(a) Definitions. For the purpose of these rules— 

(1) "Emergency judge" means the judge assigned to perform the duties of emergency judge specified by any local rule or procedure adopted by the Court, 

(2) "Duty magistrate judge" means the magistrate judge assigned to address emergency matters as specified by any local rule or procedure adopted by the Court, and 

(3) "Emergency matter" means a matter of such a nature that the delay in hearing it that would result from its being treated as any other matter would cause serious and irreparable harm to one or more of the parties to the proceeding if requests for continuances or leave to file briefs or interrogatories in excess of the limits prescribed by these rules will normally be entertained as emergency matters only during the summer sessions.

(b) Duties of Emergency Judge. The emergency judge is responsible for hearing all emergency matters not previously assigned to a judge of this Court that arise outside of the regular business hours of the Court, except for discovery motions as set forth in subsection (c) below. 

During regular office hours, the emergency judge will not hear emergency matters arising out of the cases assigned to the calendar of another judge where that judge is sitting, except on approval of the chief judge at the request of the judge to whom the case is assigned. The emergency judge will also hear the following matters: 

(1) petitions for admission brought by attorneys wishing to be admitted to practice before the Court; and

(2) requests for review or de novo determinations of matters directly assigned to the duty magistrate judge brought pursuant to LCR 50.4.

(c) During business hours, any emergency matter involving discovery or requests for protective orders that would otherwise be brought before the emergency judge are referred and shall be brought before the magistrate judge assigned to the case (or the duty magistrate judge when the assigned magistrate judge is not sitting).  After business hours, any emergency matter involving discovery or requests for protective orders are to be brought before the emergency district judge. 

Amended 06/19/2001, 04/01/2002, 05/11/2009, 12/22/2015, 03/22/2019, and 04/24/2025