Judge Anthony R. Servitto
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Adjournments
- Only the moving party may adjourn their motion. The moving party must contact the Clerk by phone &/or email by 4:00pm the Friday before the Motion. The moving party shall notify other parties that the motion has been adjourned. Filing re-notice of hearing alone does not give notice to the Judge’s Chambers.
- Scheduling-order dates cannot be adjourned by stipulation; the request must be addressed at the status conference or by motion.
- Civil conference adjournment requests must be raised with the secretary and accompanied by an e-filed stipulated order stating the new date.
- +3 more
Request must include
Communication
Phone
Court-wideDocument Filing Requirements6 rules
Trial briefs are to be provided to the Court at the time of the Pretrial.
A Judge’s copy is required – do not email the court staff a copy of the motion. Please have a runner drop of the motion or expedited shipping.
Requests to extend the summons must be accompanied by a motion and proposed order and must be submitted prior to the expiration of the original summons.
- Document
- Motion for second summons
Must include
- •Proposed order
The motion praecipe and motion pleading must have the same motion title. The Court requires separate motions and praecipes for multiple requests.
Requests for alternate service must be accompanied by a verified motion, proposed order, an affidavit of the process server showing reasonable efforts (at least 3 attempts, various time of day) to make service of process and a postal verification. Please use the approved SCAO forms.
- Document
- Motion for alternate service
Must include
- •Proposed order
The court does not issue a separate scheduling order for dispositive motions.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Civil cases, appeals, and criminal pleadings must be filed electronically.
All civil cases, appeal, and criminal pleadings are to be electronically filed.
Page 1 | E-FILING
Effective July 16, 2025, hard copies of motions are not required, and motions and responses are reviewed electronically.
Effective 7/16/2025 Judge no longer requires hard copies of Motions. Motions/Responses are reviewed electronically.
Page 1 | MOTION PRACTICE
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A motion in limine is heard with the civil pretrial unless it concerns expert testimony, in which case it must be heard no later than two months before trial.
To be heard the same date and time as the Civil Pretrial with the exception of Motions in Limine as it relates to expert testimony which are to be heard no later than 2 months prior to the trial date.
Page 1 | MOTION PRACTICE
A final order closing a fully settled civil case is typically required within 14 to 21 days, with failure resulting in a no-progress dismissal.
A final order closing the case in its entirety will be required typically within 14-21 days. Failure to do the order will result in Case Management issuing a No Progress-Dismissal.
Page 1 | CIVIL MATTERS
A responsive pleading must be filed by noon on the Thursday before the motion, and late filings may be disregarded.
Any responsive pleading must be filed no later than the Thursday before the motion. The cut-off time is noon. Any late filings may not be considered.
Page 1 | MOTION PRACTICE
All other motions in limine must be e-filed two weeks before the civil pretrial.
All other MIL are to be efiled 2 weeks prior to the Civil Pretrial.
Page 1 | MOTION PRACTICE
Motions in limine are heard with the civil pretrial except motions concerning witness testimony, which must be heard no later than two months before trial.
Motion in Limine are to be heard the same date and time as the Pretrial with the exception of Motions in Limine regarding witness testimony which are to be heard no later than 2 months prior to the trial date.
Page 1 | CIVIL MATTERS
Every sentencing memorandum must be filed at least three days before sentencing.
All sentencing memoranda must be filed at least three days prior to the sentencing.
Page 1 | CRIMINAL PRACTICE
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
For an emergency motion, the movant must e-file it with a TBD date and time, email the clerk and secretary after filing, and await the court's decision.
The moving party must: 1.) E-file the emergency motion and on the praecipe label the date and time as TBD by the court, 2.) Advise the Clerk and Secretary via email after the completion of the efiling, 3.) Wait to receive a decision from the Court as to the emergency request.
Page 1 | MOTION PRACTICE
Counsel must contact the clerk by phone or email to discuss a date before e-filing a dispositive motion and praecipe.
Please contact the Clerk by phone &/or email to discuss a date prior to e-filing the praecipe and motion.
Page 1 | MOTION PRACTICE
The court will ordinarily decline to hear motions added to the docket absent good cause.
Absent good cause, the Court declines to hear add-ons.
Page 1 | MOTION PRACTICE
Unless the court indicates otherwise, a reconsideration motion has no scheduled hearing and requires no response.
Unless the Court otherwise indicates, no hearing is scheduled, and no response is required.
Page 1 | MOTION PRACTICE
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A criminal adjournment must be timely e-filed by stipulated order with a new date after discussing it with the clerk or secretary.
All adjournments must be submitted by stipulated order via e-filing. Please file these requests timely and a new date should be added to the order. Please contact the Clerk or Secretary to discuss a new date.
Page 1 | CRIMINAL PRACTICE
Civil conference adjournment requests must be raised with the secretary and accompanied by an e-filed stipulated order stating the new date.
Any requests to adjourn are to be addressed with the Secretary, and a Stipulated Order with a new date will be required to be efiled. Any questions are to be directed to the Secretary.
Page 1 | CIVIL MATTERS
A request for a second summons must be filed with a proposed order before the original summons expires, demonstrate due diligence, and use approved SCAO forms; the stated extension is 60 days from the original summons date.
Requests to extend the summons must be accompanied by a motion and proposed order and must be submitted prior to the expiration of the original summons. Such requests will only be granted upon a showing of due diligence by plaintiff in attempting to serve the original summons. The court will allow a 60-day extension from the original summons date. Please use the approved SCAO forms.
Page 1 | MOTION PRACTICE
A civil trial adjournment must be requested by motion; the court will not consider a stipulated order.
The Court will not consider Stipulated Orders and a motion must be filed for this request.
Page 1 | TRIALS
Only the moving party may adjourn their motion. The moving party must contact the Clerk by phone &/or email by 4:00pm the Friday before the Motion. The moving party shall notify other parties that the motion has been adjourned. Filing re-notice of hearing alone does not give notice to the Judge’s Chambers.
Only the moving party may adjourn their motion. The moving party must contact the Clerk by phone &/or email by 4:00pm the Friday before the Motion. The moving party shall notify other parties that the motion has been adjourned. Filing re-notice of hearing alone does not give notice to the Judge’s Chambers.
Page 1 | MOTION PRACTICE
Scheduling-order dates cannot be adjourned by stipulation; the request must be addressed at the status conference or by motion.
The court will not allow adjournments to the scheduling order via Stipulation. Adjournments of dates should be addressed at the Status Conference, or in the form of a motion.
Page 1 | MOTION PRACTICE
Chambers Communication Rules
A sentencing memorandum must be emailed to both court staff or delivered as a judge's copy because filing it with the clerk's office does not notify chambers.
Please email the clerk and secretary the sentencing memoranda or drop off a Judge’s copy. Efiling the sentencing memoranda with the Clerk’s Office does not give notice to the Judge’s chambers.
Page 1 | CRIMINAL PRACTICE
When a civil case has settled in full, the parties must notify the secretary or clerk.
If the Parties have settled the case in full, they are to contact the Secretary or Clerk.
Page 1 | CIVIL MATTERS
In a criminal matter, an attorney seeking permission to appear by Zoom for good cause must contact the clerk or secretary.
Under good cause, if a party needs to appear via ZOOM the attorney must contact the Clerk &/or Secretary for permission.
Page 1 | CRIMINAL PRACTICE
Counsel must check the judge's availability or contact the clerk to select a motion date before electronic filing.
Before efiling a motion, please check the Judge's availability or contact the Clerk to discuss a good date.
Page 1 | MOTION PRACTICE
Please contact the Secretary or Clerk before submitting this order. The Secretary or Clerk will want the case number to review the status of the case and go over the necessary requirements.
Please contact the Secretary or Clerk before submitting this order. The Secretary or Clerk will want the case number to review the status of the case and go over the necessary requirements.
Page 1 | MOTION PRACTICE
A party expecting to be more than 15 minutes late must immediately notify chambers and opposing counsel.
If a party is expected to be more than 15 minutes late, they must call or email chambers immediately to inform the staff and inform opposing counsels of same.
Page 1 | MOTION PRACTICE
Questions concerning early disposition, status, and settlement conferences must be directed to the secretary.
Any questions are to be directed to the Secretary.
Page 1 | CIVIL MATTERS