most cases, extensions will only be considered after a conference with the Judge.
Chambers Communication Rules
Counsel must be present at all criminal duty week proceedings once appointed/retained.
At all “criminal duty week” proceedings, counsel once appointed or retained, must be present to permit the proceeding to go forward.
Contact chambers immediately if attendance issues arise for settlement conference.
Counsel seeking relief must contact chambers as soon as they are aware of a problem with attendance.
Oral arguments/hearings scheduled through courtroom deputy.
Oral arguments and evidentiary hearings may be scheduled through Judge Reid’s courtroom deputy. All reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate the schedules of counsel.
Communication with clerks allowed for scheduling/administrative matters only.
Judge Reid permits counsel to communicate with his courtroom deputy and law clerks on scheduling and administrative matters, but never on the merits of a case.
Judge Reid will schedule status conferences, settlement conferences and final pretrial conferences as required by the circumstance of each particular case. Judge Reid will work with counsel in the scheduling of either telephone conferences or conferences in chambers to resolve any issues that may arise during the progress of the case. Judge Reid does expect, however, that counsel will make all good faith efforts to resolve any disputed matter between themselves before seeking involvement of the Court.
Judge Reid will schedule status conferences, settlement conferences and final pretrial conferences as required by the circumstance of each particular case. Judge Reid will work with counsel in the scheduling of either telephone conferences or conferences in chambers to resolve any issues that may arise during the progress of the case. Judge Reid does expect, however, that counsel will make all good faith efforts to resolve any disputed matter between themselves before seeking involvement of the Court.
In-person conferences preferred; phone allowed for scheduling, extensions, discovery.
Judge Reid prefers that counsel come to chambers for all conferences. Telephone conferences may be utilized, however, for matters such as scheduling changes, extensions of time and routine discovery disputes, it will be the responsibility of all counsel
Correspondence allowed if all counsel receive copies.
Judge Reid permits correspondence from counsel on any matters as long as all other counsel in the matter are sent copies of such correspondence.
Counsel not required to stay but must be available by phone during deliberations.
Judge Reid will not require counsel to remain in the courthouse during deliberations but will require counsel to be available on short telephone notice.