Judge Scott W. Reid
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
All filings
- 1 copy
- Chambers Copy • Upon Filing
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
Letter via ECF
Chambers
Phone
Phone
Chambers
In Person
Court
Page & Word Limits2 rules
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
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.
Summary: Memoranda limited to 25 pages, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font.
Memorandum
25 pages
Applies to: Attorney
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
Judge Reid will permit reply briefs not to exceed fifteen (15) pages.
Summary: Reply briefs limited to 15 pages.
Reply Brief
15 pages
Applies to: Attorney
Document Filing Requirements29 rules
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
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.
Summary: Videotaped depositions must be reviewed and edited to present only essential evidence; objections resolved before offering video.
Document Type
Videotaped Deposition
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
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.
Summary: Exhibits must be pre-marked, exchanged, and two copies provided to Judge with schedule; bulky exhibits should include only essential portions.
Document Type
Exhibit
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
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.
Summary: Proposed changes to detention/release conditions must be submitted by written motion.
Document Type
Motion
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
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.
Summary: Settlement conference summary (max 5 pages) required one week before conference.
Document Type
Settlement Conference Summary
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
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.
Summary: Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law required for non-jury cases at final pretrial conference.
Document Type
Proposed Findings Conclusions
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
Judge Reid requires that counsel exchange the offer/demand only in advance of the scheduled conference.
Summary: Counsel must exchange offer/demand before settlement conference.
Document Type
Settlement Conference
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
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.
Summary: Joint proposed jury instructions with citations required by scheduling order deadline.
Document Type
Jury Instructions
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
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.
Summary: AI disclosure required for legal citations with verification certification.
Document Type
Legal Citation
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
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.
Summary: Sur-reply briefs require prior Court permission.
Document Type
Sur Reply Brief
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
Memoranda over fifteen (15) pages in length must include a table of contents and table of authorities.
Summary: Memoranda over 15 pages require table of contents and table of authorities.
Document Type
Memorandum
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
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.
Summary: Joint verdict form required by scheduling order deadline; separate forms allowed if unable to agree.
Document Type
Verdict Form
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?
Judge Reid discourages the use of sidebar conferences. Counsel are encouraged to raise particular evidentiary issues before trial or during recesses or adjournments.
Summary: Sidebar conferences are discouraged; evidentiary issues should be raised before trial or during recesses.
Document Type
Sidebar Conference
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?
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.
Summary: Normally only one attorney per party may examine a witness or present argument on the same point.
Document Type
Attorney Examination Argument
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?
Judge Reid will generally restrict counsel from examining witnesses beyond re-direct and re-cross.
Summary: Witness examination generally restricted to re-direct and re-cross.
Document Type
Witness Examination
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?
Judge Reid does not favor the dual representation of defendants by a single attorney at any criminal proceeding, apart, perhaps, from the initial appearance.
Summary: Dual representation of defendants by single attorney not favored except for initial appearance.
Document Type
Representation
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
Judge Reid encourages the submission of trial briefs when they are necessary or likely to be helpful to the Court.
Summary: Trial briefs are encouraged when necessary or helpful.
Document Type
Trial Brief
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
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.
Summary: In limine motions accepted in advance of final pretrial conference per scheduling order.
Document Type
In Limine Motion
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
Judge Reid will permit witnesses to be taken out of turn in appropriate circumstances.
Summary: Witnesses may be examined out of sequence in appropriate circumstances.
Document Type
Witness Examination
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
Judge Reid usually permits counsel to conduct all voir dire.
Summary: Counsel are usually permitted to conduct all voir dire.
Document Type
Voir Dire
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
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.
Summary: Counsel expected to agree in advance on exhibit admission; no specific procedure for formal offer timing.
Document Type
Exhibit Admission
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
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.
Summary: No usual verdict practice; written interrogatories provided to jury during deliberations when appropriate.
Document Type
Verdict Form
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
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.”
Summary: Counsel must follow FRCP 1 mandate for just, speedy, inexpensive proceedings.
Document Type
General
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
Judge Reid will make a determination on a case by case basis when requests are made to read back testimony or replay tapes.
Summary: Read back/replay requests handled case by case.
Document Type
Jury Procedure
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
Judge Reid will consider what exhibits should be sent out to the jury during their deliberations on a case by case basis.
Summary: Exhibit selection for jury room determined case by case.
Document Type
Exhibits
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
Judge Reid has no particular practice or policy on submitting a copy of instructions to the jury.
Summary: No specific practice on submitting written jury instructions to jury.
Document Type
Jury Instructions
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
Judge Reid will encourage counsel to agree upon a less than unanimous verdict.
Summary: Judge encourages agreement on less than unanimous verdict.
Document Type
Verdict Form
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
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.
Summary: Juror interviews permitted after verdict recording and discharge with clear notice of no obligation.
Document Type
Jury Procedure
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
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.
Summary: Oral pro hac vice motions allowed on first appearance day.
Document Type
Pro Hac Vice Order
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
Judge Reid will, if requested, permit the jury to be polled.
Summary: Jury polling permitted if requested.
Document Type
Jury 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.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.
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.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.
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.”
Machine summary. Not checked yet.
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.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.
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.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.
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.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.
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.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.
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.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.
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.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.
Status/settlement/final pretrial conferences scheduled as needed; counsel must attempt resolution first.
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.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.
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
Machine summary. Not checked yet.
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.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.
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.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.