Judge Chelsa L. Wagner
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
Court-wideExhibits
Court-wideMotion
Court-wideOpposition Brief
Court-wide- At Least 7 Days Prior To Argument
Communication
Chambers5 contacts
- wagnerchambers@alleghenycourts.us
- ayatsko@alleghenycourts.us
- bkorinski@alleghenycourts.us
- 412.350.0390
- 412.760.7848
Clerk3 contacts
- civilgenmotions@alleghenycourts.us
- hchelpdesk@alleghenycourts.us
- 412-350-4462
Other Contacts1 contacts
- civilmsjjops@alleghenycourts.us
Page & Word Limits1 rule
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
Parties will have ten minutes total to argue their motion.
Summary: Each party has a total of ten minutes to argue its motion.
Motion
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Text messages, emails, and photos submitted as exhibits must be printed and comply with the Rules of Evidence.
Text messages, emails, and photos, if being submitted as exhibits, MUST be printed and submitted in accordance with the Rules of Evidence.
Paper
Document Filing Requirements2 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
The motion must notify the opposing party that any written opposition must be filed with the court by noon on the day before motions day.
The Motion must indicate to the other party that, if they oppose the Motion, they need to file a written response to the Court by Noon on the day prior to the Motions’ Day.
Document Type
Motion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
The motion email must include the complete motion, a separately attached proposed order in Word format, and counsel or pro se party's telephone and email addresses.
Your email must include (1) the complete motion; (2) your proposed order of court with requested relief, which you must attach separately in Word format; (3) the telephone number of counsel or the Pro Se party; (4) the email addresses of counsel or the Pro Se party.
Document Type
Motion
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
All written responses must be emailed to the court at the two listed email addresses.
All written responses shall be sent to the Court via email at bkorinski@alleghenycourts.us and ayatsko@alleghenycourts.us.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 3 | 5. REGULAR MOTIONS (Presentation by an Attorney)
All motions must be emailed to the court on the same day notice is given to the opposing party.
All motions must be emailed to the Court on the same day that notice is being given to the opposing party.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 3 | 5. REGULAR MOTIONS (Presentation by an Attorney)
A copy of the motion must be emailed to the court at the two listed email addresses.
A copy of the motion shall be emailed to the Court at: bkorinski@alleghenycourts.us and ayatsko@alleghenycourts.us.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 4 | 5. REGULAR MOTIONS (Presentation by an Attorney)
Electronic exhibits may be submitted electronically before the proceeding.
Electronic exhibits may be submitted electronically prior to the proceeding.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 5 | 6. TRIALS/HEARINGS
All Housing Court motions must be filed with the Housing Court Help Desk.
All Housing Court Motions should be filed with the Housing Court Help Desk.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 3 | 4. HOUSING COURT
Motion sign-up must be completed by email, with no exceptions.
Your sign-up of your Motion shall be through email, no exceptions.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 4 | 5. REGULAR MOTIONS (Presentation by an Attorney)
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
After obtaining a date and time from the Housing Court Help Desk, the motion must be filed with the Department of Court Records.
Once the Housing Court Help Desk gives you a date and time for your motion, file the Motion with the Department of Court Records.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 3 | 4. HOUSING COURT
An opposing party must submit a written response explaining its position by noon on the day before the scheduled motions date.
If you are opposing the motion, you must submit a written response explaining your position to bkorinski@alleghenycourts.us and ayatsko@alleghenycourts.us by Noon on the day prior to the scheduled motions date.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 4 | 5. REGULAR MOTIONS (Presentation by an Attorney)
Emergency motions submitted after noon will not receive a same-day decision or be decided before the end of the next business day, and responses are due by noon the next business day.
Emergency Motions submitted after the noon hour are not eligible for same-day decision and will be not be ruled on prior to the end of the next business day, with responses being due by noon on the next business day.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 5 | B. EMERGENCY MOTIONS
Weekday emergency motions submitted before noon may receive same-day decision, and responses are due by 3 p.m. that day.
Emergency Motions submitted weekdays before the noon hour are eligible for same-day decision, with Responses being due by 3 p.m. that day.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 5 | B. EMERGENCY MOTIONS
The Court will review consent motions as soon as it is able to do so.
This Court will review any Consent Motions as soon as it is able to do so.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 5 | C. CONSENT MOTIONS
The court files the original order by email unless otherwise noted, while attorneys must file the original motion and responses.
Once emailed (unless otherwise noted), this Court will file the original order of court with the Department of Court Records; Attorneys are responsible for filing the original Motion and Responses.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 4 | 5. REGULAR MOTIONS (Presentation by an Attorney)
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The court will not act on a motion unless it has been served or proper notice has been given to the opposing party.
This Court will not act on any motion that has not been served or given proper notice to the opposing party.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 2 | 3. SELF-REPRESENTED PERSONS
Each motion must be served and emailed to all other parties at least seven days before the scheduled motions day, and the motion must notify them of the date on which it will be considered.
All motions must be served upon all other parties at least seven days prior to the scheduled motions day; the motion must notify the other parties of the scheduled date when the motion will be considered by this Court. The motion must also be emailed to other parties at least seven days prior to this Court’s scheduled motions date.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 3 | 5. REGULAR MOTIONS (Presentation by an Attorney)
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Oral argument is the default option for motions, and the judge must grant oral argument to any requesting party.
As to Oral Argument, please note that Oral Argument is the “default” option for all Motions. Judge Wagner is required to give anyone who wants it Oral Argument.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 4 | 5. REGULAR MOTIONS (Presentation by an Attorney)
Further replies or responses are not permitted after a motion and response are submitted unless the court grants permission.
Once a Motion and a Response are submitted, further Replies/Responses are not welcome unless permission is granted by the Court.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 4 | 5. REGULAR MOTIONS (Presentation by an Attorney)
No oral argument or oral presentation will occur if no written opposition response has been filed by the deadline.
If there is no written response in opposition filed, then there will be no oral argument or oral presentation of the Motion.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 4 | 5. REGULAR MOTIONS (Presentation by an Attorney)
Chambers Communication Rules
After filing, email the filing to wagnerchambers@alleghenycourts.us; filing alone does not deliver the document to chambers.
All filings should be emailed to wagnerchambers@alleghenycourts.us after filing. Feel free to copy a clerk as well. We don’t receive a document when you file it. You MUST send it to us.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 2 | 2. GENERAL CONDUCT AND INFORMATION FOR ALL CASES
Counsel must notify chambers by telephone when submitting an emergency motion.
Concurrent with the submission of an Emergency Motion, counsel must notify chambers by telephone 412.350.0390 of the emergency submission.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 5 | B. EMERGENCY MOTIONS
Emergency motions must be emailed to the Court at the listed email addresses and should be submitted only for true emergencies.
Emergency Motions shall be emailed to the Court at the following email address: wagnerchambers@alleghenycourts.us AND ayatsko@alleghenycourts.us AND bkorinski@alleghenycourts.us. You should only do this for submissions regarding true emergencies.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 5 | B. EMERGENCY MOTIONS
For urgent matters not adequately described by email, the law clerk may be contacted by cell phone at 412-760-7848 or by text message, but the cell phone should not be abused.
If you need to speak to the Law Clerk about an urgent matter that does not lend itself to be adequately described in an email, you may call the Law Clerk on his cell phone at 412.760.7848 or send a text message. Don’t abuse the cell phone!
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | 1. COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT
Use wagnerchambers@alleghenycourts.us as the first point of contact for scheduling and administrative matters, email ayatsko@alleghenycourts.us for court-procedure questions, or call chambers at 412.350.0390.
The first point of contact is wagnerchambers@alleghenycourts.us. For questions about court procedure, you may speak to the Judge’s Law Clerk. The best way to do this is to e-mail ayatsko@alleghenycourts.us. In most cases, you will receive a response to your question on the same business day. You may also call chambers at 412.350.0390.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | 1. COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT
Email ayatsko@alleghenycourts.us to ask the judge’s law clerk about court procedure, with a response generally expected on the same business day.
For questions about court procedure, you may speak to the Judge’s Law Clerk. The best way to do this is to e-mail ayatsko@alleghenycourts.us. In most cases, you will receive a response to your question on the same business day.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | 1. COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT
Emails to the court ordinarily must copy all parties and include the case number in the subject line, except when no other party email address is available online or on the docket.
All parties should be copied on emails to the Court. Do not email the court without the other party to your case attached, with the exception of the rare instance that there is no email address accessible online or on the docket. You MUST include the case number in your subject line.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | 1. COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT
Self-represented litigants must email their name, docket number, cell phone number, and email address to chambers, and all parties appearing before Judge Wagner must submit their email addresses.
Please ensure that the Court has your phone number and email address by emailing your name, docket number and cell phone number to wagnerchambers@alleghenycourts.us. JUDGE WAGNER REQUIRES ALL PARTIES APPEARING BEFORE HER TO SUBMIT THEIR EMAIL ADDRESSES.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 2 | 3. SELF-REPRESENTED PERSONS
Housing Court motion arguments are conducted by telephone on a shared line, and participants must remain silent until their case is called and wait until the pending motion concludes to raise issues.
Motions arguments are conducted by phone. All litigants for all cases use the same phone line. When you get on the line, everyone can hear you. Please stay silent until your case is called. If there is an issue, and your Motion is not currently being heard, please wait until the pending motion is concluded to raise the issue.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 3 | 4. HOUSING COURT
Consent motions and proposed orders must be emailed to the Court at the listed address.
Send the Motion and proposed order to the Court at ayatsko@alleghenycourts.us.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 5 | C. CONSENT MOTIONS
All pro se litigants must visit and become familiar with the court's website before directing inquiries to chambers.
All Pro Se litigants must visit and become familiar with the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas website: www.alleghenycourts.us.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 3 | 4. HOUSING COURT