Effective today 01/01/16, Pa. R.C.P. 211 is amended to give trial courts discretion whether to allow oral argument on motions. Rule 211 was amended to reflect appellate court rulings which qualify a party’s “right” to orally argue a motion before a trial court, and leave it in the hands of judicial discretion. The relevant prior language of the Rule was, “Any party or the party’s attorney shall have the right to argue any motion and the court shall have the right to require oral argument.” The Rule now reads, “Any interested party may request oral argument on a motion. The court may require oral argument, whether or not requested by a party. The court may dispose of any motion without oral argument.”
