Senior District Court Judge

Counties: Hennepin

State Court Bio: View Bio

Motion Practice

• How long do you normally allow per party for argument of non-dispositive motions? 10 minutes
• How long do you normally allow per party for oral argument of dispositive motions? 15 minutes
• With respect to oral argument, do you prefer an attorney to not reiterate written material? No
• Do you regularly conduct hearings and motions by phone? Yes
  If yes, please describe the procedure you would like attorneys to use to do so, including how testimony is to be transcribed and who puts the teleconference together: I do discovery by phone usually. I do not report phone conferences. The moving party handles the phone
• State any specific procedures you would like attorneys in your courtroom to follow at motion hearings: [No Answer Entered]
• Do you like to receive courtesy copies of motion papers? Yes

Discovery Disputes

• Do you require counsel to "meet and confer" before bringing discovery disputes to a hearing? Yes
• Will you accept telephone calls from attorneys to rule on discovery disputes that occur during the course of a deposition? Yes

Pretrial Procedures

• When do you normally set the pretrial in relation to the trial? Trial date is usally set at the pretrial.
• Do you normally hear motions in limine at the pretrial? No
• When are jury instructions due? First day of trial
• When are proposed special verdict forms due? First day of trial
• When do you require that final witness lists be exchanged and filed? 1 week prior to trial unless other wise agreed upon.
• When do you require that final exhibit lists be exchanged and filed? see above. I assign numbers to the parties to use for exhibits.
• Do you discuss settlement of the case with the parties at the time of the pretrial? Yes
• State any specific procedures you would like attorneys to follow at the time of the pretrial: ALL decision makes must be present at pretrial. example the insurance adjuster for the defendant in a car accident not he defendant.

Continuances and Changes in the Scheduling Order

• For changes in the scheduling order, except date of trial: I normally allow such changes if counsel agree.
• For changes on the date of trial: I rarely grant such changes.
• Under what circumstances would you consider granting a change in the trial date? There are always some exceptions. Somebody dies, sombody is in the hospital.

Civil Jury Trials

• Do you perform preliminary voir dire? Yes
• Do you place a time limit on voir dire by counsel? No
• Is there subject matter you will not permit counsel to ask of the jury? Yes
  If yes, please explain: religion,politics,AA membership
• Do you require counsel to sit or stand during questioning of witnesses? Don't care, they can do either
• Do you require counsel to be behind counsel table unless counsel has a specific reason to approach a witness? Yes
• Do you normally require counsel to meet each morning with the court before the jury comes into the courtroom? Yes
  If yes, how many minutes before court commences? lawyers always are required to appear 1/2 hour prior to jury
• I normally start jury trials at: 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• I normally give the jury a break of 15 minutes in the morning.
• I normally take a lunch break at: [No Answer Entered]
• I normally give the jury a break of 15 minutes in the afternoon.
• I normally finish court for the day at: 4:15 p.m.
• Do you permit jurors to:
  Take Notes: Yes
  Keep notes during deliberation? Yes
  Ask the witnesses questions? No
• If counsel asks to approach to argue a ruling, do you generally: Engage in the discussion at the bench with the jury present.
• Do you place a time limit on final argument? No
  If yes, If yes, what is the time limit? I ask how long the argument is going to be and then tell the jury that
• When do you instruct the jury? Counsels’ preference
• After argument and instructions, do you:
  Require counsel to be available by telephone? Yes
  Request that counsel remain at the courthouse during deliberations of the jury? No
  Take a verdict without counsel present and inform them after the verdict by telephone of the result? Yes

Sanctions of Counsel

• Have you ever sanctioned counsel with imposition of a fine? Yes
  Or jail? No
• Have you ever held counsel in contempt of court? No
• Have you ever reported an attorney for unethical behavior? Yes
• When, if ever, would you consider issuing sanctions, formal reprimands, holding an attorney in contempt, or reporting an attorney for unethical behavior? Attorney with alcohol on breath. Lying to court and counsel