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United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

3rd Circuit Scranton, Pennsylvania
Official Court Website

About This Court

The Middle District of Pennsylvania is one of three federal judicial districts in Pennsylvania, sitting within the Third Circuit. The district spans a large swath of central and northeastern Pennsylvania, covering 33 counties that stretch from the Pocono Mountains and the Susquehanna River valley to the New York and New Jersey border regions. Major population centers within the district include Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Harrisburg, and Williamsport.

The district is geographically expansive relative to its population, encompassing both urban areas and extensive rural territory. It handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters arising from this region, including cases involving federal agencies headquartered in the state capital of Harrisburg. The court maintains divisional offices in multiple cities to serve the district's broad geographic reach.

The Middle District is known for handling a significant volume of prisoner civil rights litigation, in part due to the number of federal and state correctional facilities located within the district. The court also regularly adjudicates cases involving federal regulatory matters tied to Harrisburg's status as the state capital.

Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania. Appeals go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Divisions

Scranton Division (Scranton), Harrisburg Division (Harrisburg), Williamsport Division (Williamsport)

Caseload

The Middle District of Pennsylvania carries a notably high volume of prisoner civil rights filings relative to many comparable districts, reflecting the concentration of correctional institutions in the region. Federal criminal matters involving drug trafficking and firearms offenses represent a substantial portion of the criminal docket.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, which requires membership in good standing with the Pennsylvania bar or the bar of another state combined with local admission procedures. The court requires compliance with its local rules and, for electronic filing, registration in the CM/ECF system.

Clerk's Office

William J. Nealon Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, 235 N. Washington Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503

(570) 207-5600

Active Judges 11

Name Appointed By Confirmed Law School
Matthew Brann Barack Obama 2012 Dickinson School of Law (now Penn State Dickinson Law)
Christopher Conner George W. Bush 2002 Dickinson School of Law (now Penn State Dickinson Law)
Yvette Kane William J. Clinton 1998 Tulane University Law School
Malachy Mannion Barack Obama 2012 Pace University School of Law (now Elisabeth Haub School of Law)
Robert Mariani Barack Obama 2011 Syracuse University College of Law
Karoline Mehalchick Joseph R. Biden 2024 Tulane University Law School
Julia Munley Joseph R. Biden 2023 Dickinson School of Law (now Penn State Dickinson Law)
Keli Neary Joseph R. Biden 2024 Widener University Commonwealth Law School
Sylvia Rambo Jimmy Carter 1979 Dickinson School of Law (now Penn State Dickinson Law)
Joseph Saporito Joseph R. Biden 2024 Dickinson School of Law (now Penn State Dickinson Law)
Jennifer Wilson Donald J. Trump 2019 Brooklyn Law School

Local Rules

The Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, which supplement the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 127

RuleTitle
LR 4.1 Service of Process
LR 4.2 Proof of Service of All Other Pleadings and Papers
LR 4.3 Payment of Fees in Advance
LR 4.4 Collection of Clerk's and Marshal's Fees
LR 4.5 Reserved
LR 4.6 Reserved
LR 4.7 In Forma Pauperis Proceedings Initiated by Prisoners under 28 U.S.C. § 1915
LR 4.8 In Forma Pauperis Proceedings in Habeas Corpus Actions
LR 5.4 Service and Filing of Discovery Material
LR 5.5 Form of Service of Interrogatories
LR 7.1 Motions to be Written
LR 7.2 Reserved
LR 7.3 Exhibits and Other Documents Substantiating Motions
LR 7.4 Motions for Summary Judgment
LR 7.5 Submission of Briefs Supporting Motions
LR 7.6 Submission of Briefs Opposing Motions
LR 7.7 Reply Briefs
LR 7.8 Contents and Length of Briefs
LR 7.9 Oral Arguments on Motions
LR 7.10 Motions for Reconsideration
LR 7.34 After-discovered Evidence
LR 7.35 Notice of Appeal to Trial Judge
LR 7.36 Citation of Supplemental Authorities
LR 8.1 Statement of Amount of Damages
LR 8.2 Claims for Unliquidated Damages
LR 14.1 Motion to Join Third Parties Under Fed.R.Civ.P.14(a), Time for
LR 14.2 Motion to Join Third Parties Under Fed.R.Civ.P.14(b), Time for
LR 14.3 Motion to Join Third Parties, Time for, Suspension of Rules
LR 15.1 Amended Pleadings
LR 16.1 Requirement of Holding Court Conferences
LR 16.2 Court Conferences, Participants at
LR 16.3 Conferences of Attorneys
LR 16.4 Scheduling Conferences
LR 16.5 Special Pretrial Orders
LR 16.6 Pretrial Memorandum
LR 16.7 Alternative Dispute Resolution
LR 16.8 Court-Annexed Mediation Program
LR 16.8.1 General Rule
LR 16.8.2 Certification of Mediators
LR 16.8.3 Compensation and Expenses of Mediators
LR 16.8.4 Cases Eligible for Mediation
LR 16.8.5 Scheduling Mediation Conference
LR 16.8.6 The Mediation Session and Confidentiality of Mediation Communications
LR 16.8.7 Duties of Participants at the Mediation Session
LR 16.9 Settlement Officer Program
LR 16.9.1 General Rule
LR 16.9.2 Agreement of the Parties
LR 16.9.3 Discretion of the Court
LR 16.9.4 Participants and Settlement Authority
LR 16.9.5 Fees
LR 23.1 Class Actions, Form of Designation of Complaint
LR 23.2 Class Actions, Contents of Complaints
LR 23.3 Class Action Determination
LR 26.1 Duty to Investigate and Disclose
LR 26.2 Service and Filing of Discovery Material
LR 26.3 Discovery Motions, Statement of Conference to Resolve Objections
LR 26.4 Discovery Proceedings, Closing of
LR 30.1 Reserved
LR 30.2 Videotape Depositions, General Authority and Rules Governing
LR 30.3 Videotape Depositions, Subpoena and Notices of
LR 30.4 Videotape Depositions, Transcript
LR 30.5 Videotape Depositions, Procedure
LR 30.6 Videotape Depositions, Timing
LR 30.7 Videotape Depositions, Signature
LR 30.8 Videotape Depositions, Custody and Copies
LR 30.9 Videotape Depositions, Use
LR 30.10 Depositions, Certificate of Conference to Remove Objections
LR 30.11 Videotape Depositions, Transcription, Marking as Exhibit, Custody and Return
LR 30.12 Videotape Depositions, Expenses and Counsel Fees
LR 33.1 Interrogatories and Answers or Objections, Form of Service
LR 33.2 Interrogatories, Supplemental Answers to
LR 33.3 Interrogatories, Number of
LR 36.1 Requests for Admission, Number of
LR 36.2 Requests for Admissions, Form of Objections to
LR 37.1 Discovery Abuse, Sanctions for
LR 39.1 Civil Trials, One Attorney for Each Party
LR 39.2 Civil Trials, Order of Addresses
LR 39.3 Civil Trials, General Order of Summation
LR 39.4 Civil Trials, Order of Summation in Third-Party Action
LR 39.5 Civil Trials, Other Multi-Party Actions
LR 39.6 Civil Trials, Order of Addresses in Co-Party Cases
LR 39.7 Civil Trials, Trial Briefs
LR 41.1 Dismissal of Action
LR 42.1 Civil Trials, Order of Proof and Bifurcation
LR 43.1 Civil Trials, Attorney as Witness
LR 43.2 Civil Trials, Number of Attorneys to Examine Witness
LR 43.3 Civil Trials, Offers of Proof
LR 43.10 Special Trial Orders--Witnesses, Attorneys, Public Attendance, Number and Length of Addresses
LR 43.20 Civil Trials, View
LR 48.1 Civil Trials, Juries
LR 48.2 Civil Trials, Trial Without A Jury
LR 51.1 Civil Trials, Requests to Instruct the Jury
LR 54.1 Judgment by Confession
LR 54.2 Security for Costs
LR 54.3 Bills of Costs
LR 54.4 Taxation of Costs
LR 54.5 Notice of Taxation of Costs
LR 54.6 Payment of Clerk's or Marshal's Costs
LR 54.7 Witness Fees, Costs, Etc.
LR 56.1 Motions for Summary Judgment
LR 58.1 Marshal's Deeds
LR 65.1 Court Officers Not to Become Bail or Security
LR 67.1 Investment of Registry Funds Pending Litigation
LR 71A.1 Condemnation Procedures
LR 71A.1.1 Formal Filing Requirements
LR 71A.1.2 Separate Files for Separate Tracts
LR 71A.1.3 Master File
LR 71A.1.4 Separate Complaint in Master File
LR 71A.1.5 Standard Form Complaint
LR 71A.1.6 Combined Notice or Process
LR 71A.1.7 Effect of Filing in Master File
LR 73.1 Magistrate Judges, Special Provisions for the Disposition of Civil Cases on Consent of the Parties--28 U.S.C. § 636(c)
LR 79.5 Unsealing of Civil Cases/Documents
LR 83.2 Extrajudicial Statements in Civil Proceedings
LR 83.32 Petitions for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Motions Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255
LR 83.32.1 Form of Petitions and Motions
LR 83.32.2 Petitions under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 and Motions to Vacate Sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 in Death Penalty Cases
LR 83.32.3 In Forma Pauperis Proceedings
LR 83.32.4 Addresses and Reference of Petitions and Motions
LR 83.40 Social Security Disability case procedures
LR 83.40.1 Form of Review
LR 83.40.2 Summons and Complaint
LR 83.40.3 Answer and Transcript
LR 83.40.4 Plaintiff's Brief
LR 83.40.5 Defendant's Brief
LR 83.40.6 Reply Brief
LR 83.40.7 Length of Briefs

Criminal Rules 9

RuleTitle
LCrR 7.1 Superseding Indictments
LCrR 12.1 Pretrial Motions: Duty To Address Speedy Trial Act Excludable Time Implications
LCrR 12.4 Organizational Victim Disclosure Statement
LCrR 32.1 Presentence Procedure
LCrR 49 Filing of Documents under Seal
LCrR 57 Extrajudicial Statements in Criminal Proceedings
LCrR 58.1 Magistrate Judges, Appeal from Judgments in Misdemeanor Cases - 18 U.S.C. § 3402
LCrR 58.2 Petty Offenses Brought by Violation Notice
LCrR 58.3 Authority for Forfeiture of Collateral in Certain Petty Offenses; Forfeiture of Collateral Cases - Procedures

General Rules 34

RuleTitle
LR 1.1 Application of Rules
LR 1.2 Standing Orders
LR 1.3 Suspension of Rules
LR 1.4 Definition of Term "Party" as Used in These Rules
LR 5.1 Size and Other Physical Characteristics of Papers and Other Documents
LR 5.2 Documents to be Filed with the Clerk
LR 5.3 Assigned Judge's Name on First Page of Documents
LR 5.6 Filing of Documents by Electronic Means
LR 5.7 Service of Documents by Electronic Means
LR 5.8 Filing of Documents under Seal
LR 72.1 Authority of Magistrate Judges
LR 72.2 Appeals from Non-Dispositive Orders of Magistrate Judges
LR 72.3 Review of Reports and Recommendations of Magistrate Judges Addressing Case Dispositive Motions
LR 72.4 Magistrate Judges, Appeal from Judgments in Misdemeanor Cases - 18 U.S.C. § 3402
LR 72.5 Magistrate Judges, Authority for Forfeiture of Collateral
LR 77.1 Clerk's Offices
LR 79.1 Entries in Clerk's Records
LR 79.2 Removal of Court Records
LR 79.3 Deposits for Costs
LR 79.4 Removal or Disposition of Exhibits
LR 83.1 Use of Photography, Radio and Television Equipment in the Courtroom and Its Environs
LR 83.1.1 Judicial Proceedings
LR 83.1.2 Ceremonial Proceedings
LR 83.3 Sanctions
LR 83.3.1 Sanctions in the Discretion of Court
LR 83.3.2 Failure to Exercise Reasonable Diligence In Effecting Settlement of a Case
LR 83.3.3 Additional Sanctions
LR 83.4 Juror Contact
LR 83.5 Courthouse and Courtroom Security
LR 83.6 Place of Trial
LR 83.6.1 General Rule
LR 83.6.2 Agreement of the Parties
LR 83.6.3 Discretion of the Court
LR 83.7 Judicial Misconduct and Disability

Attorney Rules 83

RuleTitle
LR 83.8 Admission to Practice
LR 83.8.1 General Admission
LR 83.8.1.2 Qualifications
LR 83.8.1.3 Procedure
LR 83.8.2 Special Admissions
LR 83.8.2.1 Pro Hac Vice Admission
LR 83.8.2.2 Attorneys for the United States
LR 83.8.2.3 Attorneys for Federal Defender Organizations
LR 83.8.2.4 Attorneys Employed by or Associated with Organized Legal Services Programs
LR 83.8.2.5 Procedure
LR 83.9 Associate Counsel Required
LR 83.10 Conflicts and Continuances
LR 83.10.1 Observation of Dates and Times
LR 83.10.2 Reserved
LR 83.10.3 Illness
LR 83.10.4 Subpoena Requirement
LR 83.10.5 Court Conflicts
LR 83.11 Registered Addresses
LR 83.11.1 Address on File
LR 83.11.2 Latest Address
LR 83.12 Roll of Attorneys
LR 83.13 Reserved
LR 83.14 Appearance
LR 83.15 Withdrawal of Appearance
LR 83.16 Warrant of Attorney
LR 83.17 Agreements To Be In Writing
LR 83.18 Appearance of Parties Not Represented by Counsel
LR 83.19 Student Practice Rule
LR 83.20 Attorneys Convicted of Crimes
LR 83.20.1 Immediate Suspension
LR 83.20.2 Definition of Serious Crime
LR 83.20.3 Certified Copy of Conviction as Evidence
LR 83.20.4 Mandatory Reference for Disciplinary Proceeding
LR 83.20.5 Discretionary Reference for Disciplinary Proceedings
LR 83.20.6 Reinstatement upon Reversal
LR 83.21 Discipline Imposed by Other Courts
LR 83.21.1 Notice by Attorney of Public Discipline
LR 83.21.2 Proceedings after Notice of Discipline
LR 83.21.3 Stay of Discipline in Other Jurisdiction
LR 83.21.4 Reciprocal Discipline
LR 83.21.5 Conclusive Evidence of Final Adjudication
LR 83.21.6 Appointment of Counsel
LR 83.22 Disbarment on Consent or Resignation in Other Courts
LR 83.22.1 Automatic Cessation of Right to Practice
LR 83.22.2 Attorney to Notify Clerk of Disbarment
LR 83.23 Standards for Professional Conduct
LR 83.23.1 Sanction for Misconduct
LR 83.23.2 Adoption of Rules of Professional Conduct
LR 83.24 Disciplinary Proceedings
LR 83.24.1 Reference to Counsel
LR 83.24.2 Recommendation of Counsel
LR 83.24.3 Order to Show Cause
LR 83.24.4 Hearings
LR 83.25 Disbarment on Consent While under Disciplinary Investigation or Prosecution
LR 83.25.1 Consent to Disbarment
LR 83.25.2 Consent Order
LR 83.25.3 Public Record
LR 83.26 Reinstatement
LR 83.26.1 After Disbarment or Suspension
LR 83.26.2 Time of Application Following Disbarment
LR 83.26.3 Petitions for Reinstatement
LR 83.26.4 Duty of Counsel
LR 83.26.5 Fees and Costs of Proceeding
LR 83.26.6 Conditions of Reinstatement
LR 83.26.7 Successive Petitions
LR 83.27 Admission to Practice as Conferring Disciplinary Jurisdiction
LR 83.28 Service of Papers and Other Notices
LR 83.29 Appointment of Counsel
LR 83.30 Duties of the Clerk
LR 83.30.1 Filing Certificate of Conviction
LR 83.30.2 Filing Disciplinary Judgment
LR 83.30.3 Filing Consent Order
LR 83.30.4 Transmittal of Record to Other Courts
LR 83.30.5 National Discipline Data Bank
LR 83.31 Court Defined
LR 83.34 Administration of Pro Bono Program
LR 83.34.1 Indigent Litigant Application for a Volunteer Attorney
LR 83.34.2 Request for Volunteer Attorney
LR 83.34.3 Panel of Volunteer Attorneys
LR 83.34.4 Mechanism for Requesting Volunteer Attorney
LR 83.34.5 Revocation of Conditional Appointment Order
LR 83.34.6 Procedure for Requesting Reimbursement
LR 83.34.7 Fund to Reimburse Volunteer Attorneys

Appellate Rules 1

RuleTitle
LR 83.33 Time for Appeal Where Party is Incarcerated

Other Courts in the 3rd Circuit

District of Delaware Wilmington, Delaware District of New Jersey Newark, New Jersey District of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Eastern District of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Western District of Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania