Judge
Ramsey County
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Contact with Chambers
• Preferred method to contact chambers: Email
• To whom may attorneys direct scheduling/logistical questions? Law clerk
• To whom may attorneys direct substantive questions? Law clerk
• Set forth your practices and procedures for scheduling motion hearings. Contact chambers for available dates and always copy opposing party.
• Identify any type of motion for which you do not require a hearing. Stipulated motions, motions the parties agree can be handled on written submissions only, and minor discovery disputes.
• Do you accept telephone calls from attorneys to rule on discovery disputes that occur during depositions? Yes, if chambers are notified in advance to ensure availability.
• How much time do you allot for motion hearings? Depends on the type of motion and the briefing involved; confirm with chambers ahead of time for time to be allotted.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to attending a hearing by telephone or video conference. Depends on the type of hearing and the degree of participation. Observers may generally appear remotely; discovery and scheduling matters may be remote; evidentiary, criminal, and significant matters should be in person.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to discovery motions. Keep briefing to a minimum; just point out the items in dispute, the need for the items in relation to the case, the specific objections, and any authority directly on point.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to stipulations of the parties, including stipulations for protective orders. Nothing particular, but explain the need for a protective order even if stipulated to.
• Do you have any particular requests or procedures relating to requests to amend the scheduling order? No, just provide good cause.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to default proceedings. None--just follow the general rules of practice.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to handling emergency motions. Email chambers, copying opposing party.
• If your preferences for motion hearings by remote means differ from any of your earlier answers, please describe your preferences for remote video conference hearings. Just remember remote hearings are still court appearances.
• Do you want to receive paper courtesy copies of the parties' written submissions? If you do, set forth the number of courtesy copies and identify any document type you do not want to receive. No paper copies, but do email chambers and opposing party a copy of briefs, in case of MNCIS delays.
• Set forth your preferences for handling informal requests for relief using the expedited, informal non-dispositive motion process set forth in Minn. Gen. R. practice 115.04(d). Email chambers and opposing party.
Pre-Trial Procedures
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to the submissions of additional legal authority or other materials at or after oral arguments. Get court approval.
• 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. Parties may request settlement conferences anytime but preferably after sufficient discovery is completed so the relative merits of the case are known. Persons with authority must be present, although exceptions for remote appearance may be granted. The court is involved only as the parties jointly request.
• Identify what technology you use in the courtroom and state whether you prefer a particular electronic format. Up to the parties.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to attorney’s use of technology in the courtroom and during trial. Double check ahead of time technology is working to avoid malfunctions during trial.
• Do you permit parties to bifurcate oral argument so different attorneys address different legal issues? Yes, and younger attorneys, associates, and those who principally drafted briefs are encouraged to conduct the oral argument.
In-Person Trials
• Are you willing to provide a date certain for trial? Yes.
• Set forth your practices and procedures for handling motions in limine. The farther in advance of trial the better.
• What is your schedule for a typical trial day? Standard (9-12 and 1:30-4:30, with 20-minute breaks).
• Set forth your voir dire procedures. The court will ask standard questions, any questions the parties prefer coming from the court, and then turn voir dire over to the attorneys.
• 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. Get advanced permission about anticipated courtroom movement, and no need to continuously ask about approaching a witness.
• Do you impose time limits with respect to opening statements and closing arguments? No.
• Identify what technology you use in the courtroom and state whether you prefer a particular electronic format. No preference.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to attorney’s use of technology in the courtroom. No preference so long as it works.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to marking and using exhibits. Mark ahead of time, address stipulations and objections to exhibits ahead of time.
• For exhibits uploaded to the Minnesota Digital Exhibit System (MNDES), set forth your preferences regarding naming conventions for files uploaded to the system. None so long as they are consecutive, simple, and non-repetitive.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to handling objections. Attempt to address all known evidentiary objections before trial and outside the jury's presence.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to the use of deposition testimony. Give court and opposing party advanced notice of proposed deposition testimony and how it will be offered.
• May attorneys obtain daily transcripts during trial? If so, what procedure should attorneys follow? Ask the court reporter in advance of trial.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to attorney requests to contact jurors at the conclusion of trial. Let court know if you would like to contact the jurors and whether you would like the court to initiate the contact for you.
• Set forth any other preferences, practices, or procedures attorneys and parties may find helpful. The court prefers to make a record of everything unless all parties jointly agree there is no need to do so.
• If your practice differs for trials by remote means, please describe the differences. None.