Emergency motions request expedited consideration, typically requiring a showing of the emergency's nature and why ordinary briefing is inadequate. Local rules define what qualifies and the required certification.
Most are filed with notice unlike ex parte applications.
Alternative Names:
Expedited Motion, Motion for Emergency Relief
Why it Matters?
Courts and clerks screen these motions and recharacterize as ordinary anything that does not present a genuine emergency, which delays it further than normal filing would have. Self-created urgency from delayed filing is the most common basis for rejection. Contacting chambers or the clerk before filing to confirm the procedure is standard practice and frequently produces guidance on how the judge wants the matter presented.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What causes emergency motions to be rejected?
What is standard practice before filing?
