Hearing type codes are the short abbreviations courts use on notices, calendars, and docket sheets to label what kind of proceeding is scheduled. ARR usually means arraignment, MTD usually means motion to dismiss, SNT usually means sentencing, and so on. The catch is that no single code list applies everywhere: federal courts, state courts, and local courts each maintain their own, and neighboring counties in the same state sometimes disagree on what a two-letter abbreviation stands for. To decode the one on your notice with certainty, you match it against the issuing court’s official list or call that court’s clerk.
Why the Same Code Can Mean Different Things
There is no master list. Federal courts use a narrower vocabulary because their caseload is more uniform; the federal Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system categorizes filings with event codes, and cases receive a “nature of suit” code at filing for statistical sorting.1PACER: Federal Court Records. What Is a Nature of Suit Code? State courts handle everything from traffic tickets to custody disputes, so their code lists can run into the hundreds. “PH” might mean plea hearing in one county and preliminary hearing in the next. Municipal and specialty courts add still more codes for their own subject areas.
Practical rule: never assume a code carries the same meaning across courts. Confirm with the court that issued your notice before you rely on your best guess.
Common Criminal Case Codes
Criminal cases move through a recognizable sequence of stages, and most courts assign a distinct code to each one. The codes below are among the most widely used, though your court may spell them slightly differently.
ARR or ARRN — Arraignment
An arraignment is typically the defendant’s first formal court appearance. The court confirms the defendant has a copy of the charges, reads or summarizes them, and asks for a plea. Under the federal rules, the arraignment must happen in open court and must include all three of those steps: giving the defendant the charging document, communicating the substance of the charges, and taking the plea.2Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 10 – Arraignment Most defendants plead not guilty at this stage even if they plan to negotiate later.
MTS or MSP — Motion to Suppress
A motion to suppress asks the judge to throw out specific evidence before trial, typically on the grounds that it was obtained through an illegal search or another constitutional violation. If the judge agrees, the prosecution loses that evidence and may not be able to proceed. Some courts fold this under a generic MOT motion hearing code instead of using MTS or MSP.
PH or PLEA — Plea Hearing
A plea hearing is where a defendant formally changes their plea, almost always from not guilty to guilty or no contest as part of a negotiated deal. Before accepting a guilty plea, the judge must address the defendant personally, confirm the defendant understands the rights being waived, verify the plea is voluntary, and ensure there is a factual basis for the charge.3Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 11 – Pleas The judge can reject a plea if the defendant doesn’t appear to understand the consequences.
SNT, SENT, or SNTH — Sentencing
Sentencing is the hearing where the judge imposes a penalty after a conviction or guilty plea. In federal court the judge must review the presentence report with the defendant, hear from both attorneys, and give the defendant a chance to speak before pronouncing sentence.4Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 32 – Sentencing and Judgment Victims also have the right to address the court. The sentence can include incarceration, probation, fines, restitution, or a combination.
Common Civil Case Codes
Civil codes track procedural milestones instead of stages of prosecution. The three you’re most likely to encounter appear below.
MTD — Motion to Dismiss
A motion to dismiss is the defendant’s argument that even if everything the plaintiff alleges is true, the law provides no remedy. In federal court this falls under the rule allowing dismissal for “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.”5Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 12 – Defenses and Objections It’s filed early, sometimes before an answer, and can also target procedural problems like lack of jurisdiction or improper service. You may see it as MTD, MTDIS, or a generic MOT.
MSJ — Motion for Summary Judgment
A motion for summary judgment comes much later, after discovery. The moving party argues there’s no genuine factual dispute left, so the judge should decide the case without a trial. The court grants summary judgment when the evidence shows no genuine dispute about any material fact and the moving party is entitled to win as a matter of law.6Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 56 – Summary Judgment Many civil cases end here. When testimony conflicts on the important facts, summary judgment usually fails because resolving that conflict is the jury’s job.
PTC, TSC, or SCHED — Pretrial and Scheduling Conferences
Courts use conferences to manage cases between filing and trial. A scheduling conference sets deadlines for discovery, motions, and trial. Federal judges must issue a scheduling order early in the case, typically within 90 days of the defendant being served.7Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 16 – Pretrial Conferences; Scheduling; Management A later pretrial conference narrows issues, handles exhibits, and confirms trial readiness. Some courts combine both into a single hearing.
Codes in Specialty Courts
Courts that handle specific subject areas maintain their own code vocabularies. Family courts commonly use CCH or CUST for custody hearings, DVRO or DVPO for domestic violence protective order hearings, and separate codes for modification hearings when a parent asks to change an existing custody or support order. Because family cases return to court as circumstances change, the code identifies which type of review is happening.
Juvenile courts use distinct codes because the proceedings work differently. A juvenile delinquency hearing isn’t a criminal trial; the focus is on rehabilitation, and courts may use JDH, JDEL, or ADJ (adjudication) rather than codes borrowed from adult criminal practice. Traffic courts have their own shorthand as well, such as TRF for a traffic infraction hearing or DUIA for a DUI-related arraignment. High volumes of routine cases make short codes especially useful there.
What Happens If You Ignore a Code You Don’t Understand
If a code on your notice looks unfamiliar, the worst response is to skip the hearing while you figure it out. The consequences depend on whether your case is criminal or civil.
In a criminal case, the judge will almost certainly issue a bench warrant for your arrest. Law enforcement can then pick you up at a traffic stop, at home, or anywhere else. Depending on the jurisdiction and the seriousness of the underlying charge, failure to appear can also become a separate criminal offense on top of the original charge, and any bail you posted may be forfeited.
In a civil case you won’t be arrested, but the case can end automatically against you. When a defendant doesn’t respond or appear, the plaintiff can ask the court to enter a default, which is a finding that you’ve forfeited your right to contest the claim. The court can then enter a default judgment awarding the plaintiff the money or relief they asked for.8Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 55 – Default; Default Judgment Courts can undo a default for good cause, but not knowing what the code meant isn’t the kind of reason judges find persuasive.
Call the clerk’s office as soon as you receive a notice with an unfamiliar code. Clerks answer this question every day.
How to Confirm What Your Code Means
The definitive source for any hearing type code is the court that issued the notice. Federal district courts publish their local rules on their own websites, and those rules include the event codes and hearing type designations used in that court’s CM/ECF system. Look under “Local Rules” or “Court Procedures.”
State court practice varies widely. Some state and county courts post a full hearing type code index as a PDF or spreadsheet through the clerk’s office; others tuck the information into administrative orders or local rules documents. Start on the website of the specific court where your case is filed, searching pages related to the clerk, judicial administration, or local rules. Many court websites also publish a public calendar where you can see codes used in context alongside case numbers and short descriptions.
If the website doesn’t get you there, call. Court clerks are the most reliable and underused resource for decoding hearing type codes, and a two-minute call usually settles what an hour of searching cannot.