In Minnesota, there are nearly 300 district court judges who preside over matters in ten judicial districts. While the Minnesota Rules of Court provide attorneys with significant information applicable to court proceedings, each judge may have his or her individual preferences with respect to motion practice and courtroom conduct.

In an effort to assist attorneys who may be appearing before a judge for the first time, the MSBA Civil Litigation Section Governing Council provided all district court judges with a brief survey. The responses that we received are organized on the right by judicial district and then alphabetically by judge’s name. We hope you find these responses to be helpful in your preparation for district court appearances.

For information about this project or to report an error in any judicial directory listing, contact Kara Haro, MSBA staff liaison to the Civil Litigation Section.

Ninth Judicial District Judges | Courtroom Preferences

Hermerding, David

District Court Judge

[No picture available]

Aitkin County

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Contact with Chambers

• Preferred method to contact chambers: Telephone

• To whom may attorneys direct scheduling/logistical questions? Either my scheduling clerk, my law clerk, or myself.

• To whom may attorneys direct substantive questions? Contact either my law clerk or myself.

Motion Practice

• Set forth your practices and procedures for scheduling motion hearings. They are arranged through my scheduling clerk.

• Do you accept telephone calls from attorneys to rule on discovery disputes that occur during depositions? Yes.

• How much time do you allot for motion hearings? It depends on the motion itself.

• Do you have any particular requests or procedures relating to requests to amend the scheduling order? No.

Pre-Trial Procedures

• Do you permit parties to bifurcate oral argument so different attorneys address different legal issues? Yes.

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. Usually held one to two weeks before trial.

• What is your schedule for a typical trial day? Trial will start at 9:00, and end at 4:30.

• 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. I expect decorum at all times in the courtroom.

• Do you impose time limits with respect to opening statements and closing arguments? No.

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