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FAQs: court-general-information

  • What are the clerk's office hours?

    Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (except for legal holidays)

  • What counties are included in each division for purposes of district court case assignment, venue and petit jury service?
      Erie
      Crawford Forest Warren
      Elk McKean  
      Erie Venango  
      Johnstown
      Bedford Cambria Somerset
      Blair Clearfield  
      Pittsburgh
      Allegheny Fayette Lawrence
      Armstrong Greene Mercer
      Beaver Indiana Washington
      Butler Jefferson Westmoreland
      Clarion    

     

  • What is needed to file a civil complaint?

    (1) An original copy of the signed complaint.
    (2) A completed     JS-44 Civil Cover Sheet, as modified by the Western District of Pennsylvania.
    (3) A $400 Filing Fee.

  • How many copies of a pleading do I need to file?

    Only the original copy.

  • What are the witness fees for a court hearing, trial or deposition?

    The witness attendance fee is $40.00 per day plus reimbursement for mileage at the current government rate. [See 28 U.S.C. § 1821(b) and (c)(2)]

  • What if the case file I am interested in has been archived?

    To retrieve District Court files from the Regional Archives & Records Center in Philadelphia there is a $64.00 retrieval fee for the first box and $39.00 for each additional box.  The fee must be paid in advance. Please provide the Clerk's Office with the case number and case caption when presenting the retrieval fee. The files are generally sent to the Clerk's Office within five to seven days of receipt of the retrieval fee and are held for a period of 30 days. 

  • How do I become a member of the bar of this court?

    Local Rule 83.2 A governs admission to practice in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Anyone wishing to be admitted to practice in this court should comply with the following:

    1. You must obtain a movant who is an attorney admitted to practice in this court, and is a member in good standing. The admittee and movant must be present in court. The movant will orally move your admission before a United States District Judge.

    2. Complete the form Attorney Admissions On-line. The Clerk's Office will contact you once the application is reviewed to provide the available dates and times of admission ceremonies. The fee is $191.00, and all checks must be made payable to "Clerk, U. S. District Court." The fee is paid at the time of your admission.