District Court Judge

Counties: Morrison

State Court Bio: View Bio

Contact with chambers:

• Set forth your preferred method to contact chambers (telephone, e-mail, etc.).  email 
• To whom may attorneys direct scheduling/logistical questions?  court clerk-Terri
• To whom may attorneys direct substantive questions?  Kristyna Stavish-law clerk

Motion practice:

• Set forth your practices and procedures for scheduling motion hearings.  The court clerk assigns dates and times.
• Identify any type of motion for which you do not require a hearing.  Minor issues involving scheduling
• Do you accept telephone calls from attorneys to rule on discovery disputes that occur during depositions?  Permission in advance would need to be secured
• How much time do you allot for motion hearings?  Usually 15-20 minutes. More time can be requested of the court clerk
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to attending a hearing by telephone or video conference.  If the hearings are minor or procedural then telephone appearances will be granted. Appearances are required for complex matters or matters requiring testimony.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to discovery motions.  Same as other motions.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to stipulations of the parties, including stipulations for protective orders.  Judge Wetzel will review and approve certain stipulations without the need for appearance depending upon the contents of the stipulation. 
• Do you have particular requirements or procedures relating to requests to amend the scheduling order?  A stipulation or request would need to be submitted for consideration.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to default proceedings.  It depends on the subject matter and circumstances.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to handling emergency motions.  It depends on the subject matter and the circumstances.

Written submissions:

• Do you want to receive paper courtesy copies of the parties’ written submissions? If you do, set forth the number and preferred format of courtesy copies and identify any document type you do not want to receive.  No that is not necessary.
• Set forth your practices and procedures for requests to deviate from the requirements of the General Rules of Practice for the District Courts.  Those would be considered on case by case basis.

In-court proceedings:

• Identify what technology you use in the courtroom and state whether you prefer a particular electronic format.  No preferred format.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to attorney’s use of technology in the courtroom and during trial.  Case dependent
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to the submission of additional legal authority or other materials at or after oral argument.  It may be allowed. Copies must be provided to other party/attorney.
• Do you permit parties to bifurcate oral argument so different attorneys address different legal issues?  Yes

Pretrial procedures:

• 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.  Timing depends on the type of cases. Involvement varies based on types of cases. Personal appearance is preferred at pre-trials.
• Set forth your practices and procedures for handling motions in limine.  Pre trial orders are issued which address the procedures.

Trial:

• What is your schedule for a typical trial day?  Start at 9. Break mid morning. Lunch from noon to one. Mid afternoon break. Done at 4:30.
• Set forth your voir dire procedures.  Varies.
• 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.  Podiums are generally only used during voir dire, opening and closing statements. Permission to approach a witness or the bench is required. Attorneys should sit during arguments to the court or questioning of witnesses.
• Do you impose time limits with respect to opening statements and closing arguments?  Limits would be rare but could be imposed if necessary.
• Identify your practices with respect to the use of technology in the courtroom during trial.  I have no set practice. It would be determined on a case by case basis.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to marking and using exhibits.  It is preferred that exhibits are marked ahead of time with copies to the opposing side. But marking during hearing or trial is allowed as well.
• Set forth your practices and procedures for handling objections.  Case dependent.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to the use of deposition testimony.  Case dependent.
• May attorneys obtain daily transcripts during trial? If so, what procedure should attorneys follow?  Not generally.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to attorney requests to contact jurors at the conclusion of trial.  There is no set practice or procedure.

Other matters:

• Set forth any other preferences, practices, or procedures attorneys and parties may find helpful.  N/A