Uniform Motion Calendar

this video is made in A Levels Academy Islamabad by Barrister Amna

Transcript

00:00Even the hallowed halls of justice need to keep things on schedule.

00:04This is where something called a uniform motion calendar comes into play.

00:09But to understand that, we should start with what a motion actually is.

00:13And it has nothing to do with interpretive dance.

00:16Sorry.

00:18A motion is when you ask the judge to make a ruling on a legal issue.

00:22Usually, it must be in writing.

00:24Asking the judge to do something is called making a motion,

00:27or moving, for whatever it is you are asking for.

00:30An example would be if the defendant moves to dismiss a case before it goes to trial,

00:35on the grounds that the plaintiff isn't entitled to anything.

00:39Of course, the judge has to decide whether these motions should be granted or denied.

00:44But with so many motions for a variety of cases, how does a judge get to all of them?

00:49Uniform motion calendars.

00:51This is a little different than your three-year-old puppy calendar that's too cute to update.

00:56A uniform motion calendar, or UMC for short, isn't really a calendar at all.

01:02It's time set aside for quick hearings of motions in different cases,

01:05which the judge handles one right after the other.

01:08Usually, the time for each hearing is limited to five or ten minutes.

01:12If your motion takes longer, you must make a special appointment with the judge,

01:16which is called a special set hearing.

01:19You can usually find out when your judge holds his uniform motion calendar

01:23by looking at the judge's page on the court's website.

01:26If not, you can always call the judge's assistant to find out when it is.

01:30Usually, you start by filing your written motion.

01:33Then you call your opponent or their attorney and find out when he or she is available for a hearing.

01:38After that, you file a notice of hearing, which tells everyone what day and time the hearing is,

01:43so that everyone can be there.

01:45You can file that physically at the courthouse or use e-filing to do it from your computer.

01:50LegalYou can help you with e-filing so that you don't have to go down to the courthouse.

01:55As with the motion you filed, a copy of the hearing notice must be sent to the other party.

02:00Sending copies to your opponent is called service.

02:03This can also be done by email if your opponent or his attorney has given one.

02:07Again, LegalYou can help you with serving your notice on your opponent.

02:11Be sure to arrive early on the day that you've scheduled your hearing.

02:14Leave plenty of time, because you may have to wait while others have their motions heard in other cases.

02:20LegalYou can help you with preparation and any other challenges you come across representing yourself in court.