N.D.R.Ct.
RULE 3.2 MOTIONS
(a) Submission of motion.
(1) Notice. Notice must be served and filed with a motion. The notice must indicate the time of oral argument, or that the motion will be decided on briefs unless oral argument is timely requested.
(2) Briefs. Upon serving and filing a motion, the moving party shall serve and file
a brief
and other supporting papers and the adverse party shall have 10 ten
days after service of a
brief within which to serve and file an answer brief and other supporting papers. The moving
party may serve and file a reply brief within 5 five days after service
of the answer brief.
Upon the filing of briefs, or upon expiration of the time for filing, the motion is deemed
submitted to the court unless counsel for any party requests oral argument on the motion.
(3) Requesting oral argument. If any party who has timely served and filed a brief requests oral argument, the request must be granted. A timely request for oral argument must be granted even if the movant has previously served notice indicating that the motion is to be decided on briefs. The party requesting oral argument shall secure a time for the argument and serve notice upon all other parties. Requests for oral argument or the taking of testimony must be made not later than five days after expiration of the time for filing the answer brief.
(b) Court hearing.
The court may hear oral argument on any motion. If permitted by the court, a
hearing may
be held using electronic means, including telephonic conference or interactive
television.
The After reviewing the parties' submissions, the court may require
oral argument and may
allow or require testimony on the a motion. Requests for oral
argument or the taking of
testimony must be made not later than 5 days after expiration of the time for filing the
answer brief.
(b) (c) Failure to file briefs. Failure to file a brief by the moving
party may be deemed an
admission that, in the opinion of party or counsel, the motion is without merit. Failure to file
a brief by the adverse party may be deemed an admission that, in the opinion of party or
counsel, the motion is meritorious. Even if an answer brief is not filed, the moving party
must still demonstrate to the court that it is entitled to the relief requested.
(c) (d) Extension of time. Extensions of time for filing briefs and
other supporting papers,
or for continuance of the hearing on a motion, may be granted only by written order of court.
All requests for extension of time or continuance, whether written or oral, must be
accompanied by an appropriate order form.
(d) (e) Time limit for filing motion. Except for good cause
shown, a motion must be filed
in such time that it may be heard not later than the date set for pretrial of the case.
(e) (f) Application of rule.
(1) Conflicting rules. This rule does not apply to the extent it conflicts with another rule adopted by the Supreme Court.
(2) Probate code. This rule applies to formal proceedings under Uniform Probate Code.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Rule 3.2 was amended, effective September 1, 1983; March 1, 1986; January 1, 1988; March 1, 1990; January 1, 1995; March 1, 1997; March 1, 2002; March 1, 2005; March 1, 2007.
The language of subdivision (a) does not prevent a court from adopting a local rule
requiring that every motion be noticed for oral argument, if due allowance is made for a
telephonic hearing.
Subdivision (a) was amended, effective March 1, 1990, to provide that the request for oral argument on the motion must be granted when the party requesting oral argument has timely served and filed a brief.
Subdivision (a) was amended, effective January 1, 1995, to provide that a written motion must be noticed, and that the notice must indicate that oral argument has been requested or that the motion will be decided on briefs unless oral argument is requested. In addition, the amendment shortened the time between the date a motion is filed and the date a motion may be heard by eliminating the five-day period within which the movant's brief could be filed.
Although the rule contemplates filing a brief with every motion, what constitutes a brief should be liberally construed.
Subdivision (b) was amended, effective March 1, 2007, to expand hearing options to include hearing by interactive television and to add a requirement that the court review the parties' submissions before it orders oral argument or testimony.
Subdivision (e) Paragraph (f)(1) was added, effective March 1,
1997, to clarify that, in the
case of a conflict between this rule and any other Supreme Court rule, the other rule will
govern. For example, N.D.R.Civ.P. 56 allows parties 30 days to respond to a summary
judgment motion, which conflicts with the 10 ten day response period
specified in
subdivision (a) of this rule. Under subdivision (e), the N.D.R.Civ.P. 56 response period
would prevail.
Paragraph (f)(2) was added, effective March 1, 2007, to specify that this rule applies to formal proceedings under the Uniform Probate Code. N.D.C.C. § 30.1-01-06(19) defines "formal proceedings" as "proceedings conducted before a judge with notice to interested persons."
SOURCES: Joint Procedure Committee Minutes of April 27-28, 2006, pages 7-9, 17-19; January 26, 2006, pages 12-13; April 29-30, 2004, pages 25-26; September 28-29, 2000, page 13; April 25, 1996, pages 8-11; January 25-26, 1996, pages 10-16; April 28-29, 1994, pages 15-17; January 27-28, 1994, pages 24-25; September 23-24, 1993, pages 13-16; April 29-30, 1993, pages 20-22; April 20, 1989, pages 10-15; March 24-25, 1988, pages 7-10 and 13-15; Dec. 3, 1987, pages 4-5; February 19-20, 1987, pages 21-22; June 22, 1984, page 30; April 26, 1984, pages 17-19.
STATUTES AFFECTED:
CONSIDERED: N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1.
CROSS REFERENCE: N.D.R.Civ.P. 5 (Service and Filing of Pleadings and Other Papers); N.D.R.Civ.P. 6 (Time); N.D.R.Civ.P. 7 (Pleading AllowedForm of Motions); N.D.R.Civ.P. 56 (Summary Judgment); N.D.R.Crim.P. 45 (Time); N.D.R.Crim.P. 47 (Motions); N.D.R.Crim.P. 49 (Service and Filing of Papers); N.D.R.App.P. 27 (Motions); N.D.R.App.P. 34 (Oral Argument); N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52 (Interactive Television).