District Court Judge

Counties: Goodhue

State Court Bio: View Bio

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? 20-25 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: Be on time. Be courteous and professional.  Highlight your most important points.
• Do you like to receive courtesy copies of motion papers? No

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? No

Pretrial Procedures

• When do you normally set the pretrial in relation to the trial? Approximately a month ahead of trial 
• Do you normally hear motions in limine at the pretrial? No
• When are jury instructions due? By the pretrial
• When are proposed special verdict forms due? By the pretrial
• When do you require that final witness lists be exchanged and filed? By the pretrial
• When do you require that final exhibit lists be exchanged and filed? By the pretrial
• 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: There shouldn't be any surprises after the pretrial.  If last minute submissions become an issue, continuances are considered as an alternative to exclusion.

Continuances and Changes in the Scheduling Order

• For changes in the scheduling order, except date of trial: Not a problem if agreed to by all sides, otherwise require a timely motion.
• For changes on the date of trial: Not a problem if agreed to by all sides, otherwise require a timely motion.
• Under what circumstances would you consider granting a change in the trial date? Case by case with consideration to any prejudice to the opposing side.

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: As set forth in the rules and caselaw.
• Do you require counsel to sit or stand during questioning of witnesses? Their preference.
• 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? 
• I normally start jury trials at: 9:00 a.m.
• I normally give the jury a break of 15 minutes in the morning.
• I normally take a lunch break at: Noon
• I normally give the jury a break of 1 hour 15 minutes 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: Yes, outside the hearing of the jury
• 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? Most of the instructions are read prior to 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? No
• When, if ever, would you consider issuing sanctions, formal reprimands, holding an attorney in contempt, or reporting an attorney for unethical behavior? If a warning has been issued and ignored.