Court of Common Pleas of Butler County, Pennsylvania Document Format Requirements

CRITICAL

During the court proceeding, four 8½ x 11-inch copies of reduced documentary exhibits and photographs of tangible objects must be produced for the judge, law clerk, opposing counsel or unrepresented parties, and Court Reporter.

Four (4) 8½ x 11-inch copies of the reduced documentary exhibits and photographs of tangible objects must be produced during the court proceeding: one (1) copy for the presiding judge, one (1) copy for the judge’s law clerk, one (1) copy for opposing counsel/unrepresented parties, and one (1) copy for the Court Reporter for inclusion in the documentary record.

CRITICAL

A proponent providing a reduced copy of an oversized exhibit must ensure it is clear and capable of further reproduction.

The proponent who provides a reduced copy of an oversized exhibit shall ensure the reproduced document is clear and capable of further reproduction.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Real estate tax assessment appeal status report

The status report must use the format set forth below.

The Real Estate Tax Assessment Appeal status report shall be in the format set forth below:

CRITICAL

Applies to

Exhibits

Oversized exhibits must be submitted to the court reporter in 8” x 10” form for inclusion with the transcript.

(b) Oversized exhibits must be submitted to the court reporter in 8” x 10” form to be included with the transcript.

CRITICAL

Transcripts under this section must be delivered to the requester only in electronic format.

All transcripts under this section will be delivered to the requester in electronic format only.

CRITICALCivil cases

Appeals must use the format prescribed in the rule.

shall be filed in the following format:

CRITICALCivil cases

A hearing notice must use the format provided in the order that follows.

The hearing notice shall be in the following format:

CRITICAL

If an exhibit book is required, it must be tabbed.

Each party shall prepare a tabbed exhibit book, in advance of trial, containing each exhibit the party plans to show to a witness, to introduce through a witness, or to otherwise proffer as evidence.

CRITICAL

During the court proceeding, three USB flash drives with identical content must be produced for the presiding judge, opposing counsel or unrepresented parties, and Court Reporter.

Three (3) Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drives replicating the exact content shall be produced during the court proceeding: one (1) copy for the presiding judge, one (1) copy for opposing counsel/unrepresented parties, and one (1) copy for the Court Reporter for inclusion in the evidentiary record.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

Transcripts provided under this section must be delivered to the requester in electronic format only.

All transcripts under this section will be delivered to the requester in electronic format only.

CRITICALCivil cases

A petition’s proposed order must follow Pa.R.C.P. 206.5 and include the alternative provisions in paragraphs (d)(4) and (5).

Said proposed order shall follow the provision of Pa.R.C.P. 206.5, with alternative provisions in paragraph(d)(4) and (5), so that the Court may determine whether to proceed with depositions or an evidentiary hearing on disputed issues of material fact.

CRITICAL

Four letter-size copies of reduced documentary exhibits and photographs of tangible objects must be produced during the proceeding for the listed recipients.

Four (4) 8½ x 11-inch copies of the reduced documentary exhibits and photographs of tangible objects must be produced during the court proceeding: one (1) copy for the presiding judge, one (1) copy for the judge's law clerk, one (1) copy for opposing counsel/unrepresented parties, and one (1) copy for the Court Reporter for inclusion in the documentary record.

CRITICAL

Transcript requests must use the District Court Administrator’s standardized form.

All requests for transcripts shall be set forth on a standardized form provided by the District Court Administrator.

CRITICAL

A digital exhibit that cannot be printed must be entered into the record on a USB flash drive, unless the court expressly approves another format.

Any digital exhibit that cannot be printed (i.e., audio or video recording) shall be entered into the record on a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive (or other format if expressly approved by the court).

CRITICAL

When offering a photograph into evidence, the proponent must enter the original or a substitute copy into the record, and the copy may be no larger than 8-½ x 11 inches.

If a proponent offers into evidence a photograph, the proponent shall ensure that the original or a copy of the photograph in lieu of the original (no larger in size than 8- ½ x 11 inches) is entered into the record.

CRITICALCivil cases

When the order-production system is operational, only system-produced orders may be presented for review and signature; orders created outside the system during an outage must be integrated into it as soon as possible.

At any time that the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County is participating in any program to develop a data base for protection from abuse orders, only orders produced by that system shall be presented to the court for review and signature, if the system is operational. If the system used to produce orders is temporarily non-operational, orders created outside the system shall be integrated therein as soon as possible.

CRITICAL

A proponent offering a photograph must enter the original or a copy no larger than 8½ by 11 inches into the record.

If a proponent offers into evidence a photograph, the proponent shall ensure that the original or a copy of the photograph in lieu of the original (no larger in size than 8- ½ x 11 inches) is entered into the record.

CRITICAL

The required envelope for a confidential exhibit must be 9 by 12 inches and unsealed when submitted for sealing by the record office.

Any exhibit containing confidential information or the equivalent to any of the categories enumerated in Pa. Access Policy § 8.0 must be prepared by the proponent and include a Confidential Document Form attached to a 9 x 12 unsealed envelope, in accordance with Local Rule L100 so that the document can be properly sealed by the record office.

CRITICAL

The custodian at the conclusion of the proceeding must file the typewritten Exhibit Index Form and exhibits with the appropriate records office within five business days.

The custodian at the conclusion of the proceeding shall file with the appropriate records office a typewritten Exhibit Index Form. The exhibits and standardized Exhibit Index Form set forth in Appendix I shall be typewritten and filed with the appropriate records office within five (5) business days from the conclusion of the proceeding.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Real estate tax assessment appeal cover page

The Real Estate Tax Assessment Appeal cover page must be substantially in the prescribed form.

The cover page of the Real Estate Tax Assessment Appeal shall be substantially in the following form:

CRITICAL

Transcript requests must use the standardized form provided by the Court Administrator.

(A) All requests for transcripts shall be set forth on a standardized form provided by the Court Administrator.

CRITICAL

Daily, expedited, and same-day transcript requests must be written and filed in the District Court Administrator’s office, except that an emergency request may be made by oral motion and requires the trial judge’s approval, subject to reporter availability.

(C) Requests for daily, expedited or same day requests for these transcripts shall be filed in writing in the Butler County District Court Administrator's office at least 10 days prior to the proceeding. Copies of the written request shall be delivered as required by subsection (B) above. In the event of an emergency, a party may request by oral motion a daily, expedited or same day transcript. These requests must be approved by the trial Judge and are subject to the availability of the Court Reporter.

CRITICAL

A proponent providing a copy of a photograph must ensure it is clear and capable of further reproduction or transfer to digital media.

A proponent who provides a copy of a photograph shall ensure that the reproduced document is clear and capable of further reproduction or transfer to digital media.

CRITICALCivil cases

A praecipe for arbitration must use the prescribed format shown in the document.

The praecipe for Arbitration shall be in the following format:

CRITICAL

The exhibits and standardized Exhibit Index Form must be typewritten and filed with the appropriate records office within five business days after the proceeding concludes.

The exhibits and standardized Exhibit Index Form set forth in Appendix I shall be typewritten and filed with the appropriate records office within five (5) business days from the conclusion of the proceeding.

CRITICAL

A digital exhibit that cannot be printed must be entered into the record on a USB flash drive unless the court expressly approves another format.

Any digital exhibit that cannot be printed (i.e., audio or video recording) shall be entered into the record on a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive (or other format if expressly approved by the court).

CRITICAL

These transcript requests generally must be written, but an emergency request may be made by oral motion and requires the trial judge’s approval; it is subject to reporter availability.

Requests for daily, expedited or same day requests for these transcripts shall be filed in writing in the Butler County District Court Administrator's office at least 10 days prior to the proceeding. In the event of an emergency, a party may request by oral motion a daily, expedited or same day transcript. These requests must be approved by the trial Judge and are subject to the availability of the Court Reporter.

CRITICAL

The exhibits and standardized Exhibit Index Form must be typewritten.

The exhibits and standardized Exhibit Index Form set forth in Appendix I shall be typewritten and filed with the appropriate records office within five (5) business days from the conclusion of the proceeding.

CRITICAL

Documentary exhibits larger than 8½ x 11 inches must be reduced to that size; tangible objects in the record must be photographed in color, with the photograph reduced to that size and appropriately marked.

Documentary exhibits larger than 8½ x 11 inches that are part of the record shall be reduced to 8½ x 11 inches, and all tangible objects that are part of the record shall be photographed in color by the by the proponent, the photograph converted to 8½ x 11 inches, and the photograph appropriately marked.

CRITICAL

Three identical USB flash drives must be produced during the proceeding for the listed recipients.

Three (3) Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drives replicating the exact content shall be produced during the court proceeding: one (1) copy for the presiding judge, one (1) copy for opposing counsel/unrepresented parties, and one (1) copy for the Court Reporter for inclusion in the evidentiary record.

CRITICAL

Transcript requests must use the standardized form provided by the Court Administrator.

All requests for transcripts shall be set forth on a standardized form provided by the Court Administrator.

CRITICAL

Confidential Information Forms must be placed in an unsealed, letter-sized No. 10 envelope.

Parties and their attorneys shall place the Confidential Information Form(s) into an unsealed, letter-sized, No. 10 envelope.

CRITICAL

Confidential Documents must be placed in an unsealed, letter-sized manila or equivalent envelope.

Parties and their attorneys shall place the Confidential Documents into an unsealed, letter-sized manila (or equivalent) envelope.

CRITICALCivil cases

The arbitration time scheduling order must use the prescribed format, including the hearing details, notice, continuance-fee statement, and court signature block.

(f) Arbitration Time Scheduling Order. The scheduling order for the arbitration time shall be in the following format: Caption ARBITRATION TIME SCHEDULING ORDER And now, ________________, the Arbitration hearing for the above case is scheduled for ___________________ at _o’clock _ M in Room___________ of the Butler County Courthouse. hour(s) or day(s) has/have been allotted for this case to be presented and concluded. This matter will be heard by a board of arbitrators at the time, date and place specified. But if one or more of the parties is not present at the hearing, the matter may be heard at the same time and date before a judge of the court without the absent party or parties. There is no right to trial de novo on appeal from a decision entered by a judge in such circumstance. Any continuance requested after this date WILL require the payment of the arbitrators’ fees. BY THE COURT,

WARNING

Weapons, cash, other items of value, drugs, and other dangerous materials must not be viewed in the jury room.

Exhibits comprised of weapons, cash, other items of value, drugs, or other dangerous materials are prohibited from viewing in the jury room.

WARNING

Transcripts requested under section (A)(4) are delivered only in electronic format.

All transcripts under this section will be delivered to the requester in electronic format only.

WARNING

The envelope accompanying a qualifying exhibit must be 9 x 12 and unsealed.

Any exhibit containing confidential information or the equivalent to any of the categories enumerated in Pa. Access Policy § 8.0 must be prepared by the proponent and include a Confidential Document Form attached to a 9 x 12 unsealed envelope, in accordance with Local Rule L100 so that the document can be properly sealed by the record office.

WARNING

Documentary exhibits larger than 8½ by 11 inches that are part of the record must be reduced to that size.

(2) Documentary exhibits larger than 8\frac{1}{2} \times 11 inches that are part of the record shall be reduced to 8\frac{1}{2} \times 11 inches,

WARNING

Copies of exhibits must not be included in the original Pretrial Narrative filed with the Prothonotary’s Office.

Copies of exhibits shall not be included in the original pre-trial narrative filed with the Prothonotary’s Office.

WARNING

Each party's exhibit book must be tabbed.

Each party shall prepare a tabbed exhibit book, in advance of trial, containing each exhibit the party plans to show to a witness, to introduce through a witness, or to otherwise proffer as evidence.

WARNING

The proponent must photograph tangible objects that are part of the record in color, convert the photographs to 8½ by 11 inches, and appropriately mark them.

all tangible objects that are part of the record shall be photographed in color by the proponent, the photograph converted to 8\frac{1}{2} \times 11 inches, and the photograph appropriately marked.

INFO

A party may submit multiple digital exhibits together on one USB flash drive.

If one party has multiple digital exhibits, they may be submitted together on one USB flash drive.

INFO

Distribution of electronic transcript copies by email is preferred.

Distribution of electronic copies by e-mail is preferred.

INFOCivil cases

The stipulation may be executed in counterparts.

This Stipulation can be executed in counterparts.

INFO

Electronic delivery by email is preferred for transcript copies.

Electronic delivery by e-mail is preferred.