The Law Mind

Middle District of Pennsylvania

M.D. Pa. — local rules, ECF filing procedures, and judges’ standing orders, readable in full.

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Civil Rules (229)
4.6 Reserved
4.7 In Forma Pauperis Proceedings Initiated by Prisoners under 28 U.S.C. § 1915
4.8 In Forma Pauperis Proceedings in Habeas Corpus Actions
5.1 Size and Other Physical Characteristics of Papers and Other Documents
5.2 Documents to be Filed with the Clerk
5.3 Assigned Judge's Name on First Page of Documents
5.4 Service and Filing of Discovery Material
5.5 Form of Service of Interrogatories
5.6 Filing of Documents by Electronic Means
5.7 Service of Documents by Electronic Means
5.8 Filing of Documents under Seal
7.1 Motions to be Written
7.2 Reserved
7.3 Exhibits and Other Documents Substantiating Motions
7.4 Motions for Summary Judgment
7.5 Submission of Briefs Supporting Motions
7.6 Submission of Briefs Opposing Motions
7.7 Reply Briefs
7.8 Contents and Length of Briefs
7.9 Oral Arguments on Motions
7.10 Motions for Reconsideration
7.34 After-discovered Evidence
7.35 Notice of Appeal to Trial Judge
7.36 Citation of Supplemental Authorities
8.1 Statement of Amount of Damages
8.2 Claims for Unliquidated Damages
14.1 Motion to Join Third Parties Under Fed.R.Civ.P.14(a), Time for
14.2 Motion to Join Third Parties Under Fed.R.Civ.P.14(b), Time for
14.3 Motion to Join Third Parties, Time for, Suspension of Rules
15.1 Amended Pleadings
16.1 Requirement of Holding Court Conferences
16.2 Court Conferences, Participants at
16.3 Conferences of Attorneys
16.4 Scheduling Conferences
16.5 Special Pretrial Orders
16.6 Pretrial Memorandum
16.7 Alternative Dispute Resolution
16.8 Court-Annexed Mediation Program
16.8.1 General Rule
16.8.2 Certification of Mediators
16.8.3 Compensation and Expenses of Mediators
16.8.4 Cases Eligible for Mediation
16.8.5 Scheduling Mediation Conference
16.8.6 The Mediation Session and Confidentiality of Mediation Communications
16.8.7 Duties of Participants at the Mediation Session
16.9 Settlement Officer Program
16.9.1 General Rule
16.9.2 Agreement of the Parties
16.9.3 Discretion of the Court
16.9.4 Participants and Settlement Authority
16.9.5 Fees
23.1 Class Actions, Form of Designation of Complaint
23.2 Class Actions, Contents of Complaints
23.3 Class Action Determination
26.1 Duty to Investigate and Disclose
26.2 Service and Filing of Discovery Material
26.3 Discovery Motions, Statement of Conference to Resolve Objections
26.4 Discovery Proceedings, Closing of
30.1 Reserved
30.2 Videotape Depositions, General Authority and Rules Governing
30.3 Videotape Depositions, Subpoena and Notices of
30.4 Videotape Depositions, Transcript
30.5 Videotape Depositions, Procedure
30.6 Videotape Depositions, Timing
30.7 Videotape Depositions, Signature
30.8 Videotape Depositions, Custody and Copies
30.9 Videotape Depositions, Use
30.10 Depositions, Certificate of Conference to Remove Objections
30.11 Videotape Depositions, Transcription, Marking as Exhibit, Custody and
30.12 Videotape Depositions, Expenses and Counsel Fees
33.1 Interrogatories and Answers or Objections, Form of Service
33.2 Interrogatories, Supplemental Answers to
33.3 Interrogatories, Number of
36.1 Requests for Admission, Number of
36.2 Requests for Admissions, Form of Objections to
37.1 Discovery Abuse, Sanctions for
39.1 Civil Trials, One Attorney for Each Party
39.2 Civil Trials, Order of Addresses
39.3 Civil Trials, General Order of Summation
39.4 Civil Trials, Order of Summation in Third-Party Action
39.5 Civil Trials, Other Multi-Party Actions
39.6 Civil Trials, Order of Addresses in Co-Party Cases
39.7 Civil Trials, Trial Briefs
41.1 Dismissal of Action
42.1 Civil Trials, Order of Proof and Bifurcation
43.1 Civil Trials, Attorney as Witness
43.2 Civil Trials, Number of Attorneys to Examine Witness
43.3 Civil Trials, Offers of Proof
43.10 Special Trial Orders--Witnesses, Attorneys, Public Attendance, Number and
43.20 Civil Trials, View
48.1 Civil Trials, Juries
48.2 Civil Trials, Trial Without A Jury
51.1 Civil Trials, Requests to Instruct the Jury
54.1 Judgment by Confession
54.2 Security for Costs
54.3 Bills of Costs
54.4 Taxation of Costs
54.5 Notice of Taxation of Costs
54.6 Payment of Clerk's or Marshal's Costs
54.7 Witness Fees, Costs, Etc
56.1 Motions for Summary Judgment
58.1 Marshal's Deeds
65.1 Court Officers Not to Become Bail or Security
67.1 Investment of Registry Funds Pending Litigation
71A 1.7 Effect of Filing in Master File
72.1 Authority of Magistrate Judges
72.2 Appeals from Non-Dispositive Orders of Magistrate Judges
72.3 Review of Reports and Recommendations of Magistrate Judges Addressing
72.4 Magistrate Judges, Appeal from Judgments in Misdemeanor Cases - 18 U.S.C
72.5 Magistrate Judges, Authority for Forfeiture of Collateral
73.1 Magistrate Judges, Special Provisions for the Disposition of Civil Cases on
77.1 Clerk's Offices
79.1 Entries in Clerk's Records
79.2 Removal of Court Records
79.3 Deposits for Costs
79.4 Removal or Disposition of Exhibits
79.5 Unsealing of Civil Cases/Documents
83.1 Use of Photography, Radio and Television Equipment in the Courtroom and Its
83.1.1 Judicial Proceedings
83.1.2 Ceremonial Proceedings
83.2 Extrajudicial Statements in Civil Proceedings
83.3 Sanctions
83.3.1 Sanctions in the Discretion of Court
83.3.2 Failure to Exercise Reasonable Diligence In Effecting Settlement of a Case
83.3.3 Additional Sanctions
83.4 Juror Contact
83.5 Courthouse and Courtroom Security
83.6 Place of Trial
83.6.1 General Rule
83.6.2 Agreement of the Parties
83.6.3 Discretion of the Court
83.7 Judicial Misconduct and Disability
83.8 Admission to Practice
83.8.1 General Admission
83.8.1.2 Qualifications
83.8.1.3 Procedure
83.8.2 Special Admissions
83.8.2.1 Pro Hac Vice Admission
83.8.2.2 Attorneys for the United States
83.8.2.3 Attorneys for Federal Defender Organizations
83.8.2.4 Attorneys Employed by or Associated with Organized Legal Services
83.8.2.5 Procedure
83.9 Associate Counsel Required
83.10 Conflicts and Continuances
83.10.1 Observation of Dates and Times
83.10.2 Reserved
83.10.3 Illness
83.10.4 Subpoena Requirement
83.10.5 Court Conflicts
83.11 Registered Addresses
83.11.1 Address on File
83.11.2 Latest Address
83.12 Roll of Attorneys
83.13 Reserved
83.14 Appearance
83.15 Withdrawal of Appearance
83.16 Warrant of Attorney
83.17 Agreements To Be In Writing
83.18 Appearance of Parties Not Represented by Counsel
83.19 Student Practice Rule
83.20 Attorneys Convicted of Crimes
83.20.1 Immediate Suspension
83.20.2 Definition of Serious Crime
83.20.3 Certified Copy of Conviction as Evidence
83.20.4 Mandatory Reference for Disciplinary Proceeding
83.20.5 Discretionary Reference for Disciplinary Proceedings
83.20.6 Reinstatement upon Reversal
83.21 Discipline Imposed by Other Courts
83.21.1 Notice by Attorney of Public Discipline
83.21.2 Proceedings after Notice of Discipline
83.21.3 Stay of Discipline in Other Jurisdiction
83.21.4 Reciprocal Discipline
83.21.5 Conclusive Evidence of Final Adjudication
83.21.6 Appointment of Counsel
83.22 Disbarment on Consent or Resignation in Other Courts
83.22.1 Automatic Cessation of Right to Practice
83.22.2 Attorney to Notify Clerk of Disbarment
83.23 Standards for Professional Conduct
83.23.1 Sanction for Misconduct
83.23.2 Adoption of Rules of Professional Conduct
83.24 Disciplinary Proceedings
83.24.1 Reference to Counsel
83.24.2 Recommendation of Counsel
83.24.3 Order to Show Cause
83.24.4 Hearings
83.25 Disbarment on Consent While under Disciplinary Investigation or Prosecution
83.25.1 Consent to Disbarment
83.25.2 Consent Order
83.25.3 Public Record
83.26 Reinstatement
83.26.1 After Disbarment or Suspension
83.26.2 Time of Application Following Disbarment
83.26.3 Petitions for Reinstatement
83.26.4 Duty of Counsel
83.26.5 Fees and Costs of Proceeding
83.26.6 Conditions of Reinstatement
83.26.7 Successive Petitions
83.27 Admission to Practice as Conferring Disciplinary Jurisdiction
83.28 Service of Papers and Other Notices
83.29 Appointment of Counsel
83.30 Duties of the Clerk
83.30.1 Filing Certificate of Conviction
83.30.2 Filing Disciplinary Judgment
83.30.3 Filing Consent Order
83.30.4 Transmittal of Record to Other Courts
83.30.5 National Discipline Data Bank
83.31 Court Defined
83.32 Petitions for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Motions Pursuant to 28 U.S.C
83.32.1 Form of Petitions and Motions
83.32.2 Petitions under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 and Motions to Vacate Sentence under 28
83.32.3 In Forma Pauperis Proceedings
83.32.4 Addresses and Reference of Petitions and Motions
83.33 Time for Appeal Where Party is Incarcerated
83.34 Administration of Pro Bono Program
83.34.1 Indigent Litigant Application for a Volunteer Attorney
83.34.2 Request for Volunteer Attorney
83.34.3 Panel of Volunteer Attorneys
83.34.4 Mechanism for Requesting Volunteer Attorney
83.34.5 Revocation of Conditional Appointment Order
83.34.6 Procedure for Requesting Reimbursement
83.34.7 Fund to Reimburse Volunteer Attorneys
83.40 Social Security Disability case procedures
83.40.1 Form of Review
83.40.2 Summons and Complaint
83.40.3 Answer and Transcript
83.40.4 Plaintiff’s Brief
83.40.5 Defendant’s Brief
83.40.6 Reply Brief
83.40.7 Length of Briefs
Criminal Rules (9)
7.1 Superseding Indictments
12.1 Pretrial Motions: Duty To Address Speedy Trial Act Excludable Time
12.4 Organizational Victim Disclosure Statement
32.1 Presentence Procedure
49 Filing of Documents under Seal
57 Extrajudicial Statements in Criminal Proceedings
58.1 Magistrate Judges, Appeal from Judgments in Misdemeanor Cases - 18 U.S.C. § 3402
58.2 Petty Offenses Brought by Violation Notice
58.3 Authority for Forfeiture of Collateral in Certain Petty Offenses; Forfeiture of
Electronic Filing (ECF) Procedures
Electronic Case Filing Procedures
District Forms (11)
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Physician's Statement for Medical Excuse
National (AO) forms used in every district are searchable too — try “AO 440” or “subpoena to testify at a deposition” in Search.
Standing Orders & Judge Procedures (14)
Court-wide (1)
Physician's Statement for Medical Excuse
Chief Judge Matthew W Brann (1)
Individual Practices — Chief Judge Matthew W Brann
Chief Magistrate Judge Daryl F Bloom (1)
Individual Practices — Chief Magistrate Judge Daryl F Bloom
Judge Jennifer P Wilson (1)
Individual Practices — Judge Jennifer P Wilson
Judge Joseph F Saporito Jr (1)
Individual Practices — Judge Joseph F Saporito Jr
Judge Julia K Munley (1)
Individual Practices — Judge Julia K Munley
Judge Karoline Mehalchick (1)
Individual Practices — Judge Karoline Mehalchick
Judge Keli M Neary (1)
Individual Practices — Judge Keli M Neary
Judge Robert D Mariani (1)
Individual Practices — Judge Robert D Mariani
Magistrate Judge Leo Latella (1)
Individual Practices — Magistrate Judge Leo Latella
Magistrate Judge Martin C Carlson Recalled (1)
Individual Practices — Magistrate Judge Martin C Carlson Recalled
Magistrate Judge Phillip Caraballo (1)
Individual Practices — Magistrate Judge Phillip Caraballo
Magistrate Judge Sean Camoni (1)
Individual Practices — Magistrate Judge Sean Camoni
Magistrate Judge Susan E Schwab (1)
Individual Practices — Magistrate Judge Susan E Schwab
Tip: everything on this page is also retrievable in Search (“M.D. Pa. LR 7.1”) and cited by Ask.