Court Rules
chief district Judge
Verified Current9 days ago

Judge Wendy Beetlestone

Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Motion Brief
30 pgs
Reply Brief
10 pgs
Sur Reply
5 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Filings (>10 pages)

Required

Filings (All filings)

Required • Binding: Three Ring Binder

Adjournments

Notice Required
0Sufficiently In Advance

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Original Date
  • 3
    Number Of Previous Requests
  • 4
    Previous Requests Granted Or Denied
  • 5
    Adversary Position
  • 6
    Proposed New Dates
Notice Required
0Calendar Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Adversary Position
Notice Required
14Calendar Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Reason For Request
  • 2
    Adversary Position
  • 3
    Proposed New Dates

Communication

Letter Ecf

Chambers

Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

267-299-7450
Scheduling
Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

SchedulingEmergencies
Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantCommunicationElectronicsMemorandaLettersDiscoveryConferencesExhibitsTOC/TOA

Detailed Drafting Rules

Document RequirementMandatory

Joint appendix pages must be consecutively Bates stamped and referenced.

All pages of the joint appendix shall be consecutively 'Bates stamped' and referenced in the motions and briefs by the Bates number assigned each page.

Document Type

Joint Appendix

Content & Formatting
Bates Stamping
Communication ProtocolNote

Judge Beetlestone permits correspondence with the Court under specific circumstances.

I. Correspondence with the Court: Judge Beetlestone permits correspondence with the Court under the following circumstances:

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecPRELIMINARY GENERAL MATTERS
Communication ProtocolNote

Letters of transmittal are permitted when accompanying required documents.

A. When letters of transmittal accompany documents required to be sent to, or filed with, the Court or in another official office in the courthouse;

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecPRELIMINARY GENERAL MATTERS
Communication ProtocolNote

Letters are permitted when specifically requested by the Court.

B. When counsel is specifically requested by the Court to communicate some information to the Court by letter;

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecPRELIMINARY GENERAL MATTERS
Communication ProtocolNote

Uncontested continuances of Rule 16 deadlines are permitted by letter.

C. When there is an uncontested request for a continuance of the Rule 16. Scheduling Order deadlines not affecting the trial date or pool placement;

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecPRELIMINARY GENERAL MATTERS
Communication ProtocolNote

Letters are permitted to seek Court's assistance with discovery disputes.

D. To seek the Court’s assistance in resolving a discovery dispute;

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecPRELIMINARY GENERAL MATTERS
Communication ProtocolNote

Letters are permitted for personal matters affecting counsel's participation.

E. When the participation of counsel in the case is expected to be affected by a personal matter concerning counsel, a party, a witness or counsel’s immediate family, such as medical problems, or other similarly personal problems or questions;

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecPRELIMINARY GENERAL MATTERS
Communication ProtocolNote

Letters are permitted to confirm case settlement or dismissal.

F. To confirm or advise the Court that a case has been settled, dismissed or otherwise finally disposed;

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecPRELIMINARY GENERAL MATTERS
Communication ProtocolMandatory

All other communications should be filed as pleadings, motions, or applications.

G. All other written communications with the Court concerning any case assigned to the Court’s calendar should be by the filing of a pleading, motion, application, brief, legal memorandum or other similar filing provided for in the Federal Rules of Civil or Criminal Procedure or our Local Rules of Civil or Criminal Procedure. Do not write letters to the Court that are properly the subject of these filings.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecPRELIMINARY GENERAL MATTERS
Communication ProtocolNote

Judge Beetlestone may hold telephone conferences for scheduling or discovery disputes.

III. Telephone Conferences A. Judge Beetlestone may hold telephone conferences to resolve scheduling matters or discovery disputes. The Court will notify counsel of the date and time for the telephone conference. In a civil case, counsel for the moving party will be responsible for initiating the telephone conference and contacting Judge Beetlestone through her Deputy Clerk after all parties are present on the call. In a criminal case, the United States Attorney’s Office will be responsible for initiating the call and contacting Judge Beetlestone through her Deputy Clerk after all parties are present on the call.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecIII. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolNote

Telephone communications are permitted when written communication cannot timely address a problem.

B. When a written communication concerning a case cannot timely address a problem, counsel may initiate necessary telephone communications with chambers. Issues appropriately addressed by telephone contact include:

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecIII. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolNote

Telephone contact is permitted for scheduling conferences or proceedings.

1. Scheduling of conferences or proceedings, including pretrial and trial conferences;

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecIII. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolNote

Telephone contact is permitted for witness attendance issues.

2. Attendance of witnesses;

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecIII. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolNote

Telephone contact is permitted for exhibit handling or video replay arrangements.

3. Exhibit handling or arrangements for video replay;

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecIII. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolNote

Telephone contact is permitted for arranging discovery dispute conferences.

4. Arrangements for telephone conferences regarding discovery disputes;

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecIII. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolNote

Telephone contact is permitted for absolutely necessary time extensions.

5. Requests for absolutely necessary extensions of time to file any response, reply, brief, memorandum of law or the like.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecIII. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolNote

All inquiries should be directed to the Deputy Clerk.

All such inquiries should be directed to the Deputy Clerk. Counsel should submit current email, telephone numbers and any changes to the Clerk’s Office, and to Judge Beetlestone’s Deputy Clerk.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecIII. Telephone Conferences
Communication ProtocolNote

Judge Beetlestone does not set aside specific days for oral arguments or hearings.

IV. Oral Arguments and Evidentiary Hearings: Judge Beetlestone does not set aside certain days or times for oral argument, motions, or evidentiary hearings. Hearings and argument are scheduled when requested or warranted.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
Prohibited
  • Hours
  • Status Inquiries
Page 2
|SecIV. Oral Arguments and Evidentiary Hearings
Courtesy CopyMandatory

Courtesy copies required for documents over 10 pages.

or memorandum that exceeds (10) pages in length to chambers at the time of filing.

Courtesy Copies Required

When: Page Threshold > 10
Logistics
Quantity1 Copy
TimingUpon Filing
MethodHand Delivery
Page 3
|SecVII. Stipulations and Consent Decrees
Communication ProtocolNote

Telephone conferences are generally held to address discovery disputes.

Judge Beetlestone will generally hold a telephone conference to address the dispute.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Motions briefs/memoranda limited to 30 pages (excluding TOC/attachments).

Any brief or memorandum filed in support of or in opposition to a motion must be limited to thirty (30) pages of double-spaced 12-font text, excluding the table of contents and any attachments or addenda.

Page or Word LimitMandatory

Reply briefs limited to 10 pages, due within 7 days of opposition.

Reply briefs are permitted. Reply briefs must be filed within seven (7) days of the date that a non-moving party files its opposition brief, may not exceed ten (10) pages, and must be limited to issues newly raised in the opposing

Document RequirementMandatory

Briefs of 20+ pages require table of contents and table of authorities.

Any brief of twenty (20) pages or more shall include a table of contents and table of authorities.

Document Type

Brief

Content & Formatting
Table Of Contents
Table Of Authorities
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Sur-reply briefs are limited to 5 pages.

The sur-reply brief may not exceed five (5) pages.

Communication ProtocolImportant

Conflicts affecting trial schedule must be reported immediately by phone and confirmed in writing.

When counsel become aware of any unavoidable and compelling professional or personal conflicts affecting the trial schedule, they should notify Judge Beetlestone and opposing counsel immediately. Such notice may be given to Judge Beetlestone’s Deputy Clerk by telephone, but it must be confirmed in writing.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    immediate
Prohibited
  • Hours
    unspecified
  • Status Inquiries