Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas Filing Rules

The Confidential Information Form and, if applicable, the CIF Abuse Victim Addendum must be completed and filed with the civil contempt petition.

The distribution list must include an email address for every attorney and pro se litigant.

When co-defendants are tried together, a Certificate of Readiness should be filed for each defendant.

A pre-trial statement must comply with PA.R.C.P. 212.2 and Dauphin County Local Rule 212.2 and state the estimated trial length, scheduling problems, special evidentiary issues, a realistic settlement offer or demand, and certification of good-faith mediation discussions with clients, opposing counsel, and any unrepresented parties under Local Rule 1001.

If service cannot be made, the Sheriff's Office must give the court an accounting of its attempted service steps.

The original criminal jury trial Certificate of Readiness must be filed, and a copy must be served on opposing counsel or the self-represented defendant and Court Administration.

Counsel for the moving party must serve the rule to show cause on all parties, and the rule is returnable the stated number of days after service.

A courtesy copy of the pretrial statement must be served on Judge McNally's chambers.

A response to Preliminary Objections must be filed within twenty days after service.

When several ordering or filing parties are involved, the original filed-transcript cost is divided equally among them after accounting for waived costs, and each party receiving a copy remains subject to the copy rate.

Filings must be prepared on good-quality white paper, while the use of recycled paper is encouraged.

An attached order must not be labeled as proposed so the court may sign it when appropriate.

A late continuance motion may be entertained only if the opportunity to seek it did not previously exist, the defendant was unaware of its grounds, or the interests of justice require consideration.

The continuance motion must identify the assigned District Attorney and indicate whether the District Attorney objects, does not object, or has not responded after receiving a copy of the motion.

A party may request an extension or modification of scheduling or trial deadlines for good cause or by agreement of the parties.

The confidential-information section does not apply to sealed cases, cases exempt from public access, juvenile cases, child-support cases, or adoptions.

Legal papers may be filed electronically through the Prothonotary's CountySuite Portal beginning on the date set by Administrative Order.

When a judge is assigned, courtesy copies of all pleadings, briefs, or memoranda must also be filed with that judge’s chambers.

A courtesy copy of dispositive motions filed with briefs must be served on Judge Dowling’s Chambers.

Contact the Court Administrator’s Office at the stated telephone number to arrange accessible facilities or reasonable accommodations, and make all arrangements at least 72 hours before the hearing or conference.

Plaintiff’s attorney must immediately notify Chambers and Court Administration by email if the case settles.

Oral argument may be requested under Local Rule 211.

A filing of record may be cited in a later filing but may not be attached to it.