D.P.R. Loc. Civ. R. 3A

(a) Assignment and Reassignment in General; Case Assignment System.

(1) The clerk shall assign cases to judges by lot, using the

computerized case assignment system, in such manner that each judge shall be

assigned an equal number of cases by category.

(2) Transfer of Cases.

In the interest of justice, consolidation of cases, recusals, or to further the

efficient performance of the business of the court, a judge may return a case to

the clerk for reassignment, whether or not the case is related to any other case, or

may transfer the case to another judge if the receiving judge consents to the

transfer. The clerk shall reassign a returned case using the computerized case

assignment system and shall add an additional card in the assignment deck to the

judge who returned the case.

(b) Related Cases.

Upon filing, a party must indicate whether a case is related to a pending case by

listing the title and number of the related action in the category sheet. An action is deemed

related to another if:

(1) both actions involve the same parties and are based on the same or a similar

claim;

(2) both actions involve the same property, transaction, or event; or,

(3) both actions involve similar questions of fact and the same question of law

and their assignment to the same district judge is likely to effectuate a

substantial saving of judicial effort.

(c) Special Assignments.

(1) Matters and Proceedings Requiring Immediate Action. If the

judge to whom a case has been assigned is unavailable or otherwise unable to

hear a matter which requires immediate action, the clerk shall inform the chief

judge or his or her designee, who shall make a special assignment to hear the

matter. The specially assigned judge will dispose of the matter only to the

extent necessary to meet the immediate need. Proceedings in the case will

thereafter be in the care of the judge to whom the case was originally assigned.

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(2) Cases Remanded from the First Circuit Court of Appeals. A case

remanded for further proceedings following a vacation or remand of any pretrial

order or judgment shall be assigned to the judge who acted in the matter, unless

otherwise ordered by the court of appeals.

(3) Unanticipated Crowding of the Docket; Emergencies. In the event

of an unanticipated crowding of the docket that unexpectedly strains the

institutional resources of the court, or in the event of an emergency, and in order

to manage the court’s calendar fairly and efficiently, the chief judge, upon

consultation with the district judges, may order the reassignment or transfer of

cases in the court’s docket, superseding the computerized case assignment

system and the method of assignment, reassignment, and transfer of cases set

forth in these Rules.

(4) Calendar Conflicts Amongst Judges.

a. Order of Precedence. All actions and proceedings before the

court are subject to the following order of precedence:

i. trials shall take precedence over all other hearings;

ii. jury trials shall take precedence over non-jury trials;

iii. criminal cases shall take precedence over civil cases;

iv. criminal cases involving defendants in custody

shall take precedence over other criminal cases;

v. among criminal cases not involving defendants who are in

custody, the case having the earliest docket number shall take

precedence over the others;

vi. among civil cases, the case having the earliest docket number

shall take precedence over the others.

b. Notice by Counsel. When there is a conflict between court

appearances, counsel shall notify each judge involved in writing not

later than seven (7) days after receipt of the notice giving rise to the

conflict. The motion shall indicate the names and docket numbers

of each case, and the date and time of the hearings. The case(s) not

having precedence will be rescheduled.

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