Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge Wendy Beetlestone -- United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, Courtroom 10-A
description
Motions decided on papers — no hearings held
warning
Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. No traditional numbered-paragraph SMF for summary judgment. Judge Beetlestone requires a joint appendix of record evidence plus a separate Statement of Undisputed Facts (SUF). Filing a traditional numbered SMF will not comply.
- 2. Sur-reply is allowed but only up to 5 pages and requires leave of court. Do not file a sur-reply as of right.
- 3. Oral argument is not automatic -- you must request it, and the court grants it only when it would be helpful. Assume the motion will be decided on the papers.
- 4. No individual page limits published. Check the scheduling order; different cases may have different limits imposed at the outset.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | No standard motion hearing calendar. Judge Beetlestone decides motions on the papers and schedules argument only when requested or when the court finds it would be helpful. |
| Motion Limit | No individual page-limit rule published. Check the scheduling order for case-specific limits. |
| Reply Limit | Sur-reply limited to 5 pages; requires leave of court. No individual page limit on reply brief published. [Judge Beetlestone Individual Practices -- Sur-reply] |
| Chambers Copies | ✗ Not required Not published. |
| Tentative Rulings | Not issued. E.D. Pa. does not use a tentative ruling system. |
| Remote Appearances | No published individual procedures. Follow any case-specific scheduling order. |
| Discovery | All discovery disputes referred to the assigned magistrate judge. [E.D. Pa. L.R. 72.1] |
Procedural Briefing by Motion Type
C.D. Cal. · Standing Orders
Procedural Requirements
Key Traps
Compare to Other C.D. Cal. Judges
Procedural facts only. Judges shown to illustrate variance in this district.
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Before You File
Motion Days & Times
No standard motion hearing calendar. Judge Beetlestone decides motions on the papers and schedules argument only when requested or when the court finds it would be helpful.
Notice Period
Per E.D. Pa. L.R. 7.1(c): response due within 14 days of service. Sur-reply allowed up to 5 pages with leave of court. [E.D. Pa. L.R. 7.1(c)]
Motion Page / Word Limit
No individual page-limit rule published. Check the scheduling order for case-specific limits.
Opposition Limit
No individual page-limit rule published. Check the scheduling order for case-specific limits.
Reply Limit
Sur-reply limited to 5 pages; requires leave of court. No individual page limit on reply brief published. [Judge Beetlestone Individual Practices -- Sur-reply]
Font & Formatting
Per E.D. Pa. L.R. 5.1.2: double-spaced, 12-point font.
Footnote Policy
Not specified in individual procedures.
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At Filing
Chambers Copies
✗ Not required
Not published.
Proposed Orders
Per E.D. Pa. L.R. 7.1(a): required with every motion. [E.D. Pa. L.R. 7.1(a)]
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Before the Hearing
Tentative Rulings
Not issued. E.D. Pa. does not use a tentative ruling system.
Prohibition / Ex Parte Contact Re Tentatives
N/A.
Oral Argument
Available when requested or when the court finds argument would be helpful. No automatic right per E.D. Pa. L.R. 7.1(f). [Judge Beetlestone Individual Practices -- Oral Argument] [E.D. Pa. L.R. 7.1(f)]
Remote Appearances
No published individual procedures. Follow any case-specific scheduling order.
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
No ex parte contact with chambers. Written motions or the court's scheduling channels only.
Discovery Referral
All discovery disputes referred to the assigned magistrate judge. [E.D. Pa. L.R. 72.1]
Discovery Dispute Procedure Submission-first
Governed by the assigned magistrate judge's individual practices.
Ex Parte Applications
No published individual procedures. Follow Federal Rules and any case-specific order.
Settlement Notification
No published individual procedures. Follow any case-specific scheduling order.
Lead Counsel
Not specified.
Under Seal Filings
Per E.D. Pa. L.R. 5.1.5.
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
File a motion with good cause. No published individual procedures.
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AI & Style Preferences
AI Disclosure Requirement
Not specified.
Additional Notes
Judge Wendy Beetlestone is Chief Judge of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. MSJ practice departs significantly from the traditional numbered-paragraph SMF format used by most EDPA judges -- parties must submit a joint appendix of record evidence and a separate SUF. PDF at beepol.pdf.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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