E.D. Pa. L. Civ. R. 40.3.1

The Chief Judge (or, in case of the absence or disability of the Chief Judge, the next most

senior active judge) shall serve as Calendar Judge, and as such shall have the following

duties and responsibilities:

(1) The duties and responsibilities set forth in Local Civil Rule 40.1.

(2) The Chief Judge may recommend to the judges of this Court the reassignment

of substantial numbers of cases whenever a judge falls appreciably farther

behind in trial work than the other members of the Court, and in the interests

of justice to litigants and fairness to the Court as a whole, such reassignments

are deemed appropriate. No such reassignment of substantial numbers of

cases shall take place without the approval of a majority of the judges of this

Court.

(3) Where particular counsel or law firms are unable to keep reasonably current

with their trial assignments, the Chief Judge may confer with counsel in an

attempt to rectify the situation through voluntary action on the part of

counsel. In extreme cases, the Chief Judge may recommend to the judges of

this Court the adoption of a policy requiring reassignment of cases beyond a

certain age in excess of a certain number per lawyer; or for the non-recognition of busy slips for cases beyond a certain age, etc. No such

mandatory reassignment or change in policy shall be effective unless

approved by a majority vote of the judges of this Court.

Where an issue of reassignment presents a conflict for the Chief Judge, the duties set forth

above shall be performed by the next most senior judge eligible to serve as Chief Judge.