Lehigh Cnty. C.P. Civil Court Local Rules Rule 208.3(a)

(1) The following motions shall be governed by Pa.R.C.P. 208.3(a):

(i) Motions certified as uncontested

(ii) Motions for continuance

(iii) Motions to extend time for discovery

(iv) Motions to withdraw as counsel

(v) Motions for special service

(vi) Motions to compel discovery

(vii) Motions regarding subpoenas, attendance and testifying based upon

Pa.R.C.P. 234.1-239.9.

(viii) Motions to reassess damages in mortgage foreclosure actions

(ix) Emergency motions

(2) Motions shall be filed with the clerk of courts and a copy thereof, along with the

original proposed order which would grant the relief requested, shall be delivered

to the court administrator’s office for transmittal to the assigned judge.

(3) Service of all motions shall be made and a certification of service filed in

accordance with Rule 208.3(b)(3) herein below. A motion to withdraw as counsel

shall be served upon the movant’s client as well as upon all counsel of record and

any unrepresented parties.

(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing, motions for continuance may be presented

directly to the assigned judge on the continuance form available from the court

administrator’s office. Such motions may be submitted directly to the assigned

judge’s chambers by hand delivery, by mail, or by facsimile transmission. Prior to

submitting any such motion, the movant or his/her counsel shall confer with all

counsel of record and any unrepresented parties to determine their position with

respect to the continuance request, and shall indicate their position in the motion.

Note: Motions for continuances of arbitration cases shall be made pursuant to Leh.R.C.P.

1303.1

(5) Unless the motion is certified as uncontested, the assigned judge shall provide an

opportunity for argument either orally in open court, by written briefs, or by

telephone conference, as the judge shall direct by written notice to all parties.

(6) In lieu of the procedures set forth in subparagraphs (2) through (4) of this rule,

any motion governed by Pa.R.C.P. 208.3(a) may be presented in open court to the

judge assigned to the case at this judge’s weekly motion court. The movant shall

give the assigned judge, all counsel of record, and all unrepresented parties not

less than five days advance written notice of the date, time and place of the

intended presentation of the motion, together with a complete copy of the motion.

If the movant is unable to comply with this notice requirement because of an

emergency, the movant shall have made a good-faith effort to notify all opposing

counsel of record and all unrepresented parties as soon as possible of the intended

presentation of the motion, and shall describe those efforts in the motion. This

notice requirement may be waived with the consent of all interested parties, or it

may be waived or modified by the court in emergency situations.

(7) Emergency motions. Motions that are certified as being emergent in nature, and

setting forth the nature of the emergency, shall be filed with the clerk of courts

and delivered to the judge assigned to the case, if any. If the assigned judge is not

available, or if no judge has been assigned, the motion shall be delivered to the

court administrator’s office for referral to another judge for scheduling and

disposition.