District Court Judge

Counties: Hennepin

State Court Bio: View Bio

Contact with chambers:

• Set forth your preferred method to contact chambers (telephone, e-mail, etc.). Email
• To whom may attorneys direct scheduling/logistical questions? My law clerks via chambers email
• To whom may attorneys direct substantive questions?  My law clerks via chambers email

Motion practice:

• Set forth your practices and procedures for scheduling motion hearings. As set forth in the General Rules of Practice for District Courts
• Identify any type of motion for which you do not require a hearing. A wide variety of nondispositive motions, depending in part on the preference of counsel and whether the parties (and counsel) have appeared before me previously in the case
• Do you accept telephone calls from attorneys to rule on discovery disputes that occur during depositions? Yes
• How much time do you allot for motion hearings? 30 - 60 minutes depending on the motion
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to attending a hearing by telephone or video conference. As set forth in the General Rules of Practice for District Courts
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to discovery motions. As set forth in the General Rules of Practice for District Courts
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to stipulations of the parties, including stipulations for protective orders. The parties may e-file the stipulation and proposed order for the Court's review and consideration
• Do you have particular requirements or procedures relating to requests to amend the scheduling order? No
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to default proceedings. As set forth in the General Rules of Practice for District Courts
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to handling emergency motions.  As set forth in the General Rules of Practice for District Courts

Written submissions:

• Do you want to receive paper courtesy copies of the parties’ written submissions? If you do, set forth the number and preferred format of courtesy copies and identify any document type you do not want to receive. Given possible backlogs for Court Administration's review and acceptance of e-filed documents, it's always preferable that counsel email a courtesy copy of the e-filed documents to my chambers email (4thJudgeSandeChambers@courts.state.mn.us)
• Set forth your practices and procedures for requests to deviate from the requirements of the General Rules of Practice for the District Courts. E-filed letter from counsel, courtesy copy sent to my chambers email, explaining the circumstances and what is requested 

In-court proceedings:

• Identify what technology you use in the courtroom and state whether you prefer a particular electronic format. I have a computer and the entire electronic case file available on the bench
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to attorney’s use of technology in the courtroom and during trial. If attorneys intend to use any technology during a hearing or trial, they should contact my chambers and we will make the courtroom available in advance so that all technology can be set up and tested beforehand
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to the submission of additional legal authority or other materials at or after oral argument. Only if new binding or persuasive authority is issued, or as set forth at the close of oral argument
• Do you permit parties to bifurcate oral argument so different attorneys address different legal issues?  Yes

Pretrial procedures:

• Describe your preferred procedures for pretrial settlement conferences, including the timing of such conferences, persons who must attend, whether persons may attend by telephone or video conference, and how you participate in settlement discussions. Lead counsel and the parties are expected to participate in the settlement conference or mediation. If the conference takes place in the Courthouse, please keep my chambers informed of progress so that I can be available if the parties would like to go on the record to memorialize any agreements.
• Set forth your practices and procedures for handling motions in limine.  These are set out in a trial order issued whenever a case is set for trial

Trial:

• What is your schedule for a typical trial day? 9am - 12pm; 1pm - 4:30pm. Breaks during trial as needed and appropriate
• Set forth your voir dire procedures. While this is not applicable in Family Court, counsel may contact chambers for a copy of my Voir Dire Guidelines.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to courtroom decorum, including movement in the courtroom, use of a podium, whether attorneys should sit or stand, and how to address witnesses. Counsel may contact my chambers for a copy of my Trial Ground Rules
• Do you impose time limits with respect to opening statements and closing arguments?  Generally, no
• Identify your practices with respect to the use of technology in the courtroom during trial. Counsel should contact my chambers to make arrangements for the courtroom to be available for set-up and testing to ensure that the technology works as expected during trial without unnecessary delays
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to marking and using exhibits. All exhibits should be pre-marked. Exhibits consisting of more than 1 page should be consecutively numbered (Bates numbers). Counsel should try to reach stipulations as to exhibits.
• Set forth your practices and procedures for handling objections. Counsel should state their objection with brief and specific reference to the Rule of Evidence or basis for the objection.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to the use of deposition testimony. N/A
• May attorneys obtain daily transcripts during trial? If so, what procedure should attorneys follow? If counsel anticipates requesting daily transcripts during trial, they should advise my chambers beforehand so that proper court reporting arrangements can be made.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to attorney requests to contact jurors at the conclusion of trial.  While this is not applicable in Family Court, counsel may contact jurors after the trial and the jury has been dismissed.

Other matters:

• Set forth any other preferences, practices, or procedures attorneys and parties may find helpful.  Counsel and parties should feel free to contact my chambers by email with any questions or for clarification (4thJudgeSandeChambers@courts.state.mn.us). All communications should, of course, be copied to opposing counsel or the opposing party.