Local Rule Rule 40.3.1: Calendar Review
E.D. Pa. — Civil rule
Rule 40.3.1 Calendar Review
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.