M.D. Pa. L.R. 83.2

(a) A lawyer representing a party in a civil matter triable to a jury shall not make any

extrajudicial statement that a reasonable person would expect to be disseminated by means

of public communication if the lawyer or other person knows or reasonably should know that

it will have a substantial likelihood of causing material prejudice to an adjudicative proceeding.

(b) A statement referred to in LR 83.2(a) ordinarily is likely to have such an effect when

it relates to:

(1) the character, credibility, reputation or criminal record of a party or witness, the

identity of a witness, or the expected testimony of a party or witness;

(2) the performance or results of any examination or test, the refusal or failure of a

person to submit to an examination or test, or the identity or nature of physical

evidence expected to be presented; and

(3) information the lawyer knows or reasonably should know is likely to be

inadmissible as evidence in a trial and would if disclosed create a substantial risk of

prejudice to an impartial trial.

(c) Notwithstanding LR 83.2(a) and (b), a lawyer involved in the litigation of a matter may

state without elaboration:

(1) the general nature of a claim or defense;

(2) the information contained in a public record;

(3) the scheduling or result of any step in litigation; and

(4) a request for assistance in obtaining evidence and the information necessary

thereto.

(d) Nothing in this Rule is intended to preclude either the formulation or application of more

restrictive rules relating to the release of any information about parties or witnesses in an

appropriate case.

(e) Nothing in this Rule is intended to apply to the holding of hearings or the lawful

issuance of reports by legislative, administrative or investigative bodies, nor to a reply by any

attorney to charges of misconduct publicly made against that attorney.

(f) The court’s supporting personnel including, among others, the marshal, deputy

marshals, the clerk, deputy clerks, court reporters and employees or subcontractors retained

by the court-appointed official reporters, probation officers and their staffs, and members of the

Judges’ staffs, are prohibited from disclosing to any person, without authorization by the court,

information relating to a proceeding that is not part of the public record of the court. The

disclosure of information concerning in camera arguments and hearings held in chambers or

otherwise outside the presence of the public is also forbidden.

(g) The court, on motion of any party or on its own motion, may issue a special order

governing such matters as extrajudicial statements by parties and witnesses likely to interfere

with the rights of a party to a fair trial by an impartial jury, the seating and conduct in the

courtroom of spectators and news media representatives, the management and sequestration

of jurors and witnesses, and any other matters which the court may deem appropriate for

inclusion in such an order.