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? 15 minutes if 2 parties.
• How long do you normally allow per party for oral argument of dispositive motions? 15 minutes, if 2 parties.
• With respect to oral argument, do you prefer an attorney to not reiterate written material? Yes
• Do you regularly conduct hearings and motions by phone? No
  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: [No Answer Entered]
• State any specific procedures you would like attorneys in your courtroom to follow at motion hearings: Assume I've read the moving papers and the file. Emphasize key issues, the legal standard, and why the ruling should be in your client's favor. If time, distinguish cases cited by the other side.
• 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? 30 days
• Do you normally hear motions in limine at the pretrial? No
• When are jury instructions due? 6 business days before the start of the trial block.
• When are proposed special verdict forms due? 6 business days before the start of the trial block.
• When do you require that final witness lists be exchanged and filed? 6 business days before the start of the trial block.
• When do you require that final exhibit lists be exchanged and filed? 6 business days before start of trial block.
• 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: Exchange demand and offer before pretrial. Parties and trial counsel must attend pretrial. To explore settlement potential, I talk with all counsel in chambers, then talk separately with each party and their attorney in chambers.

Continuances and Changes in the Scheduling Order

• For changes in the scheduling order, except date of trial: Party requesting change must set up telephone conference with me to discuss requested change.
• For changes on the date of trial: Such changes are not allowed without special written request or a motion to the court.
• Under what circumstances would you consider granting a change in the trial date? Serious illness of party or counsel. Recent, related surgery of personal injury plaintiff. Significant, inflexible scheduling conflict brought to my attention as soon as my scheduling order setting the trial block is sent to counsel.

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: Questions about religion or politics.
• 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? No
  If yes, how many minutes before court commences? [No Answer Entered]
• I normally start jury trials at: 9:30 a.m.
• I normally give the jury a break of 20 minutes in the morning.
• I normally take a lunch break at: 12:00 noon
• I normally give the jury a break of 20 minutes in the afternoon.
• I normally finish court for the day at: 4:30 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? [No Answer Entered]
• When do you instruct the jury? Before argument
• 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? For conduct that violates the rules or court orders.