Court Rules
Judge Kelly A. Gallagher
Judge

Judge Kelly A. Gallagher

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Adjournments

Court-wide

Request must include

Reason For Request
Reason For Request
7Court Daysnotice
30Court Daysnotice

Communication

Phone
Court-wide

Clerk

Technical Issues
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each business day
Filters:AllImportantFormattingDiscoveryJury

Document Format Requirements1 rule

Formatting

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important

Jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms must be emailed to the staff attorney in word format.

Jury instructions, interrogatories and verdict forms shall be submitted to the Court by email in word format to staff attorney Patsy Coughlin at pcoughlin@cuyahogacounty.us

Filing & Service rules

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

At least seven days before trial, parties must file witness lists, exhibit lists, proposed jury instructions, applicable jury interrogatories or verdict forms, motions in limine, stipulations, and an agreed statement of the case.

At least 7 days prior to trial, the parties are to file the following: Witness lists Exhibit lists Proposed jury instructions Jury interrogatories, and/or verdict forms if applicable Motions in limine Stipulations A concise, mutually-agreed-upon statement of the case to be read to the jury at the outset of trial

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | Trials

Junior Lawyer Participation Incentives

The Court encourages active participation by less-experienced lawyers and may allow bifurcated oral argument or relax the one-lawyer-per-witness rule to facilitate it.

The Court strongly encourages parties to allow less-experienced lawyers the opportunity to participate actively in cases by presenting arguments at motion hearings, appearing at pretrial conferences, or examining witnesses at trial. Therefore, the Court may alter its practices to afford opportunities to less-experienced lawyers. For example, the Court may allow a bifurcated oral argument in which a senior attorney presents one portion of the argument, and a newer lawyer who has worked on the case presents the other portion. Similarly, at trial or evidentiary hearings, the Court may relax the usual one-lawyer-per-witness rule to allow less-experienced lawyers an opportunity to examine witnesses.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | Opportunities for Less-Experienced Lawyers

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 421 rules apply across Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

  • Applies to
    Mediation

    No mediation fees are charged for civil cases referred to the court's dispute resolution department.

  • Applies to
    Mediation

    When a case is referred to a mediator outside the court's dispute resolution department, the parties share the mediation cost in proportions they agree upon.

  • Fee
    $66
    Applies to
    Special process server application

    Filing a Special Process Server application costs $66.00 plus any applicable Special Project Fees.

Filing Timing

All 85
  • A motion for extraordinary assigned-counsel compensation must be filed with the usual affidavit and entry requesting assigned-counsel fees.

  • A Guardian Ad Litem may request fees above the schedule by using the extraordinary-compensation procedure.

  • Assigned counsel must apply in writing for an investigator at least 30 days before trial.

Filing Requirements

All 56
  • Applies to
    Notice of appearance

    A notice of limited appearance must use the prescribed title, describe the representation’s scope and justification, and state that the limited representation was communicated to the client in writing.

  • Applies to
    Special process server application
    Must include
    local rule certificate

    An application for a standing order designating a Special Process Server must be supported by an affidavit containing the stated applicant information and agreements.

  • Applies to
    Proposed standing order

    The applicant must submit a proposed standing order with the specified caption and language designating the applicant to serve process and subpoenas for the stated one-year term or until further court order.

Adjournments

All 39
  • Mediation continuances require good cause, generally cannot be based solely on pending motions, and will not be granted unless mediation can be scheduled before the next court event.

  • If the Court cannot rule by the scheduled ruling date for any reason, the trial date must be continued for at least 60 days.

  • An automatic trial-date continuance does not apply when a party obtains an extension of the briefing schedule that requires extending the ruling date, although the Court may continue the trial date in its discretion.

About Judge Kelly A. Gallagher

- On the Common Pleas bench since: 2017 - Legal experience: Private practice handling criminal cases, appellate cases, and labor relations

- Courtroom: 21-C - Courthouse: 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44113 - Fax: (216) 348-4033 - Bailiff: Nora E. Rodriquez (216) 443-8737 - Staff attorney: Nancy Scarcella (216) 443-8609

Common questions about Judge Kelly A. Gallagher's rules

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Kelly A. Gallagher?

Judge Kelly A. Gallagher's formatting rule includes submitted by email and word format. Jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms must be emailed to the staff attorney in word format.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Trials

What filing deadlines does Judge Kelly A. Gallagher set?

At least seven days before trial, parties must file witness lists, exhibit lists, proposed jury instructions, applicable jury interrogatories or verdict forms, motions in limine, stipulations, and an agreed statement of the case.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Trials

Does Judge Kelly A. Gallagher encourage junior lawyer participation?

Yes. Judge Kelly A. Gallagher's rules include a junior lawyer participation incentive. The Court encourages active participation by less-experienced lawyers and may allow bifurcated oral argument or relax the one-lawyer-per-witness rule to facilitate it.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Opportunities for Less-Experienced Lawyers
Complete rules summary for Judge Kelly A. Gallagher

The Court encourages active participation by less-experienced lawyers and may allow bifurcated oral argument or relax the one-lawyer-per-witness rule to facilitate it.

At least seven days before trial, parties must file witness lists, exhibit lists, proposed jury instructions, applicable jury interrogatories or verdict forms, motions in limine, stipulations, and an agreed statement of the case.

Jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms must be emailed to the staff attorney in word format.

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