1. What are your preferred procedures regarding motion practice?
I generally allot one half hour for motions, unless special arrangements are made with my clerk ahead of time.  I prefer that courtesy copies are sent to my chambers far enough in advance that I can read all the briefs before the hearing.  Every submission to the Court, including letters and exhibits, must be two-hole punched at the top of the document.  If you need to cancel a hearing, please call my clerks as soon as you know so a time slot will not be wasted. 

All motion deadlines are heard by dates, not scheduled by dates.  Plan accordingly.  My schedule fills up very quickly; you must call well in advance of your deadlines to secure a motion date.  I will not hear a discovery motion, without a telephone conference first.  Call my clerks as soon as a problem arises.  I will work very hard to accommodate you. 


2. What are your preferred procedures regarding hearings?
I expect all attorneys to be punctual. If you are late, you inconvenience the parties scheduled for hearings after you. If you will be late, notify the Court as soon as possible. Please make yourself available by phone, my clerks do not like searching for lawyers who are not on time.
I will hold you to your time limit during hearings. Please plan accordingly. You may argue your motions from counsel table or from the podium.


3. What do you expect the attorneys to have ready at the pretrial conference?
Parties, insurance adjustors, or others with authority to settle must attend the pretrial. The lawyer trying the case must come to the pretrial. All ADR must be completed before the pretrial. All discovery must be completed prior to the pretrial.
If you do not already have a trial date, be prepared to pick one at the pretrial.


4. At what point to you expect the parties to undertake ADR, if at all?
With very few exceptions, I always require some form of ADR prior to the pretrial date. I expect the parties to discuss ADR with each other and select a mediator early in the case.


5. At what point, if any, do you encourage the parties to settle or to exchange settlement offers/demands? Does that vary by type of case (personal injury, family, criminal, etc.?)
I always encourage parties to communicate with each other and try to reach a settlement.


6. Do you require that a person with ultimate authority to settle be present at settlement negotiations?
Yes. In medical malpractice cases, if the doctor has control over the settlement, he or she must attend the pretrial conference. If an insurance adjustor with authority to settle is involved, he or she must attend the pretrial conference.


7. How do you expect the parties to handle discovery disputes (including calling you for a ruling during a deposition)?
I require phone calls on all discovery matters before my clerks will allow you to schedule a motion date. If you have a discovery problem, please contact my office forthwith. My staff makes me easily available within a day or two of your call. I will accept phone calls from depositions, if I am available.


8. Do you have any preferences for courtroom decorum (including but not limited to cell phones, pagers, passing notes, communicating with others at counsel table, water/beverages at counsel table, approaching the witness, courtroom attire)?
No beverages are allowed in the courtroom, except water on counsel tables. All cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices must be turned off. You must ask permission to approach witnesses. I have specific locations for standing during opening and closing arguments, oral arguments, and voir dire. I do not have a problem with passing notes at counsel table. I prefer that jury time be used for juries, notify the Court if rulings on depositions need to be made so that those issues can be handled during non-jury time.


9. With respect to oral argument, do you prefer an attorney to assume you have read the supporting memorandum and exhibits and not reiterate written material?
Prior to oral argument, I almost always read the memos involved, but not the affidavits. If attorneys have any concerns, please ask. I usually announce whether I’ve read the memos or not.


10. What do you consider to be the basic requirements of good oral argument (including the amount of time appropriate for oral argument)?                                                                                           Each side generally receives 15 minutes for argument. The moving side must reserve time out of those 15 minutes if they want to respond. I generally do not interrupt with questions during oral arguments.


11. What preferences do you have for jury trials? How do you prefer voir dire to be conducted?
On the day of trial, you must bring a number of materials with you, whether or not you’ve mailed them in advance. First, bring your complete exhibit lists. I do not use a clerk in the courtroom, and it is necessary for me to keep track of the exhibits off the list. For example, a list that says, 1 through 10 photos does not work. Plaintiff uses the numbers 1 through 99. The first defendant uses the numbers 100 through 199, the second defendant uses the numbers 200 through 299, et cetera. I expect all the exhibits that can be agreed upon will be stipulated to prior to trial. I expect that any demonstrative exhibits that you use in your opening statement will be disclosed to opposing counsel prior to trial.
Second, bring your witness list and jury instructions the day of trial. If you want just JIGs, list the numbers, do not retype the JIG. If there is non-JIG jury instructions, bring a computer disc with the requested jury instruction. Next, bring your verdict form. Finally, bring an agreed upon simple statement of the case to be read to the jury during the Court’s voir dire.   My trial hours are normally 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. I usually break in the morning between 10:00 to 10:30 and in the afternoon between 3:00 and 3:30. Lawyers are required to return to the courtroom 15 minutes before the jury is instructed to return. I ask the lawyers how long their opening and closing argument will be and I tell that to the jury.