Glossary

Definitions of the field values used on judge pages. Field values are normalized so that the same term means the same thing across every jurisdiction.

Procedural fields

Page-limit strictness

How strictly the judge enforces default page limits set by local rules and standing orders.

Strict: Page limits enforced as written. Over-length filings struck or rejected.
Strict with leave: Page limits enforced, but ex parte applications for additional pages routinely granted on showing.
Lenient: Modest overruns tolerated without leave; substantial overruns require permission.

Courtesy copies required

Whether chambers requires a paper or PDF copy of filings beyond the electronic docket.

Required: Courtesy copies must accompany every filing per the standing order.
On request: Chambers requests courtesy copies on a case-by-case basis.
Not required: No courtesy copies; the electronic filing is sufficient.

Motion-ruling cadence

How quickly the judge typically rules on fully briefed contested motions, derived from PACER docket data.

Under 30 days: Median submission-to-order interval below 30 days.
30 to 60 days: Median submission-to-order interval between 30 and 60 days.
60 to 120 days: Median submission-to-order interval between 60 and 120 days.
Over 120 days: Median submission-to-order interval above 120 days.

Rules from bench

How often the judge issues an oral ruling at the hearing rather than taking the matter under submission.

Routinely: Bench ruling on a majority of contested motions.
Occasionally: Bench ruling in a meaningful minority of contested motions.
Rarely: Almost always takes contested motions under submission.

Oral argument default

Whether the judge holds oral argument on dispositive motions absent a specific request to vacate.

Heard by default: Argument is heard on dispositive motions unless the court vacates the hearing.
Submitted by default: Motions are decided on the papers unless argument is set on the court's own motion or counsel's request.
Case by case: Whether argument is held varies by motion type and complexity.

Bench engagement

How actively the judge questions counsel during oral argument.

Hot bench: Sustained, probing questioning throughout argument.
Moderate questioning: Targeted questions on disputed points; otherwise listens.
Cold bench: Few or no questions; counsel argues largely uninterrupted.

Junior-attorney argument

Whether the judge's standing order or practice encourages junior counsel to present argument.

Encourages via standing order: Standing order explicitly invites junior counsel who drafted briefs to argue them.
Welcomes on request: No written policy, but court honors requests to have junior counsel argue.
No stated policy: Neither encouraged nor discouraged in writing.

Chambers direct contact

Whether and how counsel may contact chambers directly.

Procedural only: Chambers (typically via the courtroom deputy) takes scheduling and procedural inquiries; no substantive contact.
Discouraged: Chambers does not field calls; route inquiries through the docket or the courtroom deputy.
Open: Chambers takes procedural calls without restriction; substantive matters still belong on the docket.

Telephonic appearance

Whether counsel may appear by telephone for non-evidentiary matters.

Permitted with notice: Allowed with advance notice to chambers (often 24 hours).
Permitted by leave: Requires an ex parte application or a court order.
Not permitted: In-person appearance required.

Zoom hearings

The judge's posture toward remote video hearings.

Default remote: Most non-evidentiary hearings held by video.
Hybrid by request: Video offered on request; in-person remains the default for evidentiary matters.
In person only: Hearings held in person except in unusual circumstances.

Electronic exhibits at trial

Whether the courtroom is set up for, and the judge prefers, electronic presentation of trial exhibits.

Preferred: Court prefers electronic presentation; counsel should confirm capability in advance.
Permitted: Allowed alongside paper exhibits without preference.
Paper preferred: Court prefers paper exhibit binders and physical presentation.

Enforces meet and confer

How strictly the judge enforces meet-and-confer requirements before discovery and other motion practice.

Strictly enforced: Motions filed without documented meet-and-confer are denied or struck.
Routinely enforced: Court will require remediation before reaching the merits.
Loosely enforced: Some flexibility, but the court expects the requirement to have been observed.

Source types

Each procedural field is tagged with the source type it came from. The source type appears next to the field on the judge page.

Standing order

A written order issued by the judge, published on the court's website, that governs procedure in cases assigned to that judge.

Local rule

A rule adopted by the district or circuit governing all matters in that court. Linked but not duplicated on judge pages.

PACER-derived statistic

A field computed from public PACER docket data — for example, motion-ruling cadence or bench-ruling rate over a defined period.

Court website

A field copied verbatim from the court's own published procedure or chambers-rules page, with the source link preserved.

Aggregated observation

A field derived from multiple verified-attorney observations after aggregation. Individual observations are never published.

Schema

The full machine-readable schema lives at data/schema/judge.schema.json in the source repository. See docs/schema.md for the field-by-field reference.