Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge Mark A. Kearney -- United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
description
Motions decided on papers — no hearings held
warning
Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. The motion document and the supporting memorandum of law are SEPARATE filings with separate page caps -- 5 pages for the motion, 20 pages for the memo. Do not combine them into one document or the combined length will appear to violate the 5-page motion limit.
- 2. Reply brief requires leave of court -- do not file a reply as of right. Seek leave before filing.
- 3. Discovery reply is capped at 3 pages without leave. Do not file a full-length discovery reply brief.
- 4. MSJ requires a separate SUF filed by the moving party plus a responsive SMF filed by the opposing party -- both are mandatory separate documents.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | No standard motion hearing calendar. Judge Kearney decides motions on the papers. Oral argument at court's discretion. |
| Motion Limit | Motion document: 5 pages maximum. Supporting memorandum of law: 20 pages maximum. These are SEPARATE filings -- the 5-page motion and the 20-page memo are filed as distinct documents. [Judge Kearney Individual Practices -- Split Filing Format] |
| Reply Limit | Reply requires leave of court. Discovery reply limited to 3 pages without leave. [Judge Kearney Individual Practices -- Reply/Discovery 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 Kearney decides motions on the papers. Oral argument at court's discretion.
Notice Period
Per E.D. Pa. L.R. 7.1(c): response due within 14 days of service. Reply requires leave of court. Discovery reply limited to 3 pages without leave. [E.D. Pa. L.R. 7.1(c)]
Motion Page / Word Limit
Motion document: 5 pages maximum. Supporting memorandum of law: 20 pages maximum. These are SEPARATE filings -- the 5-page motion and the 20-page memo are filed as distinct documents. [Judge Kearney Individual Practices -- Split Filing Format]
Opposition Limit
20 pages maximum for opposition memorandum of law. [Judge Kearney Individual Practices -- Page Limits]
Reply Limit
Reply requires leave of court. Discovery reply limited to 3 pages without leave. [Judge Kearney Individual Practices -- Reply/Discovery 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
At court's discretion. No automatic right per E.D. Pa. L.R. 7.1(f). [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 Mark A. Kearney. PDF at keapol.pdf. Most distinctive EDPA filing format: 5-page motion document is filed separately from the 20-page supporting memorandum. Reply requires leave. Discovery reply capped at 3 pages. MSJ: separate SUF (movant) + response SMF (opponent).
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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