Rule 208.3(a) - Requirements To Motions(1) Motions Procedure.(a) All Motions shall be filed with the Prothonotary's Office and shall include a proposed scheduling order. Argument will be scheduled for a time and date certain. The moving party shall notify opposing counsel and any unrepresented parties of the date, time and place for argument. The Court, in its discretion, may decide the matter at argument or take the matter under advisement.(b) The Court, in its discretion, may hear any argument by telephone or videoconference provided counsel has made a prompt request to participate electronically in writing to the Court Administrator. The party requesting the opportunity to participate electronically shall bear the cost thereof, unless the Court provides otherwise.(c) The official Court Reporter does not attend arguments unless directed by the Court.(d) The moving party in all post-trial or post-hearing motions shall, if the argument relates to the testimony presented, arrange for the transcription of so much of the testimony as may be required to resolve the issues presented.(e) Emergency motions shall be governed by the above procedure, except that after filing, the moving party shall notify the Prothonotary and Court Administrator of the emergency situation and may request that the Court immediately consider the motion. If the moving party is requesting a waiver of the certificate of service requirement, the party shall make every effort to notify opposing parties of the substance of the motion and the time of filing and presentation to the Court. See L205.2(e) regarding Certificate of Service.(f) Motions for continuance must be made in writing or of record in open court unless excused by the Court for cause. Absent exceptional circumstances, motions for continuance shall be presented no later than ten (10) days before the date of the proceedings for which the continuance is requested. Thereafter, no motions for continuance will be granted except for substantial reasons, which were not previously known or reasonably ascertainable. The motion shall state whether or not the proceedings previously have been continued and, if so, the number of prior continuances with identification of the party upon whose motion each continuance was granted. Absent extraordinary circumstances, a request for continuance based on proceedings scheduled in another Court of Common Pleas will be granted only if the other Court's scheduling order was issued before the order scheduling the proceedings for which the continuance is requested. If the motion is based on conflict with a matter scheduled in another Court of Common Pleas, the scheduling order from the other Court of Common Pleas shall be attached to the motion.
(g) A motion requesting a stay of execution pending disposition of a petition to open a default judgment shall be considered in the same manner as other motions or emergency motions, if applicable.(2) Response to Motion.No response is required to any motion unless required by Pa.R.C.P. or unless required by the Court in the scheduling order. See L210 for briefing requirements.
Amended effective 1/14/2014 and 1/24/2014.