Trial Dates & Times

If your case is scheduled for trial at 8:30 a.m., you are expected to be ready to start the trial at 8:30 a.m. We generally take one hour for lunch, and trials continue until 4:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday. Trials will continue each day at 8:30 a.m. except Tuesdays, when I have an NA docket.  I will notify you on Monday when to report on Tuesday, if at all.

Counsel are expected to arrive to Court 15 minutes before the scheduled start time any day in order to discuss any last minute matters with opposing counsel and to get set up in the Courtroom.

Attendance at Pre-Trial

Your final pre-trial is usually 1-3 weeks before trial.  Attorneys may appear in person or via Zoom.  Clients need not attend unless you have arranged to have a settlement conference.  

Settlement Conference

If you wish your final pre-trial to be a settlement conference, please notify my office ahead of time.  At a settlement conference all persons necessary to approve a settlement must be present.

Exhibits

I expect all exhibits to be exchanged as required in the Case Scheduling Order and marked prior to the start of trial. After they are marked, they should again be reviewed by opposing counsel to avoid delays during the trial.

Exhibits for Jurors

If you want to publish exhibits to the jury during the trial, I would like you to have 1 copy for each juror if that is practical, or you may project the exhibit on a screen.

Audio Visual Equipment

The Court has a projector and a screen which can be used by attorneys.  You may also connect to the Polycom monitor via a USB port.  If you need assistance in using the equipment, please contact the court officer before trial.

Jury Instructions & Trial Briefs

Standard Jury Instructions should be provided on separate pages. If possible, any special jury instructions should be emailed to my secretary, in Word format. Jury Instructions and Trial Briefs must be filed with the Court by noon on the Friday before the scheduled trial date. A list of potential jurors and a summary of the juror information questionnaires will be available on the morning of trial.

Number of Jurors

I normally select one alternate juror. Please discuss with your client and the other attorney whether you want to have the alternate included in the deliberations, and if so, whether the verdict will be 5 of 7 or 6 of 7.

Motions on Day of Trial

Motions in limine and other pretrial motions should be noticed for hearing no later than the Friday before trial.  Motions on the day of trial will be considered only when they could not have been notices earlier.