DISTRICT COURTS AND CLERKS: CONDUCTING BUSINESS; ISSUING ORDERS
(a)Providing a Regular Schedule for Oral Hearings.
A court may establish regular times and places for oral hearings on motions.
(b)Providing for Submission on Briefs.
By rule or order, the court may provide for submitting and determining motions on briefs, without oral hearings.
Courts have the option to set up a regular schedule for hearing motions out loud in the courtroom. This gives judges and lawyers a predictable time and place to show up and argue their cases.
Courts can also decide to skip the in-person hearing entirely and just read the written arguments instead. This means a judge can make a decision on a motion based only on the paperwork both sides submit, without anyone speaking in court.
Summary generated March 09, 2026
Notes of Advisory Committee on Rules—1937
Compare [former] Equity Rule 6 (Motion Day) with the first paragraph of this rule. The second paragraph authorizes a procedure found helpful for the expedition of business in some of the Federal and State courts. See Rule 43(e) of these rules dealing with evidence on motions. Compare Civil Practice Rules of the Municipal Court of Chicago (1935), Rules 269, 270, 271.
Notes of Advisory Committee on Rules—1987 Amendment
The amendment is technical. No substantive change is intended.
Committee Notes on Rules—2007 Amendment
The language of Rule 78 has been amended as part of the general restyling of the Civil Rules to make them more easily understood and to make style and terminology consistent throughout the rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
Rule 16 has superseded any need for the provision in former Rule 78 for orders for the advancement, conduct, and hearing of actions.
(As amended Mar. 2, 1987, eff. Aug. 1, 1987; Apr. 30, 2007, eff. Dec. 1, 2007.)
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