Mercer Cnty. C.P. Rules of Orphan's Court Local Rule 1.18

a. Time – Argument Court shall be held on the first Monday of each month

unless otherwise specially ordered by the Court in any particular case.

b. Listing and Notice thereof – All cases for argument shall be placed on the

Argument List at least thirty (30) days prior to the argument by praecipe to the

Clerk. A copy of the praecipe ordering the case on the Argument List shall be

sent to the opposing counsel and to the Court Administrator by the party placing

the case on the Argument List, which praecipe shall include the name of the

opposing counsel and whether the matter listed requires the taking of

testimony.

c. Scheduling – The Court Administrator shall give notice to all counsel that

the case has been placed on the Argument List and said notice shall contain the

date upon which argument will be held. The Argument List shall also be

published in the Mercer County Law Journal.

d. Briefs – At least fifteen (15) days before the date of Argument Court, it

shall be the duty of counsel for the rule or motion, or petitioner, objector or

party filing preliminary objections, to serve on adverse counsel a typewritten

brief on paper 8 ½ inches by 11 inches in size, double spaced, except for

quotations containing a concise statement of the relevant facts, the questions

involved, the argument, and the authorities relied upon. Counsel for the adverse

party may prepare a brief which need only contain an argument and authorities

relied upon, but counsel may add a counter statement of the facts, and a

counter statement of the questions involved. Unless counsel does so, however,

it will be assumed counsel is satisfied with them or such parts of them as

remained unchallenged. At least five (5) days before Argument Court, counsel

shall serve a copy of the reply brief upon opposing counsel, and copies of both

briefs shall be delivered to the Court Administrator at least five (5) days before

Argument Court. If either party fails to file a brief in accordance with these Local

Rules, the Court shall dispose of the argument without brief.