Judicial Practice Preferences
Family Law Proceedings/UFC
Honorable Irene H. Sullivan

Deposition Disputes:

Call the assigned Judge first.  If the assigned judge is unavailable, please call the duty judge.

Uniform Motion Calendar:

Family Law – Yes

Unified Family Court (UFC) - No

Telephonic Hearings:

Will be at the discretion of the court and handled on a case by case basis.

Proposed Orders:

Pursuant to ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. PA/PI-CIR-99-46:  STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL COURTESY FOR THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, H (3), proposed orders shall be submitted to the judge with a cover letter stating that opposing counsel agrees or objects to the proposed order or that opposing counsel was given the opportunity to object to the proposed order, but did not.  The Court will not hold orders pending objections.  If attorneys disagree as to the proposed order, each attorney should submit an order with a cover letter detailing the areas of disagreement.  Sufficient copies and stamped, self addressed envelopes must be provided.

Discovery Cut-Off:

Governed by the Pretrial Order or Order Setting Trial.  Generally at pretrial. 

Pretrial Statements:

Pretrial statements, when applicable, are due three (3) business days prior to the pretrial conference.

Scheduling Of Temporary Matters:

Motions for temporary relief will only be heard after attendance at a temporary mediation.  However, a temporary relief hearing may be scheduled once mediation has been scheduled.  True emergencies (see Emergency Hearings) are an exception.

Time Before Temporary Matter May Be Scheduled:

After the scheduling of a temporary mediation.  If temporary mediation has been unsuccessful a temporary relief motion may be scheduled at any time on the judge’s calendar.

Pre-Trial Conferences:

Pretrial conferences shall be scheduled by coordinating same with opposing counsel.  A pretrial conference is only necessary in Family Law cases if the final hearing is anticipated to last for two (2) hours or more.

Pretrial conference may also be scheduled by the court at case management conference, if necessary.

Emergency Hearings:

Emergency motions are scheduled at the discretion of and by the Judge only. 

All Emergency Motions must be provided to each opposing side in the same manner in which it was provided to the Judge, i.e. facsimile, mail, hand delivery.  The Judge will then review the Emergency Motion and make the determination if same meets the requirements for an emergency hearing.  If the motion meets the Judge’s requirements the Judge’s office will contact all interested parties with the time and date of the hearing. 

Emergency hearings are not coordinated with counsel.  Counsel will be advised by the Judge’s office as to the time and date.

Trial:

Trial dates are to be coordinated by counsel after contacting the judge’s office. 

Trials may be scheduled by the Court at Case Management Conference.

Testimony of Children:

Will be determined on a case by case basis, after proper motion to the Court.

All Family Law cases must be mediated prior to the scheduling of a final hearing/trial.

Courtroom Demeanor:

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. PA/PIP-CIR-99-46:  STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL COURTESY FOR THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT will be strictly enforced.  Professionalism and courtesy are expected.

Evidence:

Evidence is to be exchanged pursuant to the Order Setting Trial or in the alternative, no later than 10 days prior to trial.  All evidence must be pre-marked in advance of its intended use by counsel. 

Mediation:

All family law cases must be mediated prior to the scheduling of a final hearing/trial.