District Court Judge

Counties: Hennepin

State Court Bio: View Bio

Contact with Chambers

• Set forth your preferred method to contact chambers (telephone, email, etc.). Email to staff email account or call judicial clerk.
• To whom may attorneys direct scheduling/logistical questions? Call Ivy Bambenek at 612-596-9256
• To whom may attorneys direct substantive questions? File in the case.

Motion Practice

• How long do you normally allow per party for argument of non-dispositive motions? 15 minutes
• How long do you normally allow per party for oral argument of dispositive motions? 20-30 minutes
• 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:
• State any specific procedures you would like attorneys in your courtroom to follow at motion hearings: Assume I have read your material and add to it if needed rather than repeating it.
• 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? Pretrial conferences are set at attorney request
• Do you normally hear motions in limine at the pretrial? No
• When are jury instructions due? 1 week before trial
• When are proposed special verdict forms due? 1 week before trial
• When do you require that final witness lists be exchanged and filed? 2 week before trial
• When do you require that final exhibit lists be exchanged and filed? 2 week before trial
• Do you discuss settlement of the case with the parties at the time of the pretrial? No
• State any specific procedures you would like attorneys to follow at the time of the pretrial: I only hold pretrials if an attorney requests a pretrial. The content depends on when it occurs in relation to the trial.

Continuances and Changes in the Scheduling Order

• For changes in the scheduling order, except date of trial: Stipulations for changes other than trial date are usually fine--as long as you leave enough time for an order to be generated after dispositive motions.
• For changes on the date of trial: Send a letter with the request and explaining the issue. I usually have a phone conference with the attorneys.
• Under what circumstances would you consider granting a change in the trial date? It is very early in the process or there is an unforeseen emergency.

Civil Jury Trials

• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to the submissions of additional legal authority or other materials at or after oral argument. Ask at oral argument whether additional materials can be submitted - often accept "letter briefs" to supplement the formal memos.

• Identify what technology you use in the courtroom and state whether you prefer a particular electronic format. ZoomGov for remote or hybrid hearings. Presentation software up to the attorneys based on your hardware.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to attorney's use of technology in the courtroom and during trial. Share equipment when you can - for sure only one monitor per trial.
• Do you permit parties to bifurcate oral argument so different attorneys address different legal issues? Yes, but one attorney per legal issue.
• 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: Educating the jury on the topic of the case is not permitted.
• Do you require counsel to sit or stand during questioning of witnesses? I allow counsel to proceed as they prefer, but if standing they must stay behind a podium.
• 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? 15 unless we know there will be an issue, then earlier.
• I normally start jury trials at: 9:00 a.m.
• I normally give the jury a break of 20 minutes in the morning.
• I normally take a lunch break at: Noon or 12:15 p.m.
• I normally give the jury a break of 20 minutes in the afternoon.
• I normally finish court for the day at: 4:45 or 5:00 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: Allow them to approach
• Do you place a time limit on final argument? No
  If yes, If yes, what is the time limit?
• When do you instruct the jury? Before closings
• 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? No
  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? Repeated violations will result in sanctions. Unethical behavior that is a clear violation of a canon will result in a report.