Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge John Francis Murphy -- 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. MSJ requires a joint consolidated statement served 28 days before the MSJ filing deadline. Plan the MSJ timeline with a 28-day pre-filing buffer for joint statement preparation.
- 2. Joint consolidated statement must be completed collaboratively -- start meet-and-confer discussions early. Missing the 28-day service window is a procedural error.
- 3. Junior lawyers may request oral argument and Judge Murphy has recognized this practice. If you are a junior attorney seeking courtroom experience, request argument explicitly.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | No standard motion hearing calendar. Judge Murphy orders a hearing when helpful. Junior lawyers may request oral argument. |
| Motion Limit | 25 pages maximum for opening brief. [Judge Murphy Individual Practices -- Page Limits] |
| Reply Limit | 10 pages maximum for reply brief. [Judge Murphy Individual Practices -- 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 Murphy orders a hearing when helpful. Junior lawyers may request oral argument.
Notice Period
Per E.D. Pa. L.R. 7.1(c): response due within 14 days of service. [E.D. Pa. L.R. 7.1(c)]
Motion Page / Word Limit
25 pages maximum for opening brief. [Judge Murphy Individual Practices -- Page Limits]
Opposition Limit
25 pages maximum for opposition brief. [Judge Murphy Individual Practices -- Page Limits]
Reply Limit
10 pages maximum for reply brief. [Judge Murphy Individual Practices -- 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
Court orders hearing when helpful. Junior lawyers may request oral argument -- acknowledged practice for professional development. No automatic right per E.D. Pa. L.R. 7.1(f). [Judge Murphy 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 John Francis Murphy. PDF at murpol.pdf. 25/25/10 page structure. MSJ requires joint consolidated statement served 28 days before MSJ deadline. Notable: explicitly acknowledges junior lawyers may request oral argument for professional development purposes.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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