District Court Judge

Counties: Le Sueur

State Court Bio: View Bio

Motion Practice

• How long do you normally allow per party for argument of non-dispositive motions? 10 minutes
• How long do you normally allow per party for oral argument of dispositive motions? 20 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? Yes
  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:  Schedule the hearing.  Try and get agreement from other counsel to allow you to argue by phone or for both sides to argue by phone.  If you cannot agree then set phone conference with the court.
• State any specific procedures you would like attorneys in your courtroom to follow at motion hearings: All motion papers must be filed within 10 days of the hearing.  Please stand while addressing the court.
• 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? This is set by court administration, but can be changed with court approval.
• Do you normally hear motions in limine at the pretrial? Yes
• When are jury instructions due? 10 days prior to trial
• When are proposed special verdict forms due? 10 days prior to trial
• When do you require that final witness lists be exchanged and filed? 2 weeks before trial
• When do you require that final exhibit lists be exchanged and filed? 2 weeks before trial
• 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: 

Continuances and Changes in the Scheduling Order

• For changes in the scheduling order, except date of trial: Both parties must agree and then contact both court administration and the judges clerk to get approval.  If there is no agreement, schedule a motion.
• For changes on the date of trial: Both parties must agree and then contact both court administration and the judges clerk to get approval.  If there is no agreement, schedule a motion.
• Under what circumstances would you consider granting a change in the trial date? Must be extraordinary circumstances 

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: This will be discussed on a case by case basis depending on the facts of the case.
• Do you require counsel to sit or stand during questioning of witnesses? Stand
• 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? 30 minutes
• 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: 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.
• I normally give the jury a break of 20 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? No
  Ask the witnesses questions? No
• If counsel asks to approach to argue a ruling, do you generally: Allow
• 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? Before trial begins, at the end of each day, and after closing arguments
• 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 an attorney knowingly makes false representations to the court.