District Court Judge

Counties: Anoka

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? 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: Speaks to the Court, not the attorney. Speak to your points. No points are awarded for disparaging the other attorney.
• 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? No

Pretrial Procedures

• When do you normally set the pretrial in relation to the trial? Pretrials are normally only held in complex cases or by request.
• Do you normally hear motions in limine at the pretrial? Yes
• When are jury instructions due? First day of pretrial.
• When are proposed special verdict forms due? First day of pretrial
• When do you require that final witness lists be exchanged and filed? Per trial guidelines
• When do you require that final exhibit lists be exchanged and filed? Per trial guidelines
• 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: Someone with settlement authority must be present.

Continuances and Changes in the Scheduling Order

• For changes in the scheduling order, except date of trial: Regularly granted with agreement of other parties. Otherwise, request by motion.
• For changes on the date of trial: One continuance regularly granted with agreement of other parties. Otherwise by motion prior to date of trial.
• Under what circumstances would you consider granting a change in the trial date? Unavailability of necessary party or attorney which could not have been anticipated.

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: Review Judge Gordon Schumacher's article on jury selection.
• Do you require counsel to sit or stand during questioning of witnesses? Either. If standing, at the podium.
• 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: 12:00 Noon
• I normally give the jury a break of 15 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
• Do you place a time limit on final argument? No
  If yes, If yes, what is the time limit? 
• When do you instruct the jury? Before 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? Yes
  Or jail? No
• Have you ever held counsel in contempt of court? No
• Have you ever reported an attorney for unethical behavior? Yes
• When, if ever, would you consider issuing sanctions, formal reprimands, holding an attorney in contempt, or reporting an attorney for unethical behavior? If the offense was extremely serious or if the offense was repeated after a warning.