Written correspondence from counsel to the court.
For all discovery disputes in civil matters, counsel is directed to confer with one another to attempt to resolve the dispute without court intervention.  In the event that such action does not resolve the dispute, counsel is directed to file a letter to the Court (via CM/ECF) explaining the nature of the dispute and stating whether and when counsel conferred in an effort to resolve the dispute.  Counsel may submit the letter jointly, but if the letter is not submitted jointly, then the court will allow three business days for opposing counsel to file a letter either responding to the original letter or requesting additional time to respond.  The court will then respond by either scheduling a telephone conference, referring the dispute to a Magistrate Judge, or taking other appropriate action.

Prior to filing a motion to compel or any other type of discovery-oriented motion, the moving party must utilize this procedure.

All requests for court action on a pending matter other than discovery disputes shall be presented by motion complying with the Middle District of Pennsylvania Local Rules.

Any other written correspondence to the court shall be docketed in CM/ECF.

Counsel shall not copy the court on correspondence between counsel unless specifically invited to do so by the court.

Preference for the use of telephone conferences.
The court prefers the use of telephone conferences for most conferences scheduled in connection with a case.  All initial case management conferences will be conducted by telephone.  Generally, status and discovery conferences will be conducted by telephone, whereas pretrial and settlement conferences will be conducted in person.

For any other questions of procedure, please contact Chambers at (717) 221-3970.